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Photo from Town of Brookhaven

On Oct. 10, the Brookhaven Business Advisory Council (BBAC) hosted its 15th annual Building Business in Brookhaven Expo at Town Hall. The event, which attracted 450 local business people and 100 vendors, focused on business networking and included a trade show with booths highlighting local, regional and national companies that service businesses in Brookhaven Town.

The expo was presented by the Town of Brookhaven Division of Economic Development in partnership with the Brookhaven Business Advisory Council and the Town of Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency (IDA). 

Pictured from left, Brookhaven Town Director of Economic Development/IDA CEO Lisa Mulligan, BBAC President Henry Bramwell, BBAC VP Brian Cohen, Councilman Michael Loguercio, Councilwoman Jane Bonner; IDA Deputy Director James Tullo, Supervisor Ed Romaine and Councilwoman Valerie M. Cartright.

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Steven and Wayne Rampone Jr. hold images of the Ford dealership when they opened the Route 347 location. Photo By Leah Chiappino

By Leah Chiappino

With a vintage Ford planted in the showroom, the Ramp Ford Dealership in Port Jefferson Station evokes a feeling of nostalgia right as you walk in. Founded in 1944 by Alfred Rampone, the dealership is celebrating 75 years in business. As the oldest family-owned Ford dealership in Suffolk County, it has seen four generations of Rampone family ownership. Currently, Steven and Wayne Rampone Jr., are partners along with their father, Wayne Rampone Sr.

Alfred Rampone during the original founding of the dealership. Photos by Leah Chiappino

“I guess you could say [the business] is in my blood,” Wayne Rampone Jr. said.

The story goes that Alfred worked as a sales representative for Chevrolet, who denied his request to open his own dealership. However, when he reached out to Ford they came through on his request. They offered him a spot in Quogue or Port Jefferson. He chose the latter to make it easier to commute from his New Hyde Park home.

Originally, the dealership was located in lower Port Jefferson village at what is now the Chase Bank building. It operated with a handful of vehicles with a single salesperson and mechanic. The Rampones expanded to their current location on Route 347 in the mid-1960s. Today, they employ 45 people, who call themselves the “Ramp family,” and sell both vehicles and parts, as well as service vehicles. 

Rampone Jr. says their business model has remained the same all this time. 

“We are a customer-focused and customer-centered dealership,” he said. “We take pride in me being able to say we are a family-owned business and we literally treat our customers like family. When they walk in the door, we know them by name. We take care of each other.” He added their bond with the community has been instrumental to their success.

As part of their business model, owners said the dealership attempts to give back to the community in place of traditional advertising. They sponsor Little League teams, contribute to church organizations, and are deeply involved with Hope House Ministries. 

 “We spend a lot of time, a lot of money, and a lot of energy in the community,” Rampone Jr. said. “We believe if we give back to the community, they will give back to us.”

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Northport Chamber of Commerce President Jim Izzo, Katheryn Laible, Beth Atkinson, Katheryn Laible and Drigo Morin at last Thursday’s event.
Managing partners of the Firefly Artists cut the ribbon to their new gallery.
The Firefly Artists managing partners, from left, Katheryn Laible, Beth Atkinson and Drigo Morin accept a proclamation from Huntington Town board from Supervisor Chad Lupinacci at last Thursday’s event.

RIBBON CUTTING

The Northport Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting to mark the official grand re-opening of The Firefly Artists art gallery at its new larger location at 162 Main St. in Northport on Oct. 17. 

The celebration was attended by chamber President Jim Izzo, Northport town trustees Mercy Smith and Tom Kehoe, Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci, Firefly artists, members of the community, friends and family. The event also kicked off the gallery’s fall exhibit, Autumn Works, featuring the work of the Firefly artists, on view through Nov. 30. 

“Northport is a wonderful community, and it is a privilege to get to work with so many wonderful local artists and other businesses right here on Main Street,” said Katheryn Laible, a Firefly artist who recently became one of the group’s managing partners, in a press release. 

For more information, call 631-651-5545 or visit www.thefireflyartists.com.

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The Lofts at Maple and Main is the first commuter oriented aparatment complex planned for Smithtown.

Developers have broken ground across from Smithtown Town Hall at the former site of Nassau Suffolk Lumber and Supply Corp., where a new three-story, 71-unit apartment complex with 15,000 square feet of new retail space will be constructed over the next year and a half.

The private project, called The Lofts at Maple and Main, sits one block from the Smithtown commuter train platform and is one of the first transit-oriented developments in the town. The concept expects to offer affordable places to live along the NYC commuter lines to help retain and attract young people, which will also help grow the economy. The units, also an option for empty nesters looking to downsize, are modeled after similar downtown rental projects constructed in Patchogue and Port Jefferson. It’s expected to generate $250,000 in tax revenue and result in 50 new jobs. 

