Tariq Zaid Honored for his Many Accomplishments

Opening a new business in your community is a noble idea.

However, it didn’t take long for Tariq Zaid to realize that wasn’t the best formula for success.

When the Stapleton resident decided to open Richmond Hood Company in 2007, he and his three partners couldn’t think of a better place to start than on Van Duzer Street.

“My buddies and I all lived over there, so we felt a special affinity towards that neighborhood,” said Zaid, the Owning Partner/Operations Manager at Richmond Hood Company. “It was an emerging time for local businesses on Van Duzer.”

As much as the foursome – which is comprised of Mike Alvarez, Tom Devito, Reggie Noble, and Zaid -- wanted to be a positive entity in their neighborhood, the sales couldn’t match their enthusiasm. They felt while the area was a nice spot for restaurants, the same couldn’t be said for clothing stores due to the one-way street, limited parking, and low foot traffic.

Failure was not an option, so instead of ending their dreams and accepting defeat, they decided to relocate to Castleton Avenue in West Brighton. The group was passionate about offering a nice mix of footwear, apparel, eyewear, accessories, and skate goods, and truly believed it was the right move and it would pay off in the long run.

“The potential was there. It existed in our research. We analyzed household incomes per capita on Staten Island, demographics, and the amount of money that Staten Islanders spent in retail overall,” said Zaid. “All of those factors were important as data for venturing into retail.”  

The store prospered in the new location as the quartet discovered there was definitely a market for their products, especially with sneakers since that market has exploded recently.

“I mean, who doesn’t want a cool sneaker store in their neighborhood?” asked Zaid.

So while sneakers sold, some of the clothing line was a harder sell. While some national retailers have cashed in by marketing New York City merchandise, specifically items branded with Manhattan and Brooklyn, it seems Staten Island was left out. Richmond Hood Company embraced that opportunity by offering a wide range of apparel emblazoned with the borough name.

“Even in those first few years, people would come into the store and say, ‘Staten Island T-shirts? You guys are nuts.’ Or, ‘I’m not wearing a Staten Island T-shirt,’” he said. “We would tell them don’t talk about the borough unless you’re doing something to contribute to the Staten Island’s ‘cool factor.’ And as far as we’re concerned, that’s what we’re doing. These T-shirts are cool, they’re premium pieces, and the designs are awesome. You should be more open-minded. And it took a while for that concept to stick.”

For his accomplishments, Zaid is being honored with a Louis R. Miller Leadership Award, which he will receive in the Established Businessperson category. The awards -- sponsored by M&T Bank and presented by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce and the Staten Island Advance -- honor the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and West Brighton resident who was also a community leader.

“Tariq goes up against a unique design challenge. Most apparel stores on Staten Island are clustered at the Staten Island Mall or within shopping centers. Richmond Hood Company has always stood on its own,” said Tatiana M. Arguello, program director for the Summer Youth Employment Program at United Activities Unlimited, who nominated Zaid for the Louis Miller award.   

One reason Richmond Hood Company has stood on its own for over 10 years is the tremendous support it shows to the community.

Zaid hosts door-to-door campaigns to check in on his neighbors, donates sneakers and apparel to charities, and has organized several street festivals such as “Van Duzer Days,” “Sticky Situations,” and “Coolin’ on Castleton.” Richmond Hood Company also holds monthly poetry nights in the store and highlights local artists with 10,000 square feet of art space in the alleyway between Davis and Oakland avenue.

“That helps the store become a destination. When customers visit, they’re not just buying a T-shirt. They’re also seeing this huge art exhibit that changes yearly,” said Zaid.

Others have recognized the company’s impact as Richmond Hood Company is currently featured in the “Styles of Resistance: From the Corner to the Catwalk” exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) in Brooklyn until Feb. 24.

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Recipients of the Louis R. Miller Awards are recognized as effective business leaders, and for their outstanding contributions to the local community. Awards are given out in four categories: Emerging, Established, Master, and Not-For-Profit. The honorees will be recognized during the annual Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Awards Breakfast on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at the Hilton Garden Inn. For tickets, visit www.sichamber.com or call the Chamber at 718-727-1900.

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Below, Zaid shares more about his goals, job, and life:

Current occupation and title: Owning Partner/Operations Manager of The Richmond Hood Company.

Hometown: West Brighton.

Past occupations and titles: Production manager for Uniquest Designs.

Community involvement: Van Duzer Days. Sticky Situations. Coolin’ on Castleton. Free Safety Network Radio.

Regularly partner with a local nonprofit called Projectivity to develop and execute youth art and music projects. Donate hundreds of dollars worth of shoes and clothes to charities that service the less fortunate and victims of natural disasters. 

Some of my life goals include: Visiting Japan and Australia. Going vegan. Swimming more. Creating more.

The best part of my job: Meeting people. I get to meet teachers, plumbers, doctors, lawyers, artists, skateboarders, and more. The people with many faces and from different places are all unique and yet similar since they were drawn to our little boutique.

The most difficult part of my job: Scheduling. My job entails working with artists to create garment designs and ensuring our production facility executes our designs properly. We need to receive the samples to keep production running on time so we can schedule photo and video shoots. This is so important to ensure our marketing hits on time so that we can have the proper seasonal sell through of that product. 

My life philosophy:  Teamwork makes the dream work! There is very little that can be accomplished alone. Even the brightest of ideas require a group of like-minded visionaries to achieve a good finished product. 

I am most proud of: My family, particularly my sisters. Childhood abuse was part of my family when we were children. This type of abuse often breaks people and families for life. I'm proud of them for being able to return all the pieces and become the wonderful mothers and women they are today. They are perfect examples of something beautifully repaired, like Japanese tea cups.

Something that no one knows about me: I'm afraid of heights.

The quality I like best about myself: I like being outdoors and physical. I enjoy riding bikes, hiking, and going to the beach.

Personal interests and hobbies: I enjoy writing and performing poetry. 

I laugh at: Angry people! 

I am really good at: Naps.

I admire: Teachers because the time they spend loving and caring for so many young humans is exceptional to me. They deserve raises. 

Some important things I would like you to know about me: I feel a tremendous amount of gratitude for my support network which includes my friends, partners, and girlfriend. I wish I were rich so that I can treat all of us to as many of the world's tropical islands we can visit in a couple of months.