Pictured are Councilman Dan Panico, Supervisor Mark Lesko, Legislator Ed Romaine, owner Jim Cantwell and staff at the Buckley’s Irish Pub ribbon cutting ceremony.

Farmingville, NY – On September 28, Supervisor Mark Lesko and Councilman Dan Panico celebrated the ribbon cutting at Buckley’s Irish Pub located at 386 Main Street in Center Moriches. The new restaurant was built on a site that had been vacant for nearly five years. It was identified as a “monument to blight” in the Supervisor’s “Blight to Light” initiative. The new building also includes office space on the second floor. “It’s great to see Buckley’s back in business on Main Street,” said Supervisor Lesko. “Replacing a blighted property with this beautiful restaurant really provides an economic boost to the Center Moriches downtown business district. I wish Jim Cantwell and the staff of Buckley’s the best of luck.”

"Since taking office last year I have put a high emphasis on helping businesses redevelop in furtherance of rebuilding our economy and job market," commented Brookhaven Town Councilman Dan Panico. "Buckley's Irish Pub is a success story that rebuilt out of the ashes after a fire and is part of the rebirth of downtown Center Moriches that now boasts a very attractive night life. When you drive down Main Street you are starting to see signs of life and vitality as both Buckley's and the newly reopened Sea Cove serve their very happy customers in our newly revitalized downtown."

Buckley’s Pub was a popular downtown eatery in Center Moriches for many years until a fire destroyed a large part of the building on July 3, 2005. Six months later, the rest of the building was demolished to make way for reconstruction. The property remained vacant until June 2010, when the owners celebrated the groundbreaking for the new building.

Supervisor Lesko introduced the Blight to Light initiative to provide incentives for the redevelopment of vacant eyesores in Brookhaven communities. The Town partnered with the Industrial Development Agency to create a film, which can be viewed on Brookhaven’s website, which portrays blight as opportunity.

The Town has seen some recent successes with Blight to Light, including the demolition of the Plaza Theatre, a blight in the community since the 1980’s, and the redevelopment plan of the abandoned UA Theater in Coram, which will create over 400 jobs.

For more information on blight to light, visit www.brookhaven.org and click on Blight to Light on the “In the Spotlight” section.

Division of Public Information * Office of the Supervisor
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