Photo: Courtesy Essie Cosmetics

1981: Essie Cosmetics Founded in Queens

While growing up in Hollis Hills, Essie Weingarten was fascinated by nail polish. In 1981, she and her partner, Max Sortino, founded a nail products company, Essie Cosmetics, at 83-01 Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, with 12 nail polish shades and three nail treatments. She launched her new company’s products in Las Vegas, knowing women in the entertainment field made looking good a high priority, then returned to Queens to build her company. Essie Cosmetics, which is now based at 1919-37th Street, Astoria, launches four new collections annually. The line includes more than 200 shades, and its products are marketed in 47 countries. In 1993, Weingarten designed the company’s signature square bottle. Celebrity customers include Madonna, Sharon Stone, Britney Spears, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford. Essie Cosmetics’ best-selling pink nail polish, Ballet Slippers, is shown here.

–Cynthia Blair