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As part of the celebration, a couple from Proyecto Tipico Cultural Dominicano in traditional dress, danced to merengue and perico ripiao, the folkloric, rhythmic music of the Dominican Republic.
Photos by Karen Galán
Ronald Sterling was breaking a sweat.
Impeccably dressed in white trousers and a pressed white shirt, his forehead was starting to shine a bit with the tell-tale signs of perspiration.
How could it not?
Accompanied by a live trio, complete with accordion, Sterling and his dance partner were on their third perico ripiao, the rhythmic, folkloric Dominican genre that’s meant to keep you, literally, on your toes, as you swirl, turn, and dip quickly.
That Sterling, founder of Proyecto Tipico Cultural Dominicano, was putting on a show this past Thurs., Nov. 3rd at the inauguration of the new flagship MoneyGram location at 181st Street and Amsterdam Avenue was a sure sign that this was no ordinary ribbon-cutting.
Long considered one of the company’s top-selling stores for its remittance, or envios market, MoneyGram in Washington Heights had established itself for decades on Audubon Avenue, where it serviced families looking to send money to loved ones overseas.
“Siempre he venido aquí [I’ve always come here],” said Guillermina Flores, who had grown accustomed to seeing and talking with the same MoneyGram tellers for years on Audubon Avenue. They would inquire, she explained, about sick relatives or the newly married couple back home in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. “Son muy amables [They are very gracious].”
But rather than a major interruption in service, the move just further east along the West 181st Street corridor will allow MoneyGram, second-largest money transfer company in the world, to cut back on a costlier footprint while retaining its presence in the neighborhood, explain store representatives.
“We really wanted to make the new retail site more functional than the old one,” noted Susanna Ramirez, the general manager, resplendent in the company’s trademark red color. The store has 12 employees, she added, and services 200-300 customers a day.
The move will place the store closer to greater foot, car, and bus traffic.
Perched on the corner of Amsterdam Avenue, the store is now positioned at a super-crossroads of sorts, with cars streaming onto the Washington Bridge over the Harlem River across the street, and eight city bus lines stopping near its front doors every seven minutes.
“We love this neighborhood, and we’re thrilled our move was only down the street,” explained Juan Meléndez, vice president of partnership sales. “The short move ensures we remain just as convenient for our current customers and become visible to new ones.”
The new store also drew MoneyGram executives from around the country, including Pete Ohser, vice president of retain chains, who flew in, together with other colleagues from Dallas, Texas, the company’s headquarters.
Ohser noted that the company had been on the move on other fronts as well, recently relocating its own worldwide headquarters from St. Louis Park, Minnesota to Dallas.
“It’s really a very exciting time for us,” said Ohser. “And this community here in Washington Heights means a lot to MoneyGram.”
Begun in 1940 as a small money order operation, the company founded as Travelers Express, has grown exponentially since.
The company operates 14 retail locations in New York City, and also manages many more locations through third-party agents. In fact, MoneyGram has more than twice the locations of McDonald’s, Starbucks, Subway and Walmart combined; in 2010, the company reported revenues of $1.17 billion.
Local community leaders, such as Angelina Ramirez, executive director of the 181st Street Business Improvement District (BID), Elbagina Bonilla, acting executive director of the Northern Manhattan Coalition for Economic Development, and Marvin Alvarez Ochoa, Account Manager of American Airlines’ Caribbean/Latin America Sales, were in attendance, as were New York State Senator Adriano Espaillat and Assemblymember Guillermo Linares. The event, packed with well-wishers and customers alike, also featured Dominican boxing phenomenon Joan Guzman, local television personality Ramon Anibal, and Univision television anchor Birmania Rios, who served as mistress of ceremonies.
And there was plenty of perico ripiao.
It was impossible not to get drawn into the infectious live music as guests sampled hors d’oeuvres and sipped wine against a bold red-and-white MoneyGram banner that read “Welcome” and “Bienvenidos”.
“A bailar se ha dicho [It’s time to dance!],” called out the singer to the audience; more than one person obliged.
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