Smithtown has its share of bars and pubs, and three weeks ago the town welcomed another one to the scene – Croxley's Ale House & Biergarten. The bar took over the .
While Croxley's will provide competition for the other local long-standing bars and pubs, owners and managers of these establishments feel that it will help, not hurt their business.
"It's always good to have people in town, it makes Smithtown a destination," said Brendan Dunfin, manager at on Main Street. "When people are in town they tend to bounce around, so it's good for everyone."
Chris Werle, one of the five owners of the Croxley's chain, agrees.
"No one is going to stay in the same place all night," he said. "They might warm up here and end up at Napper's to dance at night or get a bite here and drink there, whatever combination."
Although Napper Tandy's may believe Croxley's will help the other bars in the town, not everyone in charge of these local bars agrees.
"I think it would either help or hurt Napper Tandy's because it's closer and it's more of the same kind of thing, where we're more of a restaurant than a bar," said Laura Lombardi, manager of on Main Street.
Croxley's has locations in , Franklin Square, , Manhattan and Brooklyn. Werle said the surrounding area at each location has benefited from the opening of the bar.
"There's never been a situation like, 'you're killing me,' it's always been like, 'we're glad you're here,' because it's making us more of a destination town. And it's not just pubs, it's other shops as well," he said.
