By Dan Murphy
For the past 15 years, Yonkers Rising has always been looking for the silver lining in this great city, and the people, businesses and organizations that bring about positive change. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our mission continues.
While the Coronavirus has brought the dangerous threat of illness to many, it also brings an opportunity for local businesses, to help their community by providing a needed service or product.
One product that none of us can find on the shelves of any supermarket or pharmacy is hand sanitizer. Fortunately, one Yonkers business is looking to fill that voice.
Nahmias et Fils distills and distributes alcohol spirits from its distillery located at 201 Saw Mill River Road since opening in 2012. They sell whiskey, under a “Legs Diamond” brand, named after the famous bootlegger who spent some time in Yonkers, and Mahia, an adult beverage that comes from Morocco and the Jewish community, made of dates and figs and other secret spices.
Nahmias is the only distillery in Yonkers, and before the COVID-19 pandemic ordered all of us to stay at home, the owners, David and Dorit Nahmias, had established a following of sorts, selling to local liquor stories and restaurants but also to entertainment venues like the Morocco- Epcot Pavilion in Orlando Florida.
Now the Nahmias family has decided to fit a growing need and shit from making alcohol-based spirits to alcohol-based hand sanitizer. The factory and large tills are immediately being converted into the production of hand sanitizer, comprised of ingredients according to the World Health Organization, WHO, of Glyseral and Denatured Alcohol (Ethanol). The plans are to begin production by Monday April 13, with distribution to begin later that week.
The Nahmias family is being joined by Yonkers businessman Sid Blauner, and former City Council President Chuck Lesnick in this endeavor. Blauner, Lesnick and several others have invested in the distillery as part of a federal opportunity zone program.
Lesnick explained that the hand sanitizers will go to places of need first, including nursing homes, medical facilities and for first responders, as a donation, and then will also be sold to the public. “The decision was made to make a change in product in an effort to make a difference in these troubling times, to survive as a business, and to fit a growing need and shortage of hand sanitizing supplies,” said Lesnick.
The Greystone Jewish Center, (600 North Broadway, 914-963-8888) is a non-profit that is also working with the distillery to get the flow of hand sanitizers to the public and to give the public an opportunity to make a donation to Greystone Jewish Center, who will use the funds to purchase Nahimas hand sanitizer for seniors, and Yonkers residents in need.
“We want this product to be able to help people on the front lines, like my wife,” said Lesnick, whose wife Dr. Beth Schorr -Lesnick is working at the Westchester Medical Center.
Anyone interested in getting hand sanitizers to those in need, or who want to make a private purchase, can call 646–644-4256–or 917-756-7022, or visit nahmiasetfils.com. The distillery is located at 201 Saw Mill River Road, with the entrance off Lake Avenue.
