Long Island Trades

November 22, 2021

Zachary Hofer started out welding go-carts with his dad in their garage. Now at 25, he's opened his third shop. "I've yet to find somebody as young as me doing this type of work."

Jeannean Mercuri is 4 foot 10 and makes her living trimming the hooves of horses that can weigh up to 2,500 pounds. "I'm a total hoof nerd."

Meet them and see the stories of more LIers who love their jobs below.

From repairing go-karts to making $17,000 stairs

Zachary Hofer started out welding go-carts with his dad in their garage. Now at 25, he's opened his third shop. "I've yet to find somebody as young as me doing this type of work."

No shoes, no problem: This LIer keeps horses' hooves healthy

Jeannean Mercuri is 4 foot 10 and makes her living trimming the hooves of horses that can weigh up to 2,500 pounds. "I'm a total hoof nerd."

She went into labor while making an egg sandwich in her bake shop

At Hometown Bake Shop, family influences items across the menu, including the Bubbe, Buela and Nonna. "My food, every aspect of it, is a thankfulness to them," says owner Danna Abrams.

This Long Beach baker's passionate about feeding others

"It becomes more than just the bread," says Raymond Smith. "I get to be with people that I want to be with, make what I want to make ... and go to the beach afterwards."

This barbershop treats customers like family — because it is one

Eligah and Daniel Crawford's barbershop has been in business for more than 30 years. "It's awesome to see him walk in my footstep," Eligah says of his son.

The 'recipe' for a perfect violin took him 45 years

"This is a solitary, private job," Charles Rufino says of violin making. "200,000 cuts later, you have a violin."

'If I can see something in my head, I can make it in glass'

"I was always encouraged to do and make and be anything I wanted to be," says flameworker Ro Wellmaker, who discovered her future career on a childhood trip to Disney World.

LI carpenter: 'In this country, when you know a trade you can become somebody'

"I came to this country with nothing, and being a carpenter, it gave me so much," says Jesus Rivera, who emigrated from Mexico at 12 years old after his mother died.

'It is hard to build something in this country, but you can make it': Couple opens 2nd BBQ spot

Renzo Vargas and Patricia Espino's Levittown restaurant has survived and even grown through the pandemic. The couple opened a second location in Huntington Station.

'We're of the sea': This oyster farmer loves every moment of his work

"We've been fishermen and whalers since time immemorial," Jonathan Smith said of the Shinnecock tribe. "I believe that's where my passion comes from for oyster farming."