New Hardware Store Proposed For Mattituck: Residents Cry Out Against Location

MATTITUCK, NY — A crowd of irate residents packed the Mattituck Presbyterian Church Monday night, waiting their turn to speak out for two hours against a proposal for a new hardware store on Main Road and New Suffolk Avenue they say could cause major traffic concerns — and prove deadly for pedestrians.

The meeting, hosted by the Mattituck Laurel Civic Association, focused on a plan by the family-owned Brinkmann Hardware, which has locations in Sayville, Blue Point, Holbrook and Miller Place, as well as a paint store in Jamesport, to close the Jamesport paint shop and open a new paint and hardware store at the Mattituck intersection.

Three representatives of the Brinkmann family asked the MLCA if they could come to discuss the proposal; no formal application has yet been submitted to Southold Town but the property is under contract, the Brinkmanns said.

Siblings Mary Neimeth and Hank and Ben Brinkmann, as well as architect Ray Nemschick, were onhand for a presentation and question and answer session.

Ben Brinkmann began the presentation by saying they were "working with Rich Orlowski," owner of Orlowski Hardware on Love Lane. When asked if they were buying out Orlowski Hardware, the Brinkmanns said "out of respect" for Orlowski's wishes, they could not comment.

"Rich is involved. He will be onboard. We're working as a team on this. Out of respect for him, I'm not going to get into details. We asked how far he wanted me to go. His words were, 'Less is more,'" Brinkmann said.

Those present defended Orlowski, some saying that he'd told them he was not, in fact, working with the Brinkmanns.

"I think we need to read between the lines and cut to the chase," Kevin Flaherty said. "When the dust settles, you have bought him out. There will only be one hardware store because that one will be gone. It's a buyout deal. When the dust settles, he's gone."

Former MLCA president Mary Eisenstein, serving as a moderator for the event, asked, "Is that a true statement?"

Brinkmann said again that Orlowski "asked us not to comment. We have a deal with Rich Orlowski."

Others voiced fears about what would happen if the Brinkmanns didn't get their special exception and decided not to open and then, Orlowski Hardware was no longer open. They asked if they'd be left with no hardware store.

"There will always be a hardware store," Brinkmann said.

Orlowski, he added, "will not be competing" with the new business.

Orlowski was not immediately able to comment when reached Tuesday morning.

Pat and Tony Brinkmann, who "started with nothing," opened in 1976, in a 1,200 foot store in the Carvel shopping center in Sayville, relocating in 1982, and later purchasing a building a 3,000 square foot building in Sayville, Brinkmann said.

The business expanded in 1986, the Brinkmanns said, and today, with four stores and the paint shop in Jamesport, the company has more than 70 employees and benefits, the Brinkmanns said.

In addition to offering propane filling stations at all stores, the Brinkmanns have unveiled net zero energy retailing, with "buildings that produce more energy that they consume," they said. Solar panels on the roof produce 100 percent of power; the buildings feature geothermal HVAC and LED lighting, as well as white cool roofs, they said.

The siblings said they "met with Orlowski in January and were able to work together. That's why we're here today."

Brinkmann said the hamlet business zoned parcel, 1.775 acres, will feature two buildings that total 20,000 square feet, 80 parking spots, meet greenspace and Suffolk Health County requirements, and is sited to maximize solar gain.

The building on the left is planned as a 12,000 square foot hardware store, with the 8,000 square foot building on the right including 3,000 square feet in the front for paint and 5,000 square feet in the rear for storage.

Egress, Brinkmann said, will be on New Suffolk Avenue, a pronouncement that sparked contention in the large crowds.

"A nightmare!" one woman exclaimed.

A special exception is needed to build the 12,000 square foot building instead of a 6,000 square foot structure as of right, Brinkmann said.

Those in attendance spoke passionately against the location for two hours.

"That corner is already a nightmare for people coming in and out and to have an entrance on New Suffolk, with traffic backing up. . .there are no words to describe how bad it will be," resident Linda Gallo said.

The issue of a traffic light came up. Brinkman said if a traffic study indicated that a traffic light and righthand turning lane was necessary, the family would pay the cost. The audience, however, denounced a traffic light idea.

Site not included in current traffic study

MLCA President John Carter said the current traffic study underway does not include a provision for development at that site.

Denise Geis asked if the family would consider a smaller, more appropriate size for the parcel.

"The reason the store is proposed at the size it is, is we feel we need to be competitive going into the future," Brinkmann said. "Big box stores have grown larger and with that growth and online retail competition we need to have a sizable shop with options."

Mattituck Chamber of Commerce's David Perrin asked about projected revenue and what kind of numbers were being discussed.

The Brinkmanns said the store is planned to be "roughly twice the size of Orlowski Hardware," with twice the traffic.

A steady stream of residents stood to cry out about traffic at a site that is already treacherous. 'What's going to be done to keep it from being even more dangerous?" one woman asked.

The Brinkmanns said their goal is convenience, with all parking on-site. Residents countered that shoppers would invariably walk across Main Road from Love Lane at an intersection that's already seen deadly accidents.

Others asked about the propane tank; the Brinkmanns said it's 1,000 gallons and sits off to the side and front of the parcel, not near an apartment currently next door.