“This is what we need to be doing all over Long Island,” said County Executive Steve Bellone (D).

State Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown) called the project Smithtown 2.0. He explained that first shopping malls and now online retailers have drawn people away from downtown areas. The apartments, situated on 3.6 acres, are expected to help eliminate the blight to create a more vibrant downtown area.

Revitalization projects generally await the approval and state funding for new sewers. But the apartments have interim plans for handling wastewater. The town expects public sewer construction to follow the timeline of the Kings Park project, which will likely start in April 2021 with completion in Oct. 2023.

“We are going to proceed with the project even though the Smithtown sewer project is still pending,” said Anthony DiCarlo, the son of VEA 181 Realty Corp. principal, Salvatore DiCarlo. “When the sewers are ultimately installed, we will be required to hook up.”

The town supervisor’s spokesperson Nicole Garguilo has said that the project is totally private and has received no government subsidies.

Over the last 12 years, the project has been entrenched in controversy. After the East Hampton-based developer bought the site in 2008, it violated a Smithtown stop work order and in 2009 illegally demolished the building. After piles of debris and concrete were hauled away, the situation became the subject of a 2011 Suffolk County Grand Jury investigation alleging that an unnamed town official recommended demolishment to save taxes. Ultimately, no charges were filed, but board members voted in July 2014 to tear down the already demolished structure and adjacent buildings and approved the site plans for The Lofts at Maple and Main at its August 2018 meeting.

Smithtown’s planning department reports that the project has a site-work-only permit and still lacks a building permit.

Anthony and his brother Jared DiCarlo said that the one-bedroom units will rent for under $2,000 a month and the two-bedroom units will likely cost under $3,000. The 80-minute commute to Manhattan and the projects proximity to I-495, Route 347 and the Smith Haven mall, they predict, will be appealing. The retail space is expected to cost about $25 per square feet. Details, though, are still preliminary.

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Passerbys accept free flowers as part of the Society for American Florists Petal It Forward campaign from Flowers on Broadway. Photo by Kyle Barr

On a busy Wednesday morning, as people moved in between the parking lot and Planet Fitness along Route 25A in Rocky Point, two young women held fistfuls of flowers, arms outstretched. 

Carmen Pettus from Sunshine Barre Studio accepts flowers from Li Guo. Photo by Kyle Barr

As part of the trade association Society of American Florists’ Petal It Forward campaign, Rocky Point flower shop Flowers on Broadway looked to make people’s early day commutes a little more colorful. 

Taylor Wagner and Li Guo, who both work for Flowers on Broadway, handed out bouquets to those passing by. Some looked confused at them as they presented the flowers, others questioned if the pair wanted anything for the flower arrangements. They were free, they said, and would get two so they could pass one onto the next person they see.

One man offered a bouquet said, “I don’t do flowers,” while others, like Carmen Pettus, the owner of SunShine Barre Studio in Rocky Point, said the flowers “made my day.”

Wagner, a junior designer at the flower shop, said she’s often surprised how many people seem estranged by the thought of free flowers.

“We went to the Blue Grass concert last weekend, and we were handing out flowers, and most of the guys said, ‘No, I don’t want flowers,’ while a lot of the women said, ‘Oh yes, flowers,’ she said, laughing to herself. “It’s amazing, it’s just a bunch of daisies guys.”

Passerbys accept free flowers as part of the Society for American Florists Petal It Forward campaign from Flowers on Broadway. Photo by Kyle Barr

Over the course of the day, the duo stopped at three places, the RP Planet Fitness, outside the Pompei Pizza in Rocky Point and by Branchineli’s Pizzaria in Miller Place. By the end of the day, they had given out 300 bouquets to around 150 people.

Stephanie Navas, the owner of Flowers on Broadway, learned about the yearly event being put on by the flower society the past several years.

“We wanted to give back to the community that’s supported us all these years with a small act to brighten their day,” Navas said. “Through the positive effect of flowers, we hope to make someone’s day special, and provide a much-needed moment of calm amidst the hectic pace of life.”

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Photo from Gurwin

Fountaingate Gardens, the proposed Life Plan Community (also known as a Continuing Care Retirement Community) sponsored by Gurwin in Commack, recently revealed its plans to begin construction on the 129-apartment community in spring 2020. 

The announcement came at an exclusive luncheon event for members of the Fountaingate Gardens Founders Club, early adopters of the community and the lifestyle concept it will provide. So far, more than 75 individuals and couples have chosen their new homes and secured preconstruction pricing by placing a deposit on their future residence of choice.

