While there aren't an abundance of fast food restaurants throughout Smithtown, one location never had the chance to sling burgers to fries to locals.
The cash registers, grills and deep fryers were never turned on at Wendy's on West Jericho Turnpike, next to . What was supposed to be a home to the fast food giant is now a haven for graffiti, the makings of a cesspool and weeds, caged-in by a locked chainlink fence.
In an email sent to Smithtown Patch, reader and 26-year Smithtown resident John Renda said this location has been an eyesore for several years.
"I've been a proud resident of Smithtown for 26 years, but this sight has been a disappointment to me for a long time," he said. "How can the town allow a sight like this to exist?"
Renda said he witnessed the construction of the building, which looked close to completion when the lights were turned on and the furniture placed inside, but watched the construction stop when it appeared that workers were beginning to install cesspools.
Since construction stopped the most activity on the location Renda said he witnessed was the recent boarding-up of windows.
The lone sign of hope for a tenant to take over this vacant property sits on the chainlink fence, a sign for Area Real Estate Associates, Inc. The sign features dozens of fast food restaurant chain logos – including Wendy's.
Multiple calls to the retail real estate company were not returned.
