On December 21, we lost Helen Antoniak, a devoted lifelong resident of the city and matriarch of a greeting card store on Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock. We lost a friend but not the memories. Always with a smile and helpful hand, Helen Antoniak’s was a neighborhood institution in Quarterboard Row, a throwback to mom and pop establishments.
Wedding invitations, quirky gifts, local books; Helen tried to accommodate customer wishes with honesty so touching in so many ways. For decades she carried my book Only In Bridgeport in her store. Every now and then I’d stop in to say hello to Helen. A number of years ago a couple of years between visits, I parked on Farifield Avenue for a bite and refreshment on Home On The Range, next to Helen’s store.
Helen walked into Home On The Range. I had forgotten she sold my book. But she had not. Helen presented me an envelope that included proceeds from books she sold.
With a wink and nod she said, “You should visit more often. You never know what you might find.”
That was the way Helen Antoniak did things.
She closed her store two years ago after a 50-year run. She was a gift to a neighborhood and city.
I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but she sounds like a great woman. My condolences to her family.
Lennie–thanks for posting this. Helen was a woman of dignity and grace. At Christmas she would always be wearing an elfish Christmas hat. She held out for many years in her store. We need to support more of our mom and pop small businesses in Bridgeport. It makes Cents!