The Gift is Love x5 is a family run business for over 30 years. My parents ran a small business for over 40 years, so I saw from the inside what it takes to run one. My mother and I started our gift Shoppe and ran it for 12 years before she retired. Running a small business means you are on call 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. The mentality that the buck stops here is the life of a small business owner, but I wouldn't have it any other way. You gotta love what you do!

We are blessed to live and work in this beautiful beach community on the peninsula of Rockaway Beach, New York. We are a suburb of NYC. On a good day you can be in lower Manhattan in 30 minutes. We like to say, we are a small town in a big city. Summers in Rockaway can be compared to a child awaiting Santa's arrival on Christmas Eve. You can feel the anticipation in the air. Salt water and sea breezes will do that to you! As the spring approaches, the first sunny day, people are out and about walking and smiling that summer is almost here. Like the song in the old sitcom, Cheers, "where everybody knows your name" ... That's what it is like here ... You can't go too far without bumping into someone who knows your name ... It's a friendly place, and I believe it's the natural beauty that surrounds us that makes people extra happy!

Our community has seen its fair share of dark days. In a span of about 15 years, we have experienced the tragic loss of family and friends on September 11, 2001. Two months after 9/11 on November 12, 2001, a commercial plane crashed a block away from our church and school and hundreds of people were killed. Three years ago, on October 29, 2012 Super Storm Sandy hit the east coast. The peninsula of Rockaway was devastated. We are still recovering until this day. We as a community have had to rely on our faith throughout these very dark days. Maybe that is what makes Rockaway so special! We are a faith filled community. It doesn't matter which faith we practice, we are a community that is willing to help each other out and that generous spirit, in my opinion, can only come from a loving God. Bloom where you are planted ... I think Rockaway has done that over and over again by the Grace of God!

My husband and I have raised 5 daughters here in Rockaway Beach. Through the years, each one of them has helped out in the Shoppe. Whether it was the holiday rush or the late nights behind the scenes of running a business my family has helped to keep the home and house running! All I know is that I could not have done any of it, without all of their love, support and hard work. They have all shared their special gifts to help us out whenever we needed them. We are blessed! We are family!

Saint Francis said, "Start doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." Praise The Lord! I heard that quote right after Super Storm Sandy and realized it was my personal road map from God. And here we are today, on this journey called life and we are asked to begin again... And so we do ...

We pride ourselves in our customer service. We have always been blessed with a wonderful staff who truly has become family to us. I guess you can say we are old fashion in our approach to running a business. We greet our customers and truly try to serve them as best we can. When buying goods for our Shoppe, our customers are always in the forefront of our minds.

Our Shoppe consists of 5 rooms jammed packed with lots of goodies to explore-nooks and crannies galore! We carry goods that consist of many categories. We like to say we are many Shoppes under one roof. As you walk from room to room, you can smell the combined scents from our Yankee Candles and the best incense in town. You will pass our display filled with Crabtree & Evelyn and Caswell Massey soaps, lotions and gift sets. Did you know Caswell & Massey's almond soaps have been used in the White House since George Washington? As you continue through the Shoppe, Vera Bradley will pop out with all the travels accessories you might need from duffle bags to wristlets to fit every cell phone. When you turn slightly left you will get a glimpse of our Life is Good products. The Tees and Mugs are a staple for us. Good vibes from the Life is Good Company, what could be better! Oh and then as you wander over to the jewelry case you will notice lots and lots of Alex & Ani Bangles. Each bracelet comes with a special meaning that touches your heart. The best part is that Alex and Ani are all made in America! As you enter our next room you experience a quiet place where Papyrus greeting cards are awaiting you. Then, you step into a large room, which houses our kiddie stuff filled from top to bottom with eye candy for any youngster. As you turn left, you will notice a nook filled with goods from Ireland. A piece of Belleek from Ireland always makes a wonderful gift. Keep walking and you will bump right into our religious corner. It is a quiet place but always inspirational! One more room and boy is it a big one. Gifts for home are right around the corner. Few more steps brings you to our wedding and anniversary nook. Last but not least, it's all about the beach. Gifts up and down and all around beach everywhere you look. 

​Although you cannot physically walk through our shop due to COVID-19, the Gift is Love motto is "we are here to serve." So please let us know any way we can assist you and help brighten your day with our inventory.