Business & Tech

Business Beat: New Flower Center Blossoms, Branchinelli's Branches Out

Catch up on the week's biggest business stories from the area.

This week, Patch reported on a variety of business developments across northern and central Suffolk County. Here are the highlights.

MILLER PLACE-ROCKY POINT

Branchinelli's Replacing La Casa in Miller Place

Established Hauppauge Italian restaurant and pizzeria Branchinelli's is opening a second restaurant in the old La Casa location in Miller Place.

The restaurant, located on Route 111, confirmed Wednesday it plans to open its second location in Miller Place. La Casa left a vacancy in the Stop & Shop shopping center when it closed in November.

PORT JEFFERSON

Davis Peach Farm Opening Saturday in Port Jefferson Station

For Christine Davis, her family's 229 years of history in farming has come down to one crucial season. The owner of Davis Peach Farm said her orchard in Wading River was nearly destroyed by the last two hurricanes, and said she is counting on her new venture – a farm stand in Port Jefferson Station that will open Saturday – to revive a business she feared might not have been viable much longer.

HAUPPAUGE

Sports Clips to Open Mid-May, Now Hiring

Hauppauge men will be soon be able to sit back and watch a game while getting their hair cut.

Sports Clips, a sports-themed hair salon catering to men, will open its second Long Island location off Route 347 and Route 111 in Hauppauge in mid-May, according to spokeswoman Margaret Allee.

SMITHTOWN

Naturally Free Food Finds its Niche in Smithtown

A Smithtown resident confronted with the challenge of finding gluten-free foods for her family has turned it into a business to make shopping easier for others.
  
Christine Mitchell is preparing to celebrate the second anniversary Naturally Free Food, a 100 percent gluten-free food store off Singer Lane in Smithtown next door to the Millennium Diner. Mitchell said while shop has become a haven for those on a gluten-free diet and other special dietary needs.  

KINGS PARK

Historic Smithtown Farm Offers More Than Just History

Poised on the edge of the Nissequogue River, Jen's Hens, part of Turtleback Farm, is a sustainable farm producing eggs, meat and produce.

THREE VILLAGE

Local Tech Company Nets Government Defense Funding
A local technology startup has received another grant from the U.S. government – this time from the United States Missile Defense Agency – to continue developing its anti-counterfeiting technology. Applied DNA Sciences, based in Stony Brook at the Long Island High Technology Incubator, announced that it has been awarded $150,000 to research methods for using its SigNature DNA markers in military electronics manufacturing.

COMMACK

Commack Grad Opens Garden Center at Former Ford Dealership

Business is blooming at the former Ford dealership on Jericho Turnpike in Commack, as a new garden center adds color to the lot.

Jaclyn’s Garden, located at 6233 Jericho Turnpike, moved into the lot of the former dealership two weeks ago from its Copiague location, and will be open until November.   


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