Thatched Cottage To Get Fresh Look

Long Islander News photo/David Weber
What used to be Centerport’s Thatched Cottage catering hall, pictured above, has been bought by a Hauppauge-based firm, which plans to turn it into an “impressive and stately” catering facility.

By Jano Tantongco

jtantongco@longislandergroup.com

The Thatched Cottage property in Centerport is primed to get a facelift by its new owner.

Hauppauge-based Crest Group is set to choose an operator for the facility within three months, said David Arnow, the company’s chief investment officer.

The Crest Group is in touch with potential operators and soon hopes to start fresh by going “away from the cottage look,” Arnow said, adding that the name would be different, as well.

He said the firm aims to create an “impressive and stately” catering facility. But, the final designs will be a collaboration with the chosen tenant and the town, Arnow said, adding that the project is still in its planning stage.

“We’re going to work with the township on that and together with our potential tenants. It’s going to be a joint effort,” he said.

Thatched Cottage was previously owned by Ralph Colamussi, who filed for bankruptcy in January 2014.

The Crest Group purchased the 445 E Main St. catering hall late last year for $2.8 million, according to published reports.

The town was sued in 2016 by both the Bethpage Federal Credit Union and by R. Kenneth Barnard, one of Thatched Cottage’s bankruptcy trustees, for allegedly interfering with the sale of the property by condemning it four days before the high bidder, Suzan Tina Properties, was to close on the sale for $4.65 million. The company forfeited a $651,000 deposit in the process.

Huntington Town spokesman A.J. Carter said the town is still in the midst of ongoing litigation.