Publicity

A Piece of NYC In Your Own Backyard

By Peggy Spellman Hoey

Have you ever longed for a quiet game of chess in Manhattan’s Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village minus the two-hour Jitney ride, smog and pigeons? Now, it’s a recreational possibility for local parks or even your own backyard. Longtime Sag Harbor residents, brothers, and chess fanatics, Noah and Josh Levine of Concrete Classics, are distributing the durable, all-weather chess tables for public and private use on the East End.

“These tables have a special meaning to many New Yorkers but no one has previously marketed them to the general public,” said Josh Levine, 29. Concrete Classics has recently contracted with Londino Stone, the 50-plus-year-old designer and supplier of the New York City cultural arts staples, to market and distribute chess and backgammon tables for retail sale within the public and private sectors, according to 24-year-old Noah Levine.

“I’ve loved that movie [Searching For Bobby Fisher] from the first time that I saw it and somehow those tables just stuck in my mind ever since,” said Noah. “When my brother and I played on them, we knew people would love to have them in their own backyards.”

The Levines knew people would love to have the tables in their own backyards; however, while troubleshooting, they realized a redesign was in order to make them more available for private use. Freestanding versions of the outdoor chess tables do not require permanent installation in the ground and they can be moved anywhere, they said.

“If someone took a crow bar to it [chess table], it wouldn’t break,” Noah said. “It was made for the toughest New York City, urban environment.” While the tables are concrete, the chessboard is seamless, consisting of a brass grid with green and white terrazzo tiles.

“The tiles are separated by brass so it’s a seamless design that’s very, very beautiful,” Noah said. “It doesn’t have that boring concrete look. It’s not as austere as others (the NYC versions).” Freestanding versions of the outdoor chess tables do not require permanent installation in the ground and they can be moved anywhere, he said.

Locally, the tables can be found in several stores including the Yard Couple in Sag Harbor, Marder’s in Bridgehampton and Hildreth’s Department Stores. Long Island University’s Southampton Campus has purchased a chess table that is positioned outside of Chancellor’s Hall as well. Since then, the Levines have received inquiries from several municipalities, rotary clubs and restaurant owners on the East End, Levine said.