Longtime Local Business Owner Pens Emotional Goodbye Letter

WEST BABYLON, NY — A longtime family business started off the new year with new owners after serving the West Babylon community for decades.

Joe Barbieri, one of the owners of Cosmo's Service Center on 200 Herzel Boulevard, recently penned an emotional letter to the community, which was shared on social media, announcing that he was handing off the business to new owners.

The Barbieri family has owned the local auto repair shop for over 50 years, starting with Cosmo Barbieri and his wife Gilda. The couple first opened Cosmo Service Station on Route 109 and 5th Avenue in 1957 before moving to the new location in 1978.

Just before the new year, Joe sent a heartfelt letter to local residents, detailing the decision to hand off the business and thanking the longtime customers.

Read the letter below:

Now into my 5th decade, I can say I have serviced grandparents, parents, and then grand kids cars. This was not only a pleasure to do this, it was also most enjoyable to me to engage in some of our conversations. We talked about the weather, our taxes, our homes, food, our vacations, our pets and family and on and on. We cheered and jeered our sports team. We had advice for our politicians. Then we reminisced for friends and family whom have passed. And through all this, time kept marching on.

After 42+ years it is with a real heavy heart and many tears in my eyes I have to say it's my time to move on. This will be effective in the New Year. For awhile I will be involved in a transition with the new owners Bobby and Jessie. I like them, I think you will too. Over the years I've experienced many ups and downs of business. With the expected new demands that will be placed on small business in the future and our changing of technology that will be hard to keep up with, I feel it will be best for me to drive on and try cruise control for a while.

My memories will include my date in 1977 driving around with me counting bricks for measurements on other buildings so I can design mine. Then my friends who happily gave their time to help me build a building and make a dream come true. I still owe them. Memories will include working 12 hours day and for years doing it 6 days a week. Working on a hot greasy engine on a 90 degree day. Or getting in early to shovel snow on a 10 degree day so we can open bay doors. Maybe our dirty hands and oil dripping on our faces. But what will out weight all else are the memories I will tuck away of all the great co-workers that worked with me inside those 4 walls. They made me look good. The dedicated part suppliers I conversed and did business with. Customers of our original shop who are still with us. Especially my Uncle Larry, who helped me and is still here for me.

I will be able to reminisce for years about the great customers past and present who walking through my doors. The good and bad stories, the smiles we shared. I will never forget the kind words you may have said to me, or how you treated me especially around the holidays. It meant a lot to me. I hope I never, ever disappointed you. If we ever cross paths again we can continue our friendship.

The Cosmo's name and Barbieri family has been doing business in West Babylon for 63+ years. My only regret is Cosmo and Gilda are not here to lock that door one last time with me.