Olive Branch finds new home in Williston Park

Noah Manskar

Herb Van Hooser knew early on Williston Park was the right new home for The Olive Branch, the Christian gift store he and his wife, Louise, have owned since 1987.

When a rent hike them to move from their former location on Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park, people in the village instantly supported their move to 640 Willis Ave., he said — starting with the owner of the building.

“He handed me the key and he says, ‘You can just hold onto that, and by the way, it’s the only key,’” said Van Hooser, who is 73. “All he had was my cell phone number and my name, and he trusted me, and I never gave him the key back.”

That kind of trust has been key to Van Hooser’s decades-long career selling “inspirational” gifts and books.

Van Hooser first came to Long Island from Michigan to teach in what he called a “challenging” school, where the students and administrators did not welcome him.

He found solace in a similar Christian store run by an organization called Youth for Christ.

After that group could no longer manage it, Van Hooser, his wife and another couple bought the store.

The move wasn’t logical, he said — he had just gotten tenure in a different school, and the four had never run a business before. But it still felt right.

“A store like this kind of met a need for me in my life, and when it became available to purchase I took the leap,” Van Hooser said.

The Van Hoosers’ journey has not always been easy.

They have had to pour money into the store from their own pockets, and at one point nearly lost their house.

In recent years, the advent of online shopping has folded many stores like theirs — there used to be about 20 on Long Island, Van Hooser said, but only three or four remain.

But they’ve sacrificed and adapted to the changes, he said, and will only give up when they’re forced to.

“Sacrifice is worth it, because if you really sacrifice God looks out for you and takes care of the most important things,” Van Hooser said.

Williston Park is a fitting new home for The Olive Branch, he said, because there is a strong community of Christians in the area.

The store is within walking distance from St. Aidan’s Catholic Church, an institution in the village that has already been supportive of the Van Hoosers even though their store doesn’t cater specifically to Catholics.

Neighboring business owners have befriended him, as have officials and administrators in Village Hall.

“Our calling is to really just be a place that’s inspirational for all Christians, especially,” Van Hooser said.

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