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Sunken Sub Shop Left Vacant [Empty in Smithtown]

Johnnie's Sub Side has been closed for months. And while the price keeps dropping, the building sits in wait on the real estate market.

For decades, slung sandwiches, salads and heroes – including the beloved "Sidewinder" – for the Smithtown community, operating out of its tan and red circa-1920 building at 75 West Main Street.

But in June, while signs outside said the shop was closed for renovations the truth was it really closed for good.

Today the 2,400-square-foot building, which includes the ground-floor deli and two apartments on the second floor, sits on the market for $375,000, with annual taxes of $11,418, according to the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island.

A building report from commercial real estate tracker Loop Net shows how the slumping economy over the past few years has dragged down the asking price.

When it was first listed for sale in 2005, the asking price was $695,000. Two years later, in 2007, the owner put the property in the market again, this time asking $749,000.

But by late 2007, the price had fallen to $649,000 and the owner took it off the market.

In 2010, the building once again hit the selling block with a much lower asking price of $450,000, and by the end of 2010 it had fallen to $400,000.

Today the former Smithtown landmark is handled by DeBarbieri Associates Realtor Eric Neitzel. It's another property on Main Street that's growing cold.

Do you have fond memories of Sub Side? Were you a patron?

Missed an earlier installment? Visit our Empty in Smithtown topic page and .

Camlle October 29, 2011 at 02:33 pm
Very sad to see it close ..
Matt(easy like Sunday morning) October 29, 2011 at 05:38 pm
My Memory, I was going to deliver food for them in 1991 wanted 25% off menu prices the old man wanted to pay me a $1 per delivery maybe it was a polite no. Truth is they did not need delivery as they probably at capacity. Nice guys, great subs
Camlle October 29, 2011 at 06:32 pm
It was a good place at one time . Food quality went down and prices went up. What a pity. Main St is it's way to becoming a run down ghost town.
Nicole October 29, 2011 at 07:22 pm
We miss going to Johnnie's. Always a nice place to have a great sandwich. Loved the sidewinder!
Camlle October 29, 2011 at 09:45 pm
GREED has put them out of business..
Sue October 29, 2011 at 11:06 pm
My family and I liked to pick up heroes after church on Sundays. The Sidewinder was our favorite. Johnny's will be missed.
Nicole October 30, 2011 at 12:41 am
I cannot help but reply to your harsh comment. Not only did we enjoy the food when we were at Johnnies, we enjoyed the company of the owners. They were lovely,. gregarious and altruistic. The walls were lined with thank you letters from charities to which they had donated food, and services.
Matt(easy like Sunday morning) October 30, 2011 at 02:33 am
Camile, you may perceive it as greed maybe your comparing their prices to other places like Subway, far less expensive but still very good. Places like Jonnies or even better Branchinelli's are very high quality. If I go to Branchinelli’s for Chicken Parm will be almost $9.00?, but I make my own
Camlle October 30, 2011 at 02:50 pm
GREED on the part of THE LANDLORD who owns the building,HIGH TAXES, HIGH UTILITIES , please don t put words in my mouth. I did not mean greed on the part of the owners of the sandwich shop.
Camlle October 30, 2011 at 02:51 pm
BTW, Subway is awful!
Matt(easy like Sunday morning) October 30, 2011 at 04:01 pm
ok, hurricane camile
Camlle October 30, 2011 at 04:14 pm
OMG. that hurricane was in 1969. I have not heard that in yrs. .. Listen, I feel very bad for the shop owners. I also had to close down my business .No choice. Again greedy landlord, high utilities . etc . Locked doors. walked away . Johhnnies Subside was a large part of Smithtown . Will be missed . I moved to this area from Nassau Co 1980 . as I had promised myself as a teenager driving thru area with friends. I loved Main St .The farms. The old toen feel/ All gone .I mourn the Smithtown I loved .
Camlle October 30, 2011 at 04:15 pm
typo . sorry . s/b .Old town feel ...
Ohhboy !!! October 30, 2011 at 04:33 pm
They had good onions here !
Camlle October 30, 2011 at 06:28 pm
,, MY former landlord drove around in a Bentley, owned several homes all over countries, home here on LI was No Shore, Nassau Co .We paid for everything .Yes we all had leases, but the CAM charges were very high . He could raise them as often as he wanted. We are not even speaking of utilities, insurance, etc. I tried to sell , but no luck . So I walked away for my health and sanity . BTW, I did not know he owned the building .When he opened , many yrs ago,Main St was very different then it is today . I try to avoid it when I can . It was a fantastic sub shop . I see the Quiznos across the street, is now a deli. I hope Main St can be revived . Always hope. I wish the family who ran the business the best of luck . Thanks for the info.
Camlle October 30, 2011 at 07:12 pm
My opinion that I am entilted to express, as you are yours. That is how I feel .There is more to this, but I chose not to tell it. "Every picture has a story" . . I will say I don t see things changing for the better. Progress in this area has caused much grief to many homeowners here.,as you are well aware of .Smithtown has a very high water table. As they keep building, the problem gets worse. Many meetings with professionals on matter. Have you attended any of the meetings .since you sell real estate in the area.
Nicole October 31, 2011 at 12:56 am
I still miss the sidewinder :)
Ohhboy !!! October 31, 2011 at 02:35 am
They were always cheap with their napkins !
Camlle October 31, 2011 at 03:12 pm
I also was at every meeting . Tony has been amazing. .Even after moving out of state he hs helped us . The problem has always been there, but you can't deny that overdevelopment has made it worse. 31 yrs in my home . 2010 was the worst I have ever experienced. .John Kennedy has also helped us . I thank both of them .
Camlle October 31, 2011 at 03:28 pm
I am aware of this .
Elisabetta October 31, 2011 at 06:53 pm
John Sr. was a wonderful guy. A major sweetheart. His son, however...left something to be desired. John Sr. was a great businessman. I really respect him. Junior was too wrapped up in personal business and his own gambling habit to have done too well if he was left to run the business by himself. Regardless, I'm sorry to see this place shut down. I hope that they didn't put it on the market because of Junior's irresponsibility. And, they were definitely cheap with the napkins! I used to notice that all the time while I worked there.
Camlle October 31, 2011 at 08:09 pm
About 20 yrs ago, there was a Philly Cheesesteak at the food court, located inside SmithHaven Mall .
Ohhboy !!! November 13, 2011 at 04:39 am
They had cheap toothpicks there as I remeber !
Stacey rosenberg May 17, 2012 at 01:00 am
Loved johnnies! Knew sr. & jr. Loved their sandwiches, always stopped in before a day on the boat! really sorry to see them go. All fond memories, hate to see another mom & pop store go out! Someone help the small businesses-
Dave May 23, 2012 at 11:01 pm
Was a personal friend of Johnny and his dad, I've moved to Florida and still dream about the taste of the sidewinders. Can't get a good hero down here for anything! I am very sad that my next trip home I won't be able to get one of my favorite foods growing up in smithtown. :(
judy thompson June 4, 2012 at 05:48 pm
johnny was excellent i went there with my mom and family since the day they opened. lived around the corner. was wonderful person son also great. wish they would return.
jude
Richard Currao June 14, 2012 at 03:48 pm
I worked at Subside in my Senior year of high school in 1992-93. It was a cool place to work. The Piscottia's were great people and very family oriented. The father and his son, John Sal, cared tremendously about the customer and taught me a lot about the food industry. I was sad to hear they closed their doors. It is getting harder and harder to do business on Long Island. Even years after I left, they always gave my mother a discount for all her party subs. Great people. They were Italian, of course they were great!

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