What do you envision for Atlantic Avenue?
Businesspeople speak out
The Lynbrook village board is looking to lease the two vacant stores underneath the Long Island Rail Road trestle on Atlantic Avenue -- the old Mur-lees and Picker Pharmacy -- from the Metropolitan Transit Authority, who currently owns the two parcels of land, and renovating them.
Business owners on Atlantic Avenue had several ideas on what might fit best in the busiest stretch of the village's commercial district, and what might attract the most consumers to the commercial strip.
Michael Miller, owner of Miller's Hardware, said he thinks that an administration building, either for the school district or the village, would be a good fit in the two vacant stores. "Something like that will definitely bring people to the downtown," Miller said. "If people work down here, they'll probably shop down here. It would definitely make the village look better."
Other business owners, like Frank Sorrentino, who owns F&L Deli, said that a major franchise would be the best idea for the two vacant stores at 45 and 48 Atlantic Avenue. He said that Atlantic Avenue needs to be turned into a destination location. Consumers only come down to Atlantic Avenue, he said, with a specific purpose in my mind, rather than just to shop. "I think a major franchise, like CVS or Walgreens would be great," Sorrentino said. "There's no walking traffic here, so there needs to be a major draw."
Frank's cousin, Angelina's owner Vinny Sorrentino, disagrees. He said there are enough drug stores in the neighborhood and Atlantic Avenue would benefit the most if the two vacant stores were razed and turned into parking lots. Polly Talbott, owner of Al la Carte Culinary Service agreed with Sorrentino, and said that anything is better than what it is now. "I think anything would be a good fit," Talbott said. "There's nothing there. It's appauling." She added that a bookstore or music store could be a nice fit, but noted that something needs to happen soon.
"Why don't they just clear it out and make it a parking lot," Talbott said. "It can't get any worse than it is now."
