Vacancies Remain on Bellmore Avenue

Among the eateries, nail salons and auto repair shops on Bellmore Avenue--vacant storefronts remain.

In today's economy, shuttered businesses can be seen all around town.

According to Ray Radziski, owner of Ray's Barber Shop on Bellmore Avenue,  a former catering company at 1905B Bellmore Ave., has been closed for around two years. Radziski said that the vacancies show how difficult it is for businesses to stay afloat in a down economy.

" Business has been slow for me," he said. "This block is doing OK, but not great."

Vinny Vacchio's  Super Pizza  has been on Bellmore Avenue for 32 years. Vacchio's pizzeria is adjacent to the former Swim World, a swimming pool supply store located at 1849 Bellmore Ave. He said the storefront has been closed for about two years.

"It has been closed a while," he said. "Things are not how it used to be and business is slower for me than usual. You have to work harder than before."

When asked what type of businesses they would like to see fill the vacant spaces, both men said they were uncertain.

"You really have everything you want here," Radziski said. " I just don't know."

Vacchio said that starting a business anywhere would be very risky.

"I would not open anything right now," he said. "You would be taking a serious chance in this recession."

Bellmore Patch will regularly spotlight vacant commercial properties in effort to initiate a discussion within the community about alternative uses for these abandoned places. If you'd like to know more about a specific property, please comment below.