Nassau Coliseum vendors seek Long Island food vendors

Long Island restaurateurs have an opportunity next week to make a pitch to sell their products and to open concession stands and carts inside the renovated Nassau Coliseum.

Levy Restaurants, which will run food and beverage services at the arena when it reopens next year, will host “Long Island Taste” on Sept. 20 at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale.

The event is an open house for food business owners to meet with representatives from Levy and Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the firm overseeing the Coliseum overhaul.

Marco Fabozzi, vice president of hospitality strategy for Levy Restaurants, said the company is looking for unique vendors that can showcase local cuisine such as fresh seafood and Long Island wine.

“We are looking for businesses with distinct Long Island character and traits,” said Fabozzi, of Massapequa, who has been touring local restaurants and speaking with prospective vendors.

Long Island Taste is modeled after a similar program at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, also managed by Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, in which local businesses provide food and beverage service inside the arena.

Prospective Nassau Coliseum vendors must have been in business for at least two years with a wide presence on Long Island; be able to produce a large amount of food in an arena environment and have updated facility inspections and licenses.

Businesses could have one location or be a popular chain, Fabozzi said.

The Coliseum is slated to have 11 concession stands and 16 food or beverage carts, although the numbers could increase, Fabozzi said. Levy could also purchase prepackaged products to be sold inside the arena. Levy plans to select the Nassau vendors by late November, Fabozzi said.

“The new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum will be a culinary destination that showcases the very best of Long Island,” said Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano.

While businesses will have an opportunity to market their products in front of thousands of fans, the concession stands and carts will be owned by the arena and run by Levy in consultation with the vendor, Fabozzi said.

Long Island Taste will run from at 10 a.m. to noon. Interested vendors must first register at nassaucoliseum.com.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.