New businesses have blossomed all around Huntington this year as the Covid-19 shutdown, mask mandates and other limitations gave way to a pent-up demand for new places to shop, dine or find needed services.
Several of the new venues were eagerly anticipated over lengthy stretches of time; others seemed to just pop up with little warning.
Among the new businesses are:
The Learning Cottage, a daycare center at at 34 West 16th St., Huntington Station, began operating in February. Fahad Khan and his sister, Bareerah Khan-Turner, are part owners in their mother Naheed Khan’s center.
Two young entrepreneurs, Tyler Brown and T.J. Arella, launched their wellness business, 8Well, focusing on all aspects of health and wellness. set up this spring at 52 Wall St., Huntington.
Dianne Vavra opened her boutique, Vavra New York, selling vintage bags, jewelry, and indie beauty brands in the spring. The shop is at 188 New York Ave., Huntington.
StretchLab Studio opened in East Northport on May 9. The business says that the studio helps people improve their fitness levels by working with their flexologists to improve range of motion, and reduce pain.
Northwell opened its new $10 million building at 400 Park Ave., which will provide both primary care services and multi-specialty care for women, in August.
A Ruth’s Chris Steak House opened its doors Aug. 15 in Melville. Located at 881 Walt Whitman Road, the restaurant offers prime steaks, fresh seafood, side dishes and desserts, craft cocktails and wines.
Carpaccio’s opened in September at Walt Whitman Shops. The Italian restaurant is a part of the Limani Hospitality Group.
Orthopaedic Associates of Manhasset started up Oct. 13 at 532 New York Ave. in Huntington, and brought on several specialists in hand and wrist repair, sports medicine, joint replacement and spine care. The Huntington office is the second on Long Island, with the first in Great Neck.
An At Home store opened in October in East Northport, part of the revitalized Huntington Square shopping center. The national chain has 258 stores in 40 states and is continuing to expand.
The Laundry City laundromat at 215 Depot Road, Huntington Station, launched in October. The self-service laundromat is open seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Embrace Home Loans opened in Melville in October. It is a national mortgage lender.
Wit and Whim moved into 187 Park Ave., Huntington, planning to shutter the doors of its Port Washington store in February. The gift shop offers a variety of vintage, locally handmade & modern merchandise.
The Twisted Cow Distillery opened at 13 Hewitt Square, East Northport in November. Entrepreneur John Pawluk remade the site previously occupied by Four Star Home and Variety Store.
The Next Chapter, owned by Mallory Braun, succeeded the Book Revue, whose demise was mourned by many from around Long Island, opened Dec. 3. Braun, a former rare books manager at the Book Revue, found a large place at 204 New York Ave., Halesite, and packed it with an eclectic mix of books while making room for future events. And customers. On a recent visit, the store was crowded, filled with customers thrilled to have an independent bookstore back in town.
Hanalei and Kula’s, which its owner describes as a shop “with a hippie vibe” opened in early December in Halesite. The shop offers clothing, books,wellness items, crystals, specialty perfumes, spa products, tinctures, jewelry, candles and more.
Chick-fil-A opened Dec. 8 on East Jericho Turnpike, in a parking lot previously used by Target. The eagerly awaited fast-food restaurant used its “heroes” award to honor Tri-CYA and Helping Hand Rescue Mission for their work with the needy.
KarinaNYC Skin Clinic opened Dec.10 at 345 New York Ave., the former home of Karina Freedman’s family-owned B. Freedman Jewelers.
Shop-Rite opened at Huntington Commons, AKA the Big H, on Dec. 11 to large crowds of shoppers eager to check out Huntington’s newest grocery store. The store, owned by Jonathan Greenfield, whose family has six ShopRite stores on Long Island, took over most of the space previously occupied by Kmart; the remaining space belongs to a Marshall store, which moved over from a different spot in the center.
A Greek restaurant, Noema, opened Dec. 19 at 7 Gerard St., with owner Lisa DiPinto offering a modern touch on traditional dishes. She brought award-winning Chef Nicholas Poulmentis on board.
Not every business activity involved new operations.
Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty officially opened its office Aug. 3 at the corner of Main Street and New York Avenue. The agency moved from Halesite into the highly visible spot on the northwest corner of Main Street and New York Avenue.
La Campania Pizza and Pasta in Greenlawn reopened under new owner Walter Edwards.
Konoba changed its name and menu in July, turning into Vinoteka 46.
A Public Lands store converted the space previously occupied by a Field & Stream store, and attached to Dick’s Sporting Goods, on Oct.21. The brands are all part of the same company.
The owners of Spinelli’s pizzeria decided to retire, and Sardo’s took over.
And while it hasn’t quite opened, Alkemy has moved into a prime spot at 260 Main St., with its plan for “an ice cream experience,” expected in January.
A handful of businesses closed or left Huntington for other communities. John’s Crazy Socks moved out of Melville for a bigger location in Farmingdale. Steinway Piano Gallery departed Melville for Manhasset.