For more than 70 years, Bernie’s Glass and Window has been shaping the face of Brooklyn, one pane at a time.

The family-run shop, located in Crown Heights, specializes in handcrafted glass pieces that range from mirrors to storefront repairs. Owner Bernie Gross started working there at just 15 years old, learning the trade from his father and grandfather.

“We do it by hand like my grandfather and my dad right after him,” Gross said. “From what I understand, I’m the last dinosaur. That’s how we’re still open.”

Bernie’s workbench, worn from decades of shaping specialty glass, has helped launch new businesses and restore historic ones, from stained glass in churches to glass doors and even etching in designs into glass for specialized work.

“The way you touch it, the way you move it, the way you handle it, the way you store it, everything is something,” Gross said.

Local shop owners say the craftsmanship makes all the difference.

“I had a vision for a retro, classic, elegant-style mirror,” said Paris Severino, owner of Soft Salon. “We’re so happy with it. It makes the space.”

When Gross eventually retires, he says the shop will transition to employee ownership and become a minority-owned business. Until then, he’s focused on the next job.

“Everything is an opportunity,” Gross said. “To make the next sale, to make their world happy.”

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