Business Beat: Online Deals Go Hyperlocal; Parking Fees a Problem for Business

Across northern and central Suffolk County, new businesses are popping up, business owners are busy coping with the economy and navigating municipal processes before getting ready to open. Here are some of the latest business developments in the area.

Setauket Resident's Answer to Online Deal Websites

Move over, Groupon and LivingSocial. There's a new deal in town. Setauket resident Rafael Vasquez has launched a new business, AllDealsLocal, which he describes as a hyperlocal take on websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial. So far, AllDealsLocal has partnered with places such as Ann Marie's Farm Stand, Setauket Village Diner, and The Dish to offer discounts.

Lowe's Submits Revised Plans for Smaller Commack Store

Lowe's is taking the next step forward in converting the former Commack Cinemas into a massive home improvement center. Lowe's submitted revised building plans for a 166,000-square-foot  home improvement store and garden center to Smithtown Planning Department on Oct. 18. It will come up for a public hearing before the Planning Board on Nov. 7 and could be approved the same night. The home improvement franchise's newly revised plans shrink the size of the proposed store's retail area by 21,925 square feet, down from its inital plans for a 187,925-square-foot store. The proposed building would be more than double the size of Commack Cinemas Multiplex, which was  71,700-square-feet.

Parking in Port Jefferson has become a hot topic, from the types of meters being used to the effect paid parking has had on businesses. For one shop owner, the situation became too much to bear. This year, village resident and shop owner Lori Madrid decided to close Lavender Fields after a decade on East Main Street and the reasons are very clear. “The decision was made due to the parking situation and the high rent,” Madrid said. "We lost many, many customers after the meters went in.”

'Crazy' Dream Becomes Realty for Crazy Beans Owner

Callie Brennan has had plenty of experience in the food service industry, but a wild dream to open up her own place has now come true with the opening of Crazy Beans coffee shop and bar in Miller Place. Located where the now defunct Beanberry Caffe once was, Brennan is looking to create a unique space where coffee, food and beer lovers can all go and enjoy.

P.F. Chang's Hearing Before Smithtown BZA Postponed

P.F. Chang's plans for a proposed Smith Haven Mall location will have to wait a little longer. P.F. Chang's public hearing before Town of Smithtown's Board of Zoning Appeals was postponed on Tuesday night due to lack of adequate company representation. It has been rescheduled for their November meeting. Adrienne Giannadeo, BZA chairwoman, would not let Andria Pacinelli, P.F. Chang's Regional Director of Development, speak on behalf of the company without being given power of attorney. Pacinelli said the company will be modifying its variance requests submitted to the Town of Smithtown. It will dropping its requests to increase maximum number of ground signs from 1 to 2, and the request to increase the maximum size of a ground sign from 32 square feet to 141 square feet.