Spotlight | St. Seneca

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. Throughout the month, Broadway Stages will feature and celebrate exceptional people, businesses, and organizations of AAPI heritage. We invite you to join us in recognizing their accomplishments and contributions! Today, we introduce you to Yuki Anziano’s lifestyle and art exhibit shop, St. Seneca, in Ridgewood, Queens.

Yuka Anziano dreamed of sharing the artistic creations of her neighbors in her beloved Ridgewood, a community that she believed to be “the little neighborhood that could.”

Her dream turned into a passion and then a reality in 2015.   With the help of some funds Anziano’s late father left her, she opened St. Seneca on Woodward Ave. “When I opened my store, Saint Seneca, the idea was to just have a weekend business. Now, nearly 8 years later, it’s not just a passion. It’s a bustling little business.” The name was partly inspired by Anziano’s boyfriend’s cat, Seneca. “It was a devil, and we would laugh because it would act like a saint, but then would attack you if you looked at it,” said Anziano.

Anziano works primarily with small artisans and designers. The store features locally made goods, including ceramics, jewelry, apothecary items, pillows, and toys, stressing quality and craftsmanship over quantity. “I went to a lot of trade shows at first, and a few friends recommended some stuff…I just kind of selfishly picked the stuff that I really loved and hoped everyone else really loves it too,” said Anziano. This well-curated store also stocks items pet items that give back to rescue groups. Saint Seneca’s “pet-friendly” products were even featured in Home & Garden magazine..

Another priority for Anziano was to support local artists. “There is endless talent here,” she said. “Even within my own neighborhood of Ridgewood, I have makers just a few blocks away. I have lived here for over a decade, and it has become quite the creative hotbed.” 

To this end, the store was designed to have removable shelves in order to accommodate local  art exhibits. “I want to support local pop-up shops, and my boyfriend and I decided to do monthly art shows. That’s why the removable shelving was so important to us – we wanted to have a multi-functional space,” said Anziano.

If you are interested in exhibiting your art at St. Seneca, simply send an  email to saint.seneca.store@gmail.com and include the word SUBMISSION in the title. In addition, we encourage you to follow the store and the artists on exhibition on Instagram and Facebook.

We are genuinely inspired by Yuki Anziano. “If you truly love what you do, you will find a way to push through your fears and not be afraid to fail,” said Anziano. “In my opinion, true success is measured by how happy you are.” Broadway Stages admires the fortitude it takes for small business owners to make their way in today’s complicated economy.  Their commitment and perseverance to not only succeed, but also provide top quality products and offer a space for artists is a testament to their character. We are grateful for our local small businesses and the community fellowship they inspire.