Stew Leonard's in Farmingdale to Open in January

The countdown has begun.

Stew Leonard’s, a “food-lover’s wonderland,” will officially open the doors to its first Long Island grocery store in Farmingdale on Wednesday, Jan. 20, the company announced.

Known for its farm-fresh milk, “from scratch” in-store bakery, cut-to-order butcher shop, and fresh seafood department, the store will be located in Kimco Realty Corp.’s Airport Plaza shopping center, across from the Stew Leonard’s Wines of Farmingdale store.

The new 60,000 square-foot store will provide up to 400 jobs, many of them full-time, according to the company.

A Long Island location has been in the works for more than decade.

Founded as a dairy store in 1969 in Norwalk, Connecticut, the family-owned and operated store has three additional locations in Danbury and Newington, Conn. and in Yonkers.

The company has since made a name for itself for selling produce from local farmers.

For many food shoppers, the store is a destination, complete with a country-fair atmosphere, with costumed characters and animated entertainment throughout the shop, entertaining children while their parents shop.

At a time when shopping centers struggle with vacancies, many say Stew Leonard’s will be a welcome presence. Kimco’s Northeast Regional President Josh Weinkranz called Stew Leonard’s a “highly-regarded, one-of-a-kind grocer that will be a wonderful addition to the shopping center.”

Ronkonkoma-based J. Petrocelli Contracting began construction on the new store in early 2015, officials said.

Image: Courtesy Stew Leonard’s