Blue Point Brewing will relocate to college site in Patchogue Village

Blue Point Brewing Co. has inched closer to relocating its headquarters to the Briarcliffe College building in Patchogue after two other businesses in the complex announced plans to close or move.

Patchogue officials had announced plans by Blue Point Brewing Co. to move earlier this year from its current home on River Road in the village. The brewery’s relocation to the Briarcliffe building on West Main Street has been held up while the college and two other businesses, Flo’s Luncheonette and Mr. D’s Ultimate Fitness, sought new homes.

Briarcliffe, which is to close in 2018, is seeking space at local schools where it can hold classes until the college permanently shuts its doors, Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri said this week.

Dennis Forman, owner of Mr. D’s, said Tuesday he has purchased the West Lake Inn catering hall on Main Street, and he plans to move the gym there next Memorial Day weekend. He declined to discuss the purchase price.

The catering hall will close, Pontieri said. A catering hall employee said no one was available to comment.

Also Tuesday, Flo’s announced on its Facebook page that it would close on Dec. 31 while its owners contemplate whether to reopen in a new location.

Blue Point Brewing, owned by Belgium-based Anheuser Busch InBev NV, probably will open the new brewery, including a restaurant, in early 2018, Pontieri said. Blue Point officials did not respond to a request for comment.

The Briarcliffe building formerly was the home of Swezey’s Department Store before it closed in 2003.

Pontieri said the brewery has received most of the village approvals it needs to relocate. He said Blue Point officials have agreed to construct a new plant to treat waste generated by the brewery.

The brewery should be able to take over the building as soon as Briarcliffe moves out, Pontieri said. “As they walk out the back door, these guys are going in the front door,” he said.

Mr. D’s Forman, who bought the gym about four years ago, said the new location will offer more space and ample parking. The new place will have 26,500 square feet, compared to about 21,000 square feet in the current space, he said, adding he plans to offer new programs such as physical therapy and hot yoga classes.

“The whole place is going to be great. It fits like a glove,” Forman said Tuesday. “And we’ll own, instead of paying rent.”

Forman initially had been reluctant to move. He credited Pontieri with showing him the catering hall and persuading him to relocate there.

“I walked in, and I said, ‘Holy mackerel,’ because there’s no columns or anything” at the hall, Forman said. “Everybody thought it was going to be a negative thing. I’m very excited.”

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.