“We’re here to celebrate that Fountaingate Gardens will be a reality in just a few months, as we are ready to break ground this coming spring,” said Herbert H. Friedman, founding executive vice president and former CEO of Gurwin, who is now consulting on the Fountaingate Gardens project.  “We’ve been listening to the Founders Club members, further developing our plans, and now it is all about to come to fruition.” 

The celebration took place on Sept. 24 at The Hamlet Golf & Country Club in Commack, directly across the street from the future site of the community. Fountaingate Gardens’ newest site plan, floor plans and community renderings were shared with the Founders Club members before being released to the public.

“It was wonderful to see the updated renderings and hear a little more about what our new community at Fountaingate Gardens will look like,” said one Founders Club member who attended the lunch with her husband.  “We’ve been interested since the day we learned about it; we can’t wait to move in!”

According to a press release, when built, Fountaingate Gardens will provide residents a well-connected, wellness-focused active lifestyle alongside an array of new independent living apartment homes. Its status as a Life Plan Community, an uncommon living concept in the area, will also provide residents long-term peace of mind and financial security.

Pictured above, the Fountaingate Gardens team with a rendering of the new retirement community.

For more information, visit www.fountaingateli.org.

Photo from Gurwin

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Stephen Bello

Bello appointed Executive Director

Northwell Health has appointed Stephen Bello as the new executive director of its Eastern region, which includes Glen Cove Hospital, Plainview Hospital, Syosset Hospital, South Oaks Hospital in Amityville, Huntington Hospital, Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson and Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead along with ambulatory care centers. 

“Northwell Health’s Eastern region has seen a great deal of growth in recent years and I look forward to bringing more new services and programs to Eastern Nassau County and Suffolk County,” said Bello. 

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Photo from Northwell Health

GoHealth Urgent Care, together with its partner Northwell Health, recently opened a new Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care center to serve the communities of Huntington and Centerport. Located at 241 East Main Street in Huntington, next to the Huntington Crescent Club, the new center offers convenient services such as onsite laboratory and X-rays, electronic medical record integration with Northwell Health, with day/walk-in visits and short wait times, extended hours and are open on weekends and holidays.

“We’re excited that the Huntington and Centerport communities will have another Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent care center right in their neighborhood,” said Sarah Arora, New York market president. “Our centers provide unmatched customer experience and top-quality urgent care, allowing patients to stay within the Northwell Health network they already know and trust.”

“Northwell Health’s partnership with GoHealth Urgent Care will continue to provide patients with a more personalized and innovative urgent care experience,” said Adam Boll, executive director of Joint Venture Operations at Northwell Health. Call 631-812-2873 for more information.

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Photo from MapQuest

Furn-A-Kit, a staple in Holbrook for almost 30 years, closed its doors earlier this week. The store, which described itself as “the Nation’s Largest Ready to Assemble Furniture Supercenter” opened at 719 Broadway Ave. in 1991. The announcement was made on the store’s website and social media pages. 

“After serving the Long Island community for more than 28 years, Furn-A-Kit will be closing its doors for good. We’re moving on to new endeavors and thank the tens of thousands of customers who have trusted us enough to make us part of their home.”

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RIBBON CUTTING

After almost six years of running their online business, Chocology Unlimited, the Johnson family -— Linda, David and Madeline — recently took the step of opening a brick and mortar shop at 1099 North Country Road, Stony Brook. 

A two-day celebration, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, took place last weekend. The Johnsons were joined by family, friends, chocolate lovers and Councilwoman Valerie Cartright, who presented the Johnsons with a Certificate of Congratulations on behalf of the Town of Brookhaven and wished them well on their new venture. 

“We are so proud to have you as another business in an established place where I can come every day to get some chocolate!” said Cartright.

“A  visit to our shop is fun, educational and very, very tasty.  It’s a celebration of all things chocolate,” said Linda Johnson.

The celebration featured chocolate tastings, live music by Robin Eve and Don Michael Prager, a reading and book-signing event by children’s book author Darren Sardelli, a magic show by The Amazing Alexo, demonstrations by Karen Gebbia of NY Academy of Makeup and  a reading and book signing by children’s author Stephanie Sorkin. 

Chocology features different chocolates from unique vendors from all around the globe. Some of their products include fudge, artisan chocolates, bean to bar chocolates, along with Kosher, paleo, nut-free and gluten-free items. 

Proceeds from their fudge sales are always divided among three charities — Americas VetDogs, Stony Brook Cancer Center and their Kindness Campaign.  

Store hours are Monday and Tuesday by appointment, Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For further information, call 631-901-7151 or visit www.chocologyunlimited.com.

— By Heidi Sutton

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