A handful of new cafés and stores have opened or are slated to open soon, giving consumers in communities from Commack to Rocky Point some new options. A sign of the times, or a sign of things to come? Stay tuned to Patch for the business news that matters to you.
Tropical Smoothie Café Opens on Main Street in Smithtown
The Smithtown food landscape has grown with the opening of Tropical Smoothie Café. The eatery, located at 32 East Main Street near Mannino's Pizzeria & Restuarant and Baja Grill, is solely owned and operated by Stony Brook resident Dana Bush. Bush also owns another Tropical Smoothie Café location in Port Jefferson Station, which she opened roughly a year and a half ago. “My husband and I have been throwing around the idea of different franchises for a couple of years, never did anything serious about it, it started to look a little bit soft,” she said. “When I went into one of these I saw a franchise for sure, it seemed like the right fit.”
Franchise owner Scott Borland is launching the Jamba Juice name starting in Stony Brook with a location at 2460 Nesconset Highway to open within the next few weeks. "The location is great," he said. "Near Stony Brook University. The high school is close. It's a very busy center." The 1,600-square-foot space, once home to a deli, is a little bigger than what Borland said would typically be the ideal size for a Jamba Juice storefront because its Long Island headquarters will also be housed there.
New Store Bringing Olive Oil and Spices to Port Jefferson
Trading pink grasshoppers for olives, Candice and Ralph Muñoz will be opening a new store called The Amazing Olive at 230 East Main Street in Port Jefferson selling balsamic vinegars and extra virgin olive oil and other specialty oils complete with a tasting bar. The site used to be home to The Pink Grasshopper, a small clothing boutique that specialized in dresses.
Crepe and Rice Pudding Bar Planned to Replace Eat Piada in Port Jefferson
If you're desperately missing Eat Piada, then nothing soothes the soul like comfort food, especially a good rice pudding bar. A sign on the window at the Chandler Square retail space says this fall, that's exactly what's planned to replace the restaurant that closed down this summer. Maria Palmar, a local real estate agent, filled the space at 104 Main Street in Chandler Square. She said the couple who also own Ralph's Famous Italian Ices on Main Street took over the shop and plan to open a new place called "Sweet n' Savory."
Dick's Sporting Goods Opens in Commack
Dick's Sporting Goods celebrated the opening of its Commack location Friday morning, making this its 33rd store in the New York market. The store had been operating for the past three weeks, but Friday marked its official opening. The national sporting goods chain takes over the former Pathmark shopping center, building a new store at 6070 Jericho Turnpike near the East Northport border.
What's Still Empty? A Look at Recently Vacated Businesses in Miller Place and Rocky Point
Blockbuster out, Leslie's Swimming Pools in. Skybox out, Bench Warmers in. For the past year, Miller Place-Rocky Point Patch has been focusing in on empty businesses in the area; taking a look at what left town and what, if anything, came to replace it.
