Business & Tech
From Vacant Storefront To Thriving Kitchen — With A Little Help
From a brand partner: Lisa Basini says her Business First Advocate was a resource she couldn't have done without.
When Lisa Basini opened The Baking Coach in a long-vacant storefront at the Bellport Outlets, she was doing what most small business owners do—managing everything at once.
The space had been empty since 2005. Renovations were extensive. Ovens, refrigerators, and freezers were running daily. Cash flow was tight in those first critical months.
“We use a lot of energy because of the nature of the business,” Basini said.
After researching resources online, she reached out to PSEG Long Island—and that’s when she connected with her Business First Advocate Harley Spinks.
Instead of navigating programs alone, Basini had a direct point of contact.
“They care,” she said. “They show how much they care about the small business.”
Harley helped her understand what incentives were available from the power provider and guided her through a Business First offering, which supports businesses moving into storefronts that have been empty for at least one year.
“It said it had to be empty for at least one year,” Basini recalled. “And I’m like, man, I’m in!”
With Harley’s support, she qualified and received about $3,200 in credits. The savings were applied directly to her electric bills during her first year in business.
“It really, really helped with the first overwhelming year in business,” Basini said.
For Basini, the impact wasn’t just financial—it was practical.
As a new storefront owner juggling contractors, inspections, and programming, having someone accessible to answer questions and explain the process made a difference.
“I really feel like I have a personal connection,” she said of working with PSEG Long Island.
That relationship made her confident that she wasn’t navigating the early stages of business ownership alone. With monthly credits easing pressure while her revenue ramped up, she could focus on building her programs—teaching children, families, and differently abled adults to bake, learn, and grow.
Today, the once-dark storefront is a bright, active classroom kitchen. And for Basini, having a Business First Advocate in her corner helped turn a complicated first year into a manageable one—proving that sometimes the most valuable support isn’t just funding, but guidance when you need it most.
