Huntington's Outback Goes 'Down Under'

A rendering on display at the Big H shopping center in Huntington shows plans to construct new retail stores behind the former Outback location in Huntington, but the iconic steakhouse won't be a part of it. 

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

The Outback Steakhouse restaurant in Huntington’s Big H shopping center has closed its doors as construction continues on the surrounding property.

Outback, which has stood on the corner of New York Avenue and Semon Road in the Big H for the last 20 years, permanently closed on Sunday night, according to Elizabeth Watts, the director of media and community relations for Outback’s parent company Bloomin’ Brands.

“The decision was based solely on business circumstances and has no reflection on the employees,” Watts said. “We appreciate the community’s support over the past 20 years.”

Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands, which also owns Carrabba’s, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s, operates a second outreach location in Commack that Watts said will remain open.

The decision to close Outback comes as Manhattan-based Urban Edge Properties, which operates the Big H, moves forward with construction to open additional retail stores in the basement of the former Outback location.

Plans received by the Huntington planning department in June of last year show that Urban Edge is looking to utilize approximately 11,120 square-feet of basement space under the former Outback and existing Astoria Bank as new retail space.

The basement was previously used as offices for the bank but is currently vacant, according to town documents.

The planned construction would open the basement to the exterior of the building with glass storefronts and entrances that can be accessed from a parking lot that is slated to be constructed on the side of the building closest to New York Avenue.

Plans show that, in order to make the lower level space usable, but the proposed parking lot area will need to be excavated in order to bring it into grade with the basement.

Urban Edge Properties did not return requests for comment before deadline Wednesday, the company’s website states the former Outback location is available for lease beginning Aug. 31.

Chorus Sings At Jets v. Giants Game

The St. Anthony’s High School Gregorian Schola appears on the jumbotron in MetLife Stadium just before they sang the national anthem ahead of the preseason matchup between the Jets and Giants.

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

Members of an elite high school chorus made it to the big leagues last Friday when they performed The Star Spangled Banner at MetLife Stadium before the preseason matchup between the Jets and Giants.

The St. Anthony’s High School Gregorian Schola, comprised of the best vocalists from the schools junior and senior classes, sang the anthem in front of a stadium full of football fans, as well as a nationally televised audience.

Brother Joshua DiMauro, who directs the Gregorian Schola along with Christopher Farrell, said the 65-member ensemble has performed at some big venues in the past, but nothing quite like a professional football stadium.

“This is another big feather in our cap,” DiMauro said.

DiMauro said the group had been practicing the national anthem for nearly a month leading up to St. Anthony’s graduation in June, so the students knew the song well.

The students arrived at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, home to both the New York Jets and Giant, while the players were still on the field for pregame warm ups.

“You could hear the kids’ excitement and see it in their faces when they saw the players just feet away from them,” DiMauro said.

The group had to be inside the stadium at around 4 p.m. for sound check ahead of the 7:30 p.m. kick off. DiMauro compared the experience to when St. Anthony’s Gregorian Schola performed at the Vatican in Rome.

“We were following a very strict second-by-second schedule,” DiMauro said. “We were able to get used to the acoustics of such a large stadium early in the afternoon during the sound check.”

St. Anthony's senior Konall Keane, who also plays on the high school’s varsity football team, said the experience was “so much different than singing at the high school.”

“There were a lot of nerves and excitement… all my emotions were just stirring when the crowd filled the stadium,” Keane said.

When it finally came time to perform on the field, the student’s didn’t disappoint. DiMauro said the stadium erupted during the final few lines of the anthem.

“The crowd in the area were yelling and screaming with applause once the sopranos hit that note, and I could see the faces of the kids… they were really pumped by that last howl of the crowd,” DiMauro said.

Keane said the experience is one he will never forget.

“I saw Eli Manning looking right at me,” Keane said. “Not many people can say that they sang the national anthem at an actual NFL game.”

Apartment Plan Seeks Final OK

An abandoned building currently at the corner of New York Avenue and Mill Lane in Halesite where a developer is planning a three-story, mixed-use building with nine apartments.
Long Islander News photo/Connor Beach

By Connor Beach
cbeach@longislandergroup.com

A developer is seeking final approval to construct a three-story building with nine apartments on New York Avenue in Halesite.

Plans first submitted to the Huntington planning department in 2016 show that property owner Vincent Abbatiello is planning to construct a 16,354-square-foot, mixed-use building on the corner of Mill Lane and New York Avenue.

The .5-acre, 110 New York Avenue property is the former site of Jorgensen’s Service Station, but now houses an abandoned building that is slated to be demolished if the plan is approved, according to site plans.

Plans show that the proposed mixed-use building would include 4,257 square-feet of retail space and around 1,100 square-feet of lobby and mechanical area on the first floor, as well as a small cantilever.

The second and third floors would contain nine apartments and have an area of 6,035 and 5,053 square-feet, respectively.

The property is currently zoned C-6, and town code permits the proposed building with apartments above commercial space.

Huntington-based attorney John Breslin, who is representing Abbatiello, said the town Zoning Board of Appeals granted a request for a “nominal” parking variance of “one or two spaces” last summer.

“Unlike a lot of the applications, this one has more than enough parking,” Breslin said, citing the 34 on-site parking spots provided in the plan.

The ZBA approval was granted with the condition that no restaurants can use the first floor retail space.

Breslin said that plans for the new building have been in the works for over two years, and Abbatiello is looking to move forward with construction “as soon as possible.”

“The building hasn’t been used in years,” Breslin said. “I think this proposal will be a tremendous upgrade to what is there now.”

The Huntington Planning Board was scheduled last night (Aug. 22) to make a conditional determination to approve the site plan.