New Businesses in the Five Towns, September

Hewlett’s longtime corner bar is back in business with the official opening of TJ Patricks this past Friday. 

New owner John Marceda plans to re-establish the business, located at 1762 Broadway, as a more welcoming and family-friendly place to visit than it had been in recent years.

“We’re going to turn this place around a little bit,” he said about the bar, which had been since December. “This is going to be sports bar with a pub menu and a bigger selection of tap beers. We’re also going to bring in OTB.”

Marceda is no stranger to the bar business, having grown up in a family that owned one in Brooklyn for many years.

“I’ve been around this business since the age of 12, and I helped run the family place for about 15 years,” he said. “My father sold that place about 20 years ago. Now I’m looking forward to working my own bar for the rest of my life."

Marceda and his wife, who will manage the business, are life-long Valley Stream residents. With years of experience and strong ties to the area, Marceda said he is confident that he can build a steady clientele of friends and family, and restore the business to the thriving social spot it was many years ago when the bar was in its heyday.

Pizza and sushi

Varieaties in Cedarhurst really hit the ground running, with a steadily increasing customer base, after only nine weeks in business.

The kosher Italian/sushi restaurant, at 140e Washington Ave., has a full menu that equally represents both types of cuisine.

On the Italian side, customers can order pizzas, soups, calzones, pastas and appetizers — with the stuffed crust pizza being one of the biggest sellers. The daily lunch special is also a big hit, which includes two regular slices and a can of soda for just $4.50.

Japanese fare includes salads, hand rolls, sushi, sashimi and combo platters in various sizes. The eatery offers 10 percent off its entire sushi menu Monday through Wednesday.

First-time business owner Benji Haimoff really switched gears, moving from the diamond business to the food business. He said he prefers his current line of work, because it offers more opportunity for interaction with customers and that it offers “lower risk with higher reward.” 

He claims that his place stands out from other restaurants in the area, not just because diners can choose between two very different cuisines, but also because of the freshness and the reasonable prices.

“We’re the cheapest in the market,” Haimoff said. “Mondays and Tuesdays we sell large pizzas for $12.99. We make everything fresh every day. The food is never left overnight or used the next day. It’s all made to order.”

Dry cleaning

Burnside Dry Cleaners, which opened a couple months ago in Lawrence, works overtime keeping their patrons satisfied, according to Gladys Marcos, the owner’s daughter.

“It’s all about customer service,” she said. “We’re friendly, and we treat all the clothing with care. We have same-day service, so if someone needs something cleaned right away, we’ll try to get it done for them as quickly as we can, so they can have it when they need it.”

The store, located at 273 Burnside Ave., specializes in wedding gown cleaning, boxing and storage. Other services include on-site tailoring and alterations.