Shary and Ricky Rodriguez, the team behind Craft Empanadas and Shary’s Daycare on East Gun Hill Road, have opened their latest venture within the Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District (JGHBID).

Craft Dance Studio, located below Craft Empanadas at 261 E. Gun Hill Rd., opened on Feb. 24 and serves as a space for dance classes, event rentals, and more. Children aged 3 and up can sign up for ballet, salsa, hip hop, and bachata classes on Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursdays. Adults can expect salsa and bachata classes to become available in the coming weeks.

The studio space is also available to rent at flexible and affordable rates for events. With brand new flooring, freshly painted walls, a new sound system, and flat screen TVs, the space is perfect for your next celebration whether it’s a birthday, baby shower, sporting event, or community meeting. Also, community residents will receive a neighborhood discount on all event bookings.

The opening of Craft Dance Studio comes shortly after Shary and Ricky completely renovated Craft Empanadas, which first opened in 2018. The restaurant space now features bar seating, high top tables, stylish light fixtures, and a fresh new mural depicting East Gun Hill Road and the surrounding neighborhood.

The new space invites customers to “Enjoy an empanada and enjoy the feeling of being at home,” says Ricky. They strive for the “Craft” brand to exude creativity and unity, “helping the community in creative ways,” added Shary.

Shary and Ricky have been in business in the BID since 2008 when they first opened Shary’s Daycare at 250 E. Gun Hill Rd. Both born and raised in the Bronx, Shary is from Allerton and Ricky grew up on Gun Hill Road. They first met in elementary school, began dating in high school, and are now raising their family together in the Bronx.

The pair have been in the empanada business since Ricky first started making and selling empanadas out of his dorm room at Clarkson University in 2004. In 2015, they opened S & R Le Juice Bar at 254 E. Gun Hill Rd. in the same building as their daycare.

“We wanted to work for ourselves, we wanted to bring something new to the community that wasn’t available,” said Ricky. “There weren’t local places to purchase fresh juices or traditional Spanish food like empanadas.” After three years in business, S & R closed and moved across the street into a new space where Craft Empanadas was born. They first started with three flavors, chicken, beef, and cheese, and have now expanded to cover over 180 empanada varieties from ropa vieja to lasagna, chopped cheese, and even lobster mac and cheese!

As their menu at Craft Empanadas expands, and their offerings at Craft Dance Studio grow, Shary and Ricky have their eyes on large scale expansion. They are looking to grow the Craft brand nationwide. “Our goal is to service the community and the nation in an intimate setting,” said Ricky. “We want to see a small business thrive and expand, especially in a tough market”.

Editor’s Note: To sign up for dance classes or to learn more about booking an event, call (347) 964-5685 or follow @craft_empanadas on Instagram.