Bohemia just got a taste of Italy last week as the venerable, Italian-themed Long Island supermarket chain Uncle Giuseppe’s opened its twelfth location on Thursday.
The new store occupies the former site of the Babies “R” Us in the Sayville Plaza just off Exit 50A of Sunrise Highway (NY-27).
Doors opened promptly at 11:00 a.m. last Thursday, but not before the grand ribbon-cutting, which was accompanied by tastings, music, and Uncle Giuseppe’s staff dressed their best to greet new customers. Inside the packed store, Neil Dankman serenaded shoppers up and down the aisles with crooner classics of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and more.
Elected officials in attendance included Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip), New York State Senators Mario Mattera (R-St. James) and Alexis Weik (R-Sayville), Islip Town Councilman John Lorenzo (C-West Sayville), and Islip Receiver of Taxes Andy Wittman (R-Sayville).
“This is a great opportunity for our district to see good growth and businesses expanding; I’m so excited to have it here,” Senator Weik told The Messenger. “I know this parking lot is going to be packed every single day from now. This is a great addition to our community.”
Of the countywide conversation of redeveloping old and/or blighted properties, Weik said that the transformation of the vacant store will only encourage more businesses to come.
“Other businesses know that this parking lot will be packed. This is the draw to the area,” said Weik. “We have great growth happening here, as well as at Sunset Mall. I think Uncle Giuseppe’s is a big anchor that will pull everyone in. I’m so grateful that they looked at this place and that the Town of Islip got it approved so quickly.”
Shoppers cast no doubt about their pleasure with the new addition to the neighborhood.
“It’s excellent. They have so many people in there to help you find what you need. They’re very kind and courteous,” Rich, of Sayville, told The Messenger. “I would definitely come here again to shop. I’ve shopped at the Smithtown location; this is much more comfortable. It’s nice having it just down Sunrise Highway.”
“This location is smaller than their other ones, but I like that,” two shoppers, one from East Islip and the other from Blue Point, told The Messenger. “It has better parking and we’ve got something closer than the ones in Smithtown and Melville.”
Inside, the store boasts grab-and-go sandwiches and paninis, a fully stocked espresso bar, prepared pizza and stromboli, quiches and pot pies, and mozzarella cheese by the fistful. Seafood, butcher, and bakery counters, while staples in any supermarket, are a point of pride for Uncle Giuseppe’s – all contained in the Bohemia location. The Italian trademarks of the insalata counter, the salumeria, the pasticceria, as well as fresh olives and antipasto are all up for grabs as well.
Uncle Giuseppe’s is located at 5181 Sunrise Highway (NY-27) in Bohemia and can be reached at 631-350-4455. The store is open weekdays from 7:00a.m. to 10:30p.m. and weekends from 7:00a.m. to 9:30p.m.
