Cold Spring Harbor Storefront Deal Falls Through
/By Carl Corry
ccorry@longislandergroup.com
The owner of 49 Main St. said Lessing's Hospitality pulled out of a deal to buy the property following a story highlighting planned evictions.
A deal that was in the works between the owner of a historic Cold Spring Harbor storefront on Main Street and Lessing’s Hospitality has broken down, the property’s owner said.
Brad Weitzman, son of Robert Weitzman, owner of 49 Main St., said Lessing’s pulled out of a deal to buy the property and its circa-1850 building following an Jul. 30 report in The Long-Islander stating Lessing’s plans to purchase the building and that current occupants, including Kellogg’s Dolls’ Houses – which has been at the location for 32 years – would be evicted by the end of August.
Lessing’s owns the neighboring Sand Bar restaurant, which is under development.
“The article was unfortunate timing for us,” said Weitzman, who added that the Lessing family didn’t want its name “attached to the eviction of anyone.”
“The deal with [Lessing’s] coincided with the article. In the meantime, we are proceeding with the eviction, because we need the money.”
A contract was never signed.
For Lessing’s Hospitality’s part, Michael Lessing, chief operating officer, said, “We looked at the property; it didn’t fit our needs. We have nothing to do with the building or anything to do with the eviction.”
Weitzman said the sale of the 49 Main St. is part of his father’s retirement plans.
In addition to Kellogg’s Dolls’ Houses, CD Travel Planner, which occupies upstairs office space, also must move out by Aug. 31. Weitzman added he has offered to help Sonia Kellogg, owner of Kellogg’s Dolls Houses, move the doll houses to another location and has put out feelers for her for new space to no avail.
“We do feel badly for her,” he said.
Weitzman said he has gotten interest in the property – he’s asking $380,000 – from another buyer, but that person would want the space for personal use, so the current occupants would still have to leave.
Kellogg said if she doesn’t find a new place by the end of the month, she will have to close the shop, miss the busy holiday buying season “and perhaps open up another time.”
“I’m going to have to play it one day it at a time,” she said, adding that she has about eight big orders to sustain her for the time being.
On the possibility of finding a new location in time, she said, “You know, miracles do happen.”
