Community Corner

Week in Review: New Business Opens; 2 Seek Year-End Openings

Check out the top local headlines from the past week.

Mercedes Dealership Could Open by End of Year

Mercedes Benz of Smithtown is looking to give locals a visual display from both inside and outside the dealership with its new facility, a building that could be open by years end or the beginning of 2013. 

“The openness of it will be very inviting. There will be no barriers visually from the street and inside of the showroom, so I feel like people will be drawn in a little more than they were,” said Nancy Buzzetta, vice president of Mercedes Benz of Smithtown. 

Buzzetta, who is also one of the owners of the Competition Auto Group, said the 9,500 square foot showroom with 22-feet between floor and ceiling would have the appearance of a light box or a display case, providing a look at all the cars in the showroom during the day and at night to better promote them.

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In the almost three months since Calvary Church of God of St. James opened they’ve endured vandalism, break-in attempts and a diminished congregation, but the church is still hopeful of offering successful services and growing within the community.

Calvary Church of God took over the former home to New Apostolic Church on Woodlawn Avenue on Aug. 1. 

Find out what's happening in Smithtownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“I had called them up to see if we could possibly rent from them on a Saturday night because they used it on Sunday and they told me that they were leaving,” said Debbie Capaldo, administrator at Calvary.

The church got its start in 1998 in a conference room at the Howard Johnson's in Commack, then moving to Bay Shore to a location they would occupy for eight years. The situation in Bay Shore became toxic, sparking the need to move.

Cafe Havana Could Open by December

Cafe Havana Bar and Grill has been closed since the summer but recent responses to locals on Facebook have indicated that the doors could be open once again soon.

The responses to questions from locals state the restaurant could re-open in December or January 2013.

While messages indicate all signs of re-opening, the restaurant's website still reads: "Due to a temporary renovation, our restaurant will be closed until further notice. We're sorry for any inconvenience!"

Office Now Vacant on Second Ave. [Empty in Smithtown]

Office space has just become available in St. James.

The top floor of the building located at 176 Second Avenue is now open for rent to any taker, on the real estate market for just two weeks. The bottom floor is the longtime home of Natalie Weinstein Design Associates.

The space on the top floor has seen some recent turnover as multiple businesses have occupied it, from a construction business to a design business, a retail fashion company and more.

According to its listing on MLSLI.com, rent for the 2,500 square foot location is $2,200.

For fans of Butera's deserts you could now pick up the treats found there and more every day as the former baker for the restaurant has opened Sweet Lucille’s Pastry Café.

The bakery, owned and operated by baker and Smithtown resident Lucille Kelley, opened Oct. 12 at 264 West Main Street in Smithtown.

Kelley was the baker of five years with Butera's for not only the Smithtown location but the Woodbury location as well.

She described the experience of opening a business in her hometown as "awesome, scary, risky, wonderful, exciting – all at the same time."

A fire destroyed a car and damaged a Nesconset home and garage Monday afternoon. Smithtown's Fire Marshal said the car is "a total loss."

Spatique Offers Pink Mask to Honor Late Friend

To honor a late friend, Spatique is offering a service during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The spa is offering French Pink Clay Mask for $10 with all of the proceeds being donated to the Love for Beth Foundation, named after Beth King, a friend of Dr. Marina Peredo and the staff at Spatique. King died from inflammatory breast cancer on Aug. 22.

If you've been to H2O on Main Street in Smithtown you're aware of the level of quality cuisine you'll be eating soon after you're seated. But have you met the ownership responsible for H2O being around to cater to you?


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