Meadow Commons will house seven new stores

The Meadow Commons retail plaza will open in the spring if snow does not interrupt construction. According to property owner Saeed Ahmed, of Syosset, the new businesses could be open within three months.

Ahmed, whose sister lives in North Bellmore, began looking into the East Meadow Avenue property more than two years ago and said he is very familiar with the area. He wanted to develop the land for years, but it took time to wait for variance approvals and architectural adjustments.

When the Herald spoke with Ahmed last week and asked if he knew which businesses would occupy the space Ahmed said, “Not at this minute, but I’m expecting to bring in some quality tenants. I started getting some calls.” Ahmed did hear that a veterinarian might be interested in the property, but was not contacted directly.

“I’m certainly pleased with development [and] I think the project is progressing along nicely,” said architect Mark Vincent Kruse of RMB Drafting Services, Inc.

However, Ahmed admitted that the economy is a concern. “[It is] always up and down, but it’s been down for some years so hopefully it will come around,” he said. Ahmed added that a dipping economy is a “double-edged sword” because he was able to negotiate with contractors. “Hopefully by the time the building is done I’ll be able to rent it,” he said.

There will be seven stores at the location and each store will be roughly 950 square feet. “There will be parking in front; enough for all of the stores,” added Ahmed.

Residents and business owners alike are patiently waiting to hear which stores will open in Meadow Commons, but many are also concerned about potentially empty storefronts.

“I can’t see why they’re building. There are so many stores as there is,” said John Castellina, owner of Angelo’s Pizzeria. He does not think another pizzeria would open in the complex but added, “There’s always a concern.”

Owner of A&C Pest Managing Jim Skinner said, “I’m not concerned about competition . . . I don’t think too many other exterminators are going to move in.” However, he is worried there might be more empty storefronts in the community. Additionally, with some parking spaces for Meadow Commons on the opposite side of East Meadow Avenue, safety is concern. “East Meadow Avenue is not the easiest to cross,” he said. “The last thing we want is for someone to get hurt.”

The Meadow Commons will stand where Savini’s Crystalbrook once flourished. The catering hall hosted thousands of celebrations including weddings, christenings and bar mitzvahs. Before the building was demolished, it also housed a furniture store that was open on a seasonal basis.