Directions

Mandolin Brothers showroom is located on Staten Island at 629 Forest Avenue (click on link for GOOGLE maps) between Pelton Ave. and Oakland Ave. (corner of Oakland). We are open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. In addition to being closed on Sundays, we are closed for 6 major holidays per year: New Year's, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

You can reach us by car via the Verrazano Bridge, the Outerbridge Crossing, the Goethals Bridge, or the Bayonne Bridge. You can also reach us by public transportation from Manhattan via the Staten Island Ferry and bus.

By Car
To use the Verrazano Bridge, follow the signs on the Brooklyn-Queens Expessway (BQE) or the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn for “Verrazano Bridge/Staten Island.” Once over the bridge, (the toll is a one-way collection, leaving Staten Island via any bridge is free); stay on Rt. 278 after the toll for about 1 mile. Take the Clove Road exit (Exit 13). You will exit onto a service road. At the third traffic light on the service road (top of the hill) turn right onto Clove Rd. Drive about 1 mile on Clove Rd. to a fork in the road at a traffic light. Bear right (stay just to the right of St. Peter's Cemetery) onto Bement Ave. At the second light, make a right onto Forest Avenue. Continue on Forest for one block to Oakland Ave. We are on the corner of Forest and Oakland. You'll see our beige stucco building at 629 Forest Avenue. It looks like the McDuck Building in the old Scrooge McDuck comics, except instead of having the big dollar sign it says "MANDOLIN BROS." and "629." Bring quarters for the parking meters, (if you park at a meter make sure it's fed at all times) or pull into any side street and, after the first 3 or 4 spaces there are no more meters - you can park all day for free.  Or if there's room in our parking lot, take that space (the rule is "no wheels on the sidewalk," so you just have to watch that).

To use the Goethals Bridge, take the New Jersey Turnpike and get off at Exit 13. (No letters, just Exit 13).  Cross the Goethals Bridge. Go straight ahead about 5 miles on Rt. 278 and exit at Exit 13 (it's just a coincidence) "Clove Road/Hylan Blvd." At the first traffic light, make a left onto Clove Road. Drive 1 mile on Clove Rd. until you come to a fork. Bear right onto Bement Ave. Go to the second traffic light and make a right onto Forest Ave. We are one block further on the left at the corner of Oakland Ave. You'll see our beige stucco building at 629 Forest Avenue.

To use the Bayonne Bridge, take the NJ Turnpike to the Bayonne exit. (Use these directions from the Holland Tunnel, too.) After the toll, drive straight ahead, under the overpass, onto Avenue E. Take Avenue E to the end (about 3 miles). You'll see the sign for the Bayonne Bridge. Make a left. Come over the Bridge. Take the second exit past the toll ("Forest Avenue"). Turn left at the light and drive about 2 miles. We're on your left at the corner of Oakland, at 629 Forest Avenue.

To use the Outerbridge Crossing, take Rt. 287 until it becomes Rt. 440. Take Rt. 440 to the Outerbridge Crossing. Drive 4/10ths of a mile after the toll, exit onto the West Shore Expressway (Rt. 440 North). Drive about 7 miles until Rt 440 North merges with Rt. 278 East -- towards Brooklyn (Staten Island Expressway). Take the Staten Island Expressway about 3.7 miles and exit at "Exit 13" Clove Road/Hylan Blvd. Turn left at the first light onto Clove Road. Drive 1mile on Clove Rd. to a fork at the traffic light. Bear right onto Bement Ave. Go to the second light and make a right onto Forest Avenue. We are one block further on the left at the corner of Oakland Avenue. You'll see our beige stucco building at 629 Forest Avenue.

TRAVEL INSTRUCTIONS FROM CONNECTICUT AND NEW ENGLAND

Take Rt 95 and follow signs for the WHITESTONE BRIDGE. Coming off the Bridge follow the signs for KENNEDY AIRPORT. You will then see a sign that says BELT PARKWAY/WEST/BROOKLYN. Take that. By the time you are driving past Kennedy Airport you will be on the Belt Parkway heading toward Brooklyn and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Take the exit for the Bridge, pay the toll, then follow the directions found elsewhere on this page from the VERRAZANO BRIDGE.


By Public Transportation
Take any one of the following subways to the Staten Island Ferry.There is no charge to take the Ferry, it is now free both ways.

Important Note: The Staten Island Ferry boats no longer carry cars -- only passengers on foot or passengers with bicycles.

#1 (7th Avenue IRT) to the South Ferry station South Ferry is the last stop on this southbound (downtown) local train. Walk upstairs (there may be escalators). The Ferry terminal entrance is right above the subway exit.

#4 or #5 (Lexington IRT) to the Bowling Green station. Get on the front of the train and walk right when you come off the train. You'll come up at the northeast corner of Battery Park. The Ferry terminal is directly ahead of you, a brief walk south along the edge of the park.

R, N or M (BMT) to Whitehall station.  Get on the front of the train and bear right past the token booth when you reach the upper level to exit. You'll see the Ferry terminal across the street.

To use the Staten Island Ferry (on foot only or with a bicycle) catch a boat from South Ferry (Battery Park) at the southern tip of Manhattan. The trip across the Harbor takes about 30 minutes including docking.

BY BUS FROM THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY:  Walk up the ramp (along with the rest of the people) and you will see a number of bus ramps. You want Ramp C - the one with the #48 Bus listed on it. Take the #48 Forest Ave bus around 15 minutes, asking the driver to let you off on the corner of Forest and Pelton Avenues – at the purple and yellow Planet Fitness building. We're one block farther, the beige stucco building on the corner of Forest and Oakland Avenues - #629 Forest Avenue - with the address and "MANDOLIN BROS" sign on it.   It looks like the Scrooge McDuck Building, if you remember that comic book from your childhood, but his had a dollar sign on the front of it.  His building made a big impression on us.

 

If you use a METROCARD (instead of quarters) then, going in one direction, as you would be, the total charge from your door, anywhere in New York City, to our door is just $2.25  

 

BY TAXI FROM THE S.I. FERRY TERMINAL:  When you get to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal you can walk up the ramp from the boat and make a right at the top, and you'll see the sign for TAXI.   The cab will probably cost around $10 (plus tip if you are inclined, and it's expected) to take you to #629 Forest Ave, corner of Oakland Avenue. This will take only 5 or 6 minutes.

 

BY BICYCLE FROM THE FERRY:  Ride up the bike ramp and out of the Ferry Terminal. Make a left at the light onto Richmond Terrace.    Bicycle around 2.25 miles, a few blocks past Snug Harbor Cultural Center, to the intersection of Richmond Terr. and Davis Ave. - there's a Con Edison sub-station at that corner, and make a left onto Davis Ave.   Proceed 3 traffic lights (it's around 2 miles and it's a bit hilly) to Forest Ave. and make a right.  We're the second intersection, the corner of Forest and Oakland Avenues, or #629 Forest Ave.