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Business News

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Photo from NEFCU

RIBBON CUTTING

Long Island based credit union NEFCU formally opened its 19th branch on the Island with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 4. Located at 356 New York Ave., Huntington, the 2,067-square-foot location first opened for business in late January. 

The event was attended by a number of NEFCU representatives and local officials including Town of Huntington Supervisor Chad Lupinacci (R) who presented NEFCU President and CEO John Deieso with a Certificate of Recognition. 

This marks the second Huntington area branch for the credit union after opening its doors in Huntington Station in 2015 at 721 Jericho Turnpike.

“We’re Long Island born and bred, and we’re continually looking for communities across this hard-working island to put down new roots,” said Deieso. “Suffolk County presents a great opportunity for us, and we’re rapidly making our name known as we move eastward. And we’re finding that existing and new members are attracted to our digital and mobile banking offerings that are augmented by an increased level of personal service.” 

In the photo, from left, Jillian Guthman, receiver of taxes, Town of Huntington; Lupinacci; Madeleine Sewell, NEFCU assistant treasurer; Deieso; Councilman Ed Smyth (R); and Michael Varriale, NEFCU branch manager.

Photo from Whole Foods

BREAD BREAKING CEREMONY

Representatives from the Northeast Regional division of Whole Foods held an official bread breaking ceremony (their version of a ribbon cutting) for its new store in Commack on April 3. Located at 120 Veterans Memorial Highway, the new 45,000-square-foot store employs 200 full- and part-time team members and is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

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Photo from Gurwin Jewish

The Gurwin Family of Healthcare Services of Commack was named the 2019 Best of Long Island winner in four health and wellness categories: Rehabilitation Centers, Assisted Living, Health Aides and Adult Day Care. This is the third consecutive BOLI win for the Gurwin adult day care programs.

“We are very honored to have been voted by the Long Island community as the Best of Long Island in four of the main services we provide,” said Stuart B. Almer, Gurwin’s president and chief executive officer. “Our mantra at Gurwin is to care for each resident as if they were our own loved one. The BOLI awards recognize our exceptional programs and the skillful, compassionate care our staff provides, whether in Gurwin’s nursing and rehabilitation center, assisted living facility, in our Adult Day Care program or as part of our home care program.”

Commenting on the trifecta win for Adult Day Care, program Director Jeraldine Fedoriw said, “The BOLI award is a testament to the person-centered care our team provides for each of the 130 individuals who attend our Adult Day Health Program on a daily basis. Their concern and compassion is evident in the engaging activities they create to promote socialization, the personal and medical attention they provide, and the hot meals and nutritious snacks they prepare. We are grateful to be recognized by Long Islanders with the BOLI award for the third consecutive year for the work we do to help our program participants continue to live in the community.”

Sponsored by Bethpage Federal Credit Union and published by Long Island Press, the annual BOLI awards recognize the top local businesses and organizations selected through a tally of more than one million votes cast by Long Islanders.

Photo by Elyse Sutton

Gap Inc. announced plans last week to close 230 of its namesake brand stores over the next two years as it works to restructure. Gap will close about 130 Gap stores, or more than half of the fleet slated for closure, in 2019.

Among those affected will be the Gap in Port Jefferson, located at 100 Arden Place, which will close on April 25 after 27 years in business.

The retailer will split into two publicly traded companies: Old Navy and a yet-to-be named company that will include the Gap brand, Banana Republic, Intermix and leisure labels Athleta and Hill City.

In a statement Gap said its remaining store fleet will be a “more appropriate foundation” for future growth.

Photo from Councilman LaValle's office

JUST KEEP SWIMMING

Councilman Kevin LaValle (R-Selden) joined representatives from the Middle Country Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk County Legislator Tom Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma), Assemblyman Douglas Smith (R-Holbrook) and residents in welcoming Goldfish Swim School to Centereach on March 2.

Owners Michael, Rodney and Blake George, Branden Yono and owner/operator Jake Atchoo received a Certificate of Congratulations from the Brookhaven Town Board; a Certificate of Recognition from Muratore and a Certificate of Merit from Smith who wished them well in their new venture.

Goldfish Swim School has 90 locations across the country. The Centereach location, located at 141 Centereach Mall off Middle Country Road, is the first in Suffolk County. Open daily, the facility offers indoor, year-round swim instruction to children ages 4 months to 12 years along with weekly family swims and birthday parties.

Pictured from left, LaValle; Michael George; Blake George; Jake Atchoo; Branden Yono; Rodney George; Bob Martinez, chief of staff to Leg. Muratore; and Samantha Heise, general manager.

For more information, call 631-405-4111 or visit www.goldfishswimschool.com/centereach/.

From left, Dan O’Brien, area director, Panera Bread, Doherty Enterprises Inc.; Jennifer Fitzgibbon, oncological dietician and coordinator for the Healthy Forks Survivorship program, Stony Brook University Hospital; and Jackie Boyd, general manager of Panera Bread at Stony Brook University Hospital. Photo from BML Public Relations

Panera Bread, makers of bread items, soups, salads, sandwiches and more, celebrated the grand opening of its new café at Stony Brook University Hospital, 101 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook on March 11. Owned and operated by franchisee Doherty Enterprises, the restaurant will employ about 60 people, according to a company statement.

Prior to its opening, the café and hospital personnel hosted a fundraiser for the Stony Brook University Cancer Center where employees donated directly to the Cancer Center, raising a total of $1,500.

The café is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is located on the fifth floor of the hospital in a newly constructed wing named The Brook.

For further information, call 631-632-6000.

