Long Island downtowns then and now

Holiday shoppers jam the streets of Hempstead on Nov. 28, 1953.

North Franklin Street in downtown Hempstead is shown on July 11, 2017.

Downtown Huntington

Royal L. Green of Huntington holds a 1905 photograph of the northeast corner of Wall and Main streets in Huntington at the same location on July 25, 1963.

Courtney Maitland-White, of England, holds the 1963 photo of Royal L. Green at the same street corner -- the intersection of Wall and Main streets in Huntington -- on Aug. 4, 2016.

Trees and gardens dot the new Freeport Mall on South Main Street in Freeport on May 18, 1978. The concept of shutting off Main Street to traffic to create a pedestrian mall setting didn't pan out, and was abandoned in 1986.

The intersection of Main Street and Merrick Road in Freeport in 2016.

Businesses along Prospect Avenue in downtown New Cassel are seen in July 1990.

Businesses along Prospect Avenue in downtown New Cassel are seen on Sept. 5, 2017.

The intersection of Main Street and Fire Island Avenue in Babylon has been an area of commerce for years, as pictured in 1978.

The intersection of Main Street and Fire Island Avenue in Babylon as seen on Sept. 1, 2017.

Swezey's department store in downtown Patchogue Village is shown in this Jan. 14, 1980, photo. The department store was located at the intersection of Main Street and North Ocean Avenue.

The New Village Apartments were built on the site of the former Swezey's Department Store in Patchogue Village on the corner where Main Street intersects with North Ocean Avenue. The apartment complex is shown here on July 11, 2017.

Farmingdale Theater

The Farmingdale Theater on Main Street in Farmingdale sold movie tickets for 77 cents on Feb. 15, 1978. The theater opened on the corner of Main and Prospect streets in 1942, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

The site of the former Farmingdale Theater as seen in July 2016. The theater closed in 1984.

Downtown Westbury Village near the theater is shown in March 1990.

The Space at Westbury on Post Avenue is shown in July 2017.

Shops in downtown Westhampton Beach are shown in this May 1994 photo.

Several shops and restaurants on Main Street in downtown Westhampton Beach, including the Beach Bakery Cafe, are shown on July 18, 2017.

Shops in downtown Greenport are shown in this July 1989 photo.

Several shops, including the Fiedler Gallery on Main Street, are shown in downtown Greenport on July 18, 2017.

Shops along Main Street in East Hampton's downtown area are shown in this August 1990 photo.

Bookhampton on 41 Main St. in downtown East Hampton is seen on July 18, 2017.