Nationwide 360, a maker of trade show exhibits, plans expansion in Hauppauge
"I need more space," said Steven Griffith, president of Nationwide 360, standing in his warehouse in Central Islip on Sept. 4. Credit: Rick Kopstein
A designer and manufacturer of trade show exhibits hopes to increase its space by 25% via the purchase of a building in Hauppauge for more than $17 million, officials said.
Nationwide 360 wants to move from Central Islip to 40 Adams Ave. in Hauppauge, which is now owned by Tara Toy Co. About $1.6 million in renovations are planned.
Nationwide 360 executives said the 75,000-square-foot building would allow the company to expand production and end the need for a separate storage facility in Brentwood.
The project also would add 10 people to Nationwide 360’s payroll of 33 in two years, said owner Steven Griffith, adding the new positions would pay between $60,000 and $90,000 per year, on average.
“I need more space, and that’s why we’re focusing on this building in the Hauppauge Industrial Park,” he said. “We serve a variety of industries from cannabis, biotech, defense, education, health care, food and technology to religious events and toy shows.”
Nationwide 360’s roster of clients, Griffith said, includes 1-800-Flowers.com, Seviroli pasta, Fage yogurt, medical products distributor Henry Schein and Festo automation technology.
“A lot of our competitors are in the Midwest or they’re down South,” he told a meeting of the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency. “But Long Island is home, and this is where we hope to remain — but we need your help to do so.”
Nationwide 360 has visited sites for relocation in Maryland, the Carolinas and Georgia, according to its application for IDA assistance.
Last month, the agency’s board voted unanimously to award $771,226 in tax breaks to Nationwide 360. Most of the savings will be off property taxes: $642,113 — 28% — over 12 years.
“We appreciate your commitment to staying here and if we’re able to make that happen, all the better,” said Joshua Slaughter, an IDA board member and a union official.
Nationwide 360 has been on Long Island for almost 50 years but like many others, it was born in Brooklyn.
Nationwide 360 was founded in 1956 by two window trimmers who produced window displays for retailers as Westley Displays. The company moved to Westbury in 1975 and subsequently to Bay Shore, Ronkonkoma and Central Islip.
The latter move to 110 Windsor Place was aided by the Islip Town Industrial Development Agency in 2015. Since then, Nationwide 360 has saved nearly $370,000 off property taxes. It also received a sales-tax exemption of $27,400 on the purchase of construction materials, equipment and furnishings, plus $33,620 off the mortgage recording tax, according to state records.
Steven Griffith’s father, William, joined the company in 1961 and it was reconstituted as Nationwide Displays in 1989, when one of the founders retired. The company was renamed Nationwide 360 in 2023. Steven Griffith joined the business at age 19 and has been there nearly 40 years. He’s now the sole owner.
Like many small businesses tied to public events, Nationwide 360 was “crushed” by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic lockdown of 2020. But the company survived by pivoting to building temporary hospitals for vaccination and treatment, including one at SUNY Old Westbury, supplying safety partitions and creating exhibits for virtual trade shows, Griffith said.
“It was the hardest time for the company, but we were blessed to have these opportunities come our way,” he said. “My team was able to take it to the next level. We do a lot of things besides exhibitions, including architectural fabrication and brand experiences.”
Nationwide 360 is emblematic of the diversity of Long Island’s manufacturing sector, which includes drugmakers, food producers and aerospace companies, among others, according to Kelly Murphy, the Suffolk IDA’s CEO and executive director.
“The pandemic showed us that it’s critically important to have products readily available, and the more diverse manufacturing is in Suffolk County, the more self-reliant we can be,” she said in an interview. “These companies employ local residents and increase the tax base.”
A designer and manufacturer of trade show exhibits hopes to increase its space by 25% via the purchase of a building in Hauppauge for more than $17 million, officials said.
Nationwide 360 wants to move from Central Islip to 40 Adams Ave. in Hauppauge, which is now owned by Tara Toy Co. About $1.6 million in renovations are planned.
Nationwide 360 executives said the 75,000-square-foot building would allow the company to expand production and end the need for a separate storage facility in Brentwood.
The project also would add 10 people to Nationwide 360’s payroll of 33 in two years, said owner Steven Griffith, adding the new positions would pay between $60,000 and $90,000 per year, on average.
WHAT TO KNOW
- Nationwide 360 designs and manufactures trade show exhibits for 1-800-Flowers.com, Seviroli pasta, Fage yogurt and medical products distributor Henry Schein, among others.
- The company plans to increase its space by 25% and add 10 people to its payroll of 33 by moving from Central Islip to Hauppauge.
- The $19 million project, aided by $771,226 in tax breaks from the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency, will enable Nationwide 360 to stay on Long Island instead of moving out of state, officials said.
“I need more space, and that’s why we’re focusing on this building in the Hauppauge Industrial Park,” he said. “We serve a variety of industries from cannabis, biotech, defense, education, health care, food and technology to religious events and toy shows.”
Nationwide 360’s roster of clients, Griffith said, includes 1-800-Flowers.com, Seviroli pasta, Fage yogurt, medical products distributor Henry Schein and Festo automation technology.
“A lot of our competitors are in the Midwest or they’re down South,” he told a meeting of the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency. “But Long Island is home, and this is where we hope to remain — but we need your help to do so.”
Nationwide 360 has visited sites for relocation in Maryland, the Carolinas and Georgia, according to its application for IDA assistance.
Last month, the agency’s board voted unanimously to award $771,226 in tax breaks to Nationwide 360. Most of the savings will be off property taxes: $642,113 — 28% — over 12 years.
“We appreciate your commitment to staying here and if we’re able to make that happen, all the better,” said Joshua Slaughter, an IDA board member and a union official.
Nationwide 360 has been on Long Island for almost 50 years but like many others, it was born in Brooklyn.
Nationwide 360 was founded in 1956 by two window trimmers who produced window displays for retailers as Westley Displays. The company moved to Westbury in 1975 and subsequently to Bay Shore, Ronkonkoma and Central Islip.
The latter move to 110 Windsor Place was aided by the Islip Town Industrial Development Agency in 2015. Since then, Nationwide 360 has saved nearly $370,000 off property taxes. It also received a sales-tax exemption of $27,400 on the purchase of construction materials, equipment and furnishings, plus $33,620 off the mortgage recording tax, according to state records.
Steven Griffith’s father, William, joined the company in 1961 and it was reconstituted as Nationwide Displays in 1989, when one of the founders retired. The company was renamed Nationwide 360 in 2023. Steven Griffith joined the business at age 19 and has been there nearly 40 years. He’s now the sole owner.
Like many small businesses tied to public events, Nationwide 360 was “crushed” by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic lockdown of 2020. But the company survived by pivoting to building temporary hospitals for vaccination and treatment, including one at SUNY Old Westbury, supplying safety partitions and creating exhibits for virtual trade shows, Griffith said.
“It was the hardest time for the company, but we were blessed to have these opportunities come our way,” he said. “My team was able to take it to the next level. We do a lot of things besides exhibitions, including architectural fabrication and brand experiences.”
Nationwide 360 is emblematic of the diversity of Long Island’s manufacturing sector, which includes drugmakers, food producers and aerospace companies, among others, according to Kelly Murphy, the Suffolk IDA’s CEO and executive director.
“The pandemic showed us that it’s critically important to have products readily available, and the more diverse manufacturing is in Suffolk County, the more self-reliant we can be,” she said in an interview. “These companies employ local residents and increase the tax base.”
James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news including the economy, development, and the relationship between government and business. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.
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