Many other residents asked why the Brinkmanns don't consider one of the empty buildings that exist in Mattituck, such as the Capital One building in Mattituck, or a site on Route 48.

The Brinkmanns said the Main Road location was preferable for visibility. True Value, they explained, does not get involved with site selection.

Doris McGreevy asked about new jobs. The Brinkmanns said in addition to the two employees who'd come from the Jamesport store, there would be 25 new team members hired.

Cathy Simicich said the community has been waiting years for a turnaround on Route 48 and Cox Lane. "Depot Lane can't get a left turn" arrow, she said. She asked why the three thought they'd be able to solve traffic issues when the other problems have existed for years.

Many asked why the area needed a new hardware store with shops already locatedin Mattituck, Jamesport, Southold, Greenport and Riverhead.

The Brinkmanns said their new business model is to consolidate and add hardware to paint stores.

"It's clear we're not happy about your large store coming into our small community," Elise Martini said. "Do you really care? Will that change your mind? Does this change anything about the way you feel?"

"We wouldn't be here if we didn't care," Brinkmann said, adding they requested the meeting by choice, to speak to the community.

And, he added, while, "This room is filled with concerns, our project has been very well-received throughout Mattituck." He said he had no doubt the store would do well, and said the larger store would mean residents wouldn't have to make the trip to Riverhead in high-traffic summer months.

The crowd did not agree — with a steady stream standing to speak out in support of Orlowski.

"You're being evasive about what's going to happen to him," one resident said. "Rich is a local."

"You're cloning his business," one resident said.

Others said people come to Mattituck to escape the "hubbub" of other areas; now, traffic concerns are mounting, and some said they'd been in accidents at the proposed location.

Donielle Cardinale noted that residents "didn't seem overly keen" on the plan and asked why the Brinkmanns didn't consider another location, perhaps in Jamesport.

Brinkmann said they looked for more than a year for the spot. "We didn't just land on that corner. We had to find a site that met all the requirements. We've done extensive work," he said.

Others said the addition would mean traffic backed up for miles, especially during pumpkin season when traffic is already an issue.

"Do any of you live out here?" Angela McKenna asked.

The Brinkmanns said they are all from the Bayport and Sayville areas.

"The traffic out here is horrendous. You couldn't have picked a worse place to try and put something like this. This is not the right place," she said.

Others questioned why a 20,000 square foot retail space — the first in Southold Town — was necessary, with the square footage of both buildings larger than the CVS in Mattituck, they said.

"Why do you need this on Main Road?" they asked.

"Main Road exposure is better for us. You don't want this on a side street," Brinkmann said.

Others asked about the frequency and timing of delivery trucks, and whether those trucks could navigate the turn off Main Road and into the parking lot.

When asked about what they'd be bringing to the community, the Brinkmanns said in addition to new jobs and eliminating the need to drive to Riverhead, the business would increase the tax base and bring $40,000 to the Mattituck-Cutchogue school district.

"That's not enough," one man said.

Others asked if it would be a "dead deal" if the Brinkmanns did not get their special exception.

Brinkmann said they would not open in a 6,000 square foot space. "We see no reason why we would not get" the special exception, he said.

"I'm sorry you have to face this hostility," one woman said. "We're not against Brinkmann Hardware, it's the location. You have to understand our anger is larger than you and you are kicking a hornet's nest that is already in this community. It's the location you have chosen that's the problem."

One woman, who was a stakeholder on the Mattituck hamlet study organized under former Town Supervisor Josh Horton, said the recommendation for that parcel was "retail for human scale," including clothing or a small scale shop for a walkable community. "You are coming in with a concept that's very different. If you really want to be a good neighbor you would consider one of the empty buildings."

Brinkmann said big box stores are closer to 150,000 square feet, not the 12,000 square feet of the proposed main hardware store.

"We understand this is good for you," one woman said. "But the question is, 'Is it good for us'?"

Another woman added, "This is very much a question of the heart. We are concerned about people who already have stores here. Some of them are struggling. They have kids in college. If you saw them close, what would you say to yourselves?"

"Everyone here is pouring their hearts out. But there's a feeling that this is a done deal; you feel confident you'll get the special exception," one woman said. "Is there anything we can do to stop you?"

"Boycott!" another resident called out.

"Why would you be here if we don't want you?" a woman asked, adding that if they chose a more suitable location, residents would follow to shop there. "This is a tight-knit community. We take care of our own. Why are you digging your heels in here?"

"People who are trying to cross that street to get to you are going to die," another resident said.

Southold Town Councilman Bob Ghosio said the project "is not necessarily a given" and the Brinkmanns will have to go before the planning and zoning boards for their requested special exception.

Next, the Brinkmanns said, they will discuss all the input at Monday's meeting.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell and Southold Town Councilman Jim Dinizio also attended the meeting.

In an email after the meeting, Russell said, "The discussion regarding the hardware store was community involvement in action. I give credit to the applicant for his willingness to walk into the lion's den. From my perspective, a great deal of concern is the impact on traffic and the overall impact on safety. That is an over-riding concern on all applications in that area. That is very understandable."

Patch photos by Lisa Finn.