Business Beat: Businesses Host Parents' Night Out; Brewery Celebrates First Year

From new business openings to closings, expansions and relocations, and the all-around smart business idea, here's a look at regional small business developments.

Main Street Businesses Host Parents' Night Out in Kings Park

If you are craving a night out sans the kids, Main Street in Kings Park may be your destination. A few local businesses have devised a plan that may make date night a regular and affordable event in your house and the babysitting deal can't be beat. Friday night parents can drop their kids off for a 90 minute dance party for just $2 at Kings Park Dance and then head out to a local restaurant to enjoy a discounted meal. For students of the center, the dance party is free.

Port Jeff Brewery Celebrating First Year of Business

Almost one year ago, Michael Philbrick brought something beautiful and precious into this world. From basement brewing kit to full fledged brewery, Philbrick has spent the last year perfecting his craft all while launching new types of beer from the Port Jefferson Brewing Company at his Chandler Square shop. "It really doesn't feel like we have been open for a year yet at the same time I feel like we accomplished so much in this short year," Philbrick said. "We now have about 120 accounts in Suffolk and Nassau counties and are adding more every week." Now, his Port Jefferson Brewing Company is having a special bash to commemorate its anniversary.

Imagine Gallery Relocates in Port Jefferson

Sometimes, despite the economy, a small business might actually outgrow its space and even though an owner is comfortable in a particular location, he just has to start thinking bigger. Take John Diaz for example. Diaz owns Imagine Art Gallery in Port Jefferson village. He’s been at his location in Chandler Square for seven years and before that, the space housed a different art gallery. Diaz weighed all the factors, including his need to expand his business and move to a more visible location, and came to an inevitable conclusion. “It’s a good time to make a move,” he said. He envisions his new location as a part of an emerging “cultural corner” across from Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

A Commack restaurant is expanding is hours in hopes residents and loyal customers will be willing to drop by for lunch. Main Catch has created a unique lunch menu that debuted on Thursday. The restaurant is extending its hours in order to offer lunch service and debuting a new website. Main Catch, a steak, seafood and sushi restaurant, opened at the former site of Southside Fish & Clams on Jericho Turnpike that celebrated its soft opening in August. While the restaurant is owned same managers, the primary change is its transformation from a self-service eatery to a full-service fine dining restaurant.

New Pizzeria to Open in Empty Hauppauge Storefront

One pizzeria is set to measure up to the stiff competition and open up in Hauppauge, in a storefront where another restaurant failed within the past year. A red sign with white lettering announces that Amato's Pizza will be opening soon in the Hauppauge Shopping Center on Route 347/Nesconset Highway, next door to Red Mango and the Army Career Center. The storefront was briefly occupied by Singas Pizza, who opened its doors in Hauppauge in January 2011. Facing stiff competition from local favorites, including nearby Branchinelli's and Mama Sbarro's, it closed within a year.

Competition Brings New Pizzeria to St. James

Speaking of pizza: From Matt’s Pizza to Nicky G’s, Buona Sera to Mannino's and more, the Town of Smithtown has plenty of choices to grab a slice of pizza, and now there is another option as St. James Pizza is now open on Middle Country Road. For the owner, having many other pizzerias in the area was not discouraging but encouraging when deciding where to open up shop. “If there are numerous pizzerias in the area and they’ve been able to be successful for many years that shows that this could be a successful town for me,” he said.

Asian Take-Out Eatery Lasts Two Months

Although there is no competition from any restaurant or fast dining eatery on Route 25A from St. Catherine of Siena Hospital in Smithtown to Main Street in Kings Park, Ji Sushi & Chinese Food only managed to last two months at its Rose Street corner location. Former employees of the eatery, located in the same strip of stores as the Kings Park Animal Hospital and across the street from CVS on the Smithtown-Kings Park border, were moving out refrigerators, ovens and other restaurant equipment out of the location Wednesday afternoon into a UHaul truck.