The Whole Foods in Lake Grove, above, will soon be joined by a second Suffolk County store. File photo

Suffolk County is getting a second Whole Foods Market. The new store, located at the site of the former King Kullen at 120 Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack will hold a grand opening on April 3 at 9 a.m. with complimentary coffee and breakfast pastries offered at 8 a.m. Reusable canvas shopping bags will be handed out to the first 200 customers.

The market will be the fourth Whole Foods location on Long Island. The others are in Jericho, Manhasset and Lake Grove.

“We’re eager to open our doors to the Commack community,” said store team leader Lorraine Barker in a statement. “We look forward to providing our customers with a variety of products to meet all of their needs, while also offering the highest quality service and providing a neighborhood gathering space.”

According to a press release, the new 45,000-square-foot store will offer fresh produce, full-service butcher and seafood departments; an in-house bakery; a hot and cold prepared foods section; coffee and juice bars; beer from local producers; and 142 bins of bulk scoop items. It will also feature a fast-casual eatery that will serve wine and locally brewed beer on tap.

Owned by online retail giant Amazon, the Commack store will employ a total of 200 full- and part-time team members. Following the grand opening, store hours will be 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com.

ShopRite held a grand opening celebration for its newest store, a state-of-the-art, full-service supermarket in Port Jefferson Station, on Friday, March 8. Located at 5145 Nesconset Highway in Port Jefferson Station, the 68,000-square-foot supermarket will be operated by the Gallagher family.

During the ribbon cutting, the Gallagher family presented a check for $10,000 to Long Island Cares food bank, as well as $1,000 to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6249, Rocky Point.

The existing retail space was completely renovated to make way for a new ShopRite with a convenient shopping format. The store was outfitted with the latest energy-saving and sustainable technologies, including LED lighting and environmentally friendly, energy-efficient refrigerant systems. The parking lot was refreshed with new landscaping and lighting. The store will employ approximately 250 people, many of them local residents.

An in-store, registered dietitian will provide free nutrition and wellness counseling to customers, associates and the community, and the new store will also offer a large selection of organic, local and gluten-free foods and fresh produce. Expanded gluten-free options are available in grocery, bakery and the frozen aisle, and the store also offers a refrigerated dairy-free section.

“We are very excited to bring ShopRite to Port Jefferson with the opening of this state-of-the-art shopping destination. This new supermarket is committed to providing low prices, outstanding service and health and wellness options to the local community,” said Charles Gallagher, president of Gallagher Family Markets.

Charles and his wife, Judith, who also own and operate the ShopRites in Selden and Lake Ronkonkoma, will be joined by other members of the family in running the new store, which is now open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information, call 631-476-5717.

See more photos from the grand opening event at www.tbrnewsmedia.com/arts-lifestyles/.

All photos courtesy of BML Public Relations

Photo from Legislature Tom Muratore's office

RIBBON CUTTING

Legislator Tom Muratore’s staff joined members of the Middle Country Chamber of Commerce, Town of Brookhaven, other county officials and the crew at Planet Fitness to celebrate the grand opening of its newest location at 321 Middle Country Road in Selden in Selden Plaza next to Pet Depot, on Feb. 19. The event included a tour of the facility and a pizza celebration.

“I welcome Planet Fitness to the community as well as the shopping center where my district office is located,” stated Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma). “I also wish them much success in the years ahead.” 

“We’re thrilled to bring our new Judgement Free fitness experience to Selden, and we encourage everyone to come check out the new club, meet our friendly staff, get a tour and see what the Judgement Free Zone is all about,” said Rich Childs, senior director of Corporate Club Operations at Planet Fitness in a statement.

Pictured in the front row, from left, Planet Fitness staff members Jose Robles and Anthony Napoli; William Maggi, aide to Muratore; Cara Pagan, senior regional operations manager, Planet Fitness; Pastor Scott Kraniak, Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce; Doug Smith (R-Holbrook), New York State assemblyman 5th District; Bob Martinez, chief of staff to Muratore; Jeanette Spillane, Planet Fitness club manager; Thomas Heinlein, aide to Brookhaven Town Councilman Kevin LaValle (R-Selden); Ryan Gessner, assistant director, Middle Country Public Library; and Thomas Lupo, representing Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R).

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Stop & Shop announced on Jan. 4 that the company plans to acquire Long Island-based King Kullen. The purchase agreement will include 32 King Kullen supermarkets, five Wild by Nature stores and the use of King Kullen Grocery corporate office located in Bethpage. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2019, according to a press release. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“King Kullen is a well-respected grocery chain in the Long Island market that has an 88-year tradition of excellent customer service,” said Mark McGowan, president of Stop & Shop, in a news release. “We look forward to bringing our quality, selection and value to more communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties.”

King Kullen, which opened on Jamaica Avenue in Queens in 1930, is recognized by the Smithsonian Institution as the America’s first “supermarket.” 

“Our family has been in the grocery business for 88 years,” Brian Cullen, co-president of King Kullen Grocery Co., said in a statement. “Recently, we determined that the best option for our family and our associates was to merge King Kullen into Stop & Shop.”

“As a family-owned and operated business, we are very proud of our heritage and extremely grateful to all of our associates and customers for their support over the years,” he continued, adding, “We are confident the Stop & Shop brand will carry on our legacy of service in the region. It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of the fabric of this Island for all these years.”

In Suffolk County, King Kullen has locations in Blue Point, Bridgehampton, Center Moriches, Cutchogue, Eastport, Halesite, Hampton Bays, Huntington Station, Lake Ronkonkoma, Lindenhurst, Manorville, Middle Island, Mount Sinai, North Babylon, North Patchogue, Shirley, St. James and Wading River while Wild by Nature stores in Suffolk County are located in East Setauket, West Islip, Hampton Bays and Huntington.

It is not yet known whether the stores being acquired will continue to operate under their current banners or become Stop & Shop.