Patch looks back at some of the biggest business stories in North Hempstead.
1. Hain Celestial plans to relocate to Lake Success. The company aims to add 100 jobs in 10 years The Hain Celestial Group, a provider of natural and organic products, says it will expand its international corporate headquarters in Lake Success, and add 100 new jobs during the next decade.
The company, which currenlty has offices in Melville, plans to relocate 250 of its employees to new, leased office space in Lake Success, which Newsday described as 86,104 square feet at 1111 Marcus Ave., and once home to the United Nations.
2. R-Best Produce, a Bronx-based wholesale produce distributor, plans to move to Port Washington. The company’s principals also run Uncle Giuseppe’s, according to Newsday, which reported that the move would bring 51 jobs to Nassau in 2013, with another 12 more by 2017.
3. Pet Menu opens a new location in New Hyde Park. This dog and cat food business, started by Aharon Blachorsky and Abe Kanfer, opened its doors 22 years ago in Queens. Patch wrote about the shop’s New Hyde Park location in December.
4. Port Commons, a strip mall in Port Washington, is now fully occupied. New businesses include Bach to Rock, which has postponed its grand opening in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Also new to the mix, Smashburger, Sunny Nail Spa, Adult & Pediatric Dermatology, Vintage Grapes Premiums and Hand and Stone Spa. Meanwhile, 16 Handles just celebrated its one year anniversary.
5. Sen. Jack Martins congratulated Jamaica Bearings in New Hyde Park. The business received the Defense Logistics Vendor of Excellence award. Jamaica Bearings is a family-owned business that was started 78 years ago by Frank Negri. Now the company stands as the preeminent supplier of bearings and related products to the aerospace, military and a host of major industries around the world. The company is now under the leadership Peter Negri.
6. New shops coming to Great Neck Plaza. Coming soon: Bagel & Deli Cafe. And in January, Pinkberry, the frozen yogurt chain, expects to hold its grand opening.
7. Plans for the Soundview Movie Theater are still on Hold in Port Washington. Jordan and Dara Desner, from Plainview, have been trying to open the theater in the 183,400-square-foot shopping center, which has been in foreclosure. The Desners had hoped to open by Memorial Day 2012, and when that didn't happen, by Thanksgiving. But before they can move foreward, they first need Nassau County Supreme Court approval in order to begin renovations. Patch will report more as new information is revealed.
8. Patch is now in Great Neck. Editor Rich Jacques, who took the reins in the fall, is reporting the news and views in Great Neck, covering schools, sports, business, government and entertainment.
9. Mama Soup opened in Mineola, taking over the space once occupied by the Benchmark Café, which had gone out of business. Mama Soup took over the space at the start of the summer and began renovating the interior to mirror that of its College Point location, with a copper-tin ceiling and a replica pot hanging on the rear wall.
10. Deadlines loom for businesses needing Sandy assistance. Resources are available from federal, state and county government, and one filing deadline extended. North Hempstead business leaders attended a seminar at Harbor Links Club House in Port Washington in December to hear advice from federal, state and local officials on post-Sandy recovery. The event was sponsored by the Town of North Hempstead Business & Tourism Development Corp.
