Kayak Rental Business Brings New Options to Waterfront

Michelle Mallett-Capobianco of Glen Head decided to divide her time this summer between her real estate business and Glen Cove's waterfront.

"I have a really great front porch," said Michelle as she sat in her shop at , her storefront open to the parking lot and docks just beyond. "People say it's livening up this end of the marina."

After nursing the idea for several years, Mallett-Capobianco moved into a former bait and tackle shop at the marina last summer.

Though she's still busy with her job in real estate, she said, she's working to build the rental business into a Glen Cove waterfront staple.

"There used to be one a decade ago," she said. "People always asked where to rent kayaks and they were sent to Bayville and Port Washington."

Kayaking is only one of the activities the shop offers. Stand-up paddleboards and bicycles are also available for rent, and Mallett-Capobianco is partnering with Rentabikenow.com as a network affiliate.

Stand-up paddleboarding, or SUP, is particularly popular, and Mallett-Capobianco said she plans on selling paddleboards made in her hometown of Austin, Texas, which she called the unofficial paddleboarding capital of the world.

Her shop offers an array of other items for purchase, including skateboards handcrafted by a local artist, and miscellaneous summer products like sunblock, mosquito bands, towels and hula hoops.

"I like to have things that just make your summer experience fun," she said.

Hours are daily from 10 a.m. to sunset until school starts, when the shop is open weekends only until mid-October. The season resumes in April.

Shore Thing Rentals can be reached by phone at 516-801-2201 or visited online at www.shorethingrentals.net.