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Shoppes East Wind

The community /event space in the middle of the Shoppes complex. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

Shoppes East Wind

Its restaurant, spa, catering halls and hotel have for years made East Wind Long Island an arguable commercial tour de force. The addition of its Shoppes at East Wind, an outdoor complex poised for a July opening, transforms the 27-acre Wading River property into a veritable lifestyle village.

“My vision was to create a destination where the local community and guests of the inn could enjoy shopping at local artisans, boutique shops and eateries,” said Kenn Barra, owner of East Wind Long Island and Shoppes at East Wind.

Barra’s newest venture, which sits on seven acres and is located within walking distance of East Wind Long Island’s main building, features 28 stores varying in size from 500 to 2,000 square feet. They include a rustic sit-down Italian restaurant, bakery, pizzeria, ice cream shop, bridal boutique and cheese and spice market. A 40-foot-wide indoor carousel and courtyard designated for musical performances and Christmas tree lightings round out the landscaped property, which is dotted with street lamps and benches.

“This is something everyone can enjoy,” said Maria DiLeo, director of marketing and communications at East Wind Long Island. “We’ll have things throughout the year where families can come out and take their kids. It’s just going to be a feel-good community center.”

Work on Shoppes at East Wind has been underway since 2014, when construction began on the property located at the intersection of Route 25A and Sound Avenue. Company officials initially projected a fall 2015 opening, but construction delays postponed the launch, DiLeo said. The complex, which has 200 parking spots and a welcome center, will be fully operational by July, she said. Some businesses will even open before then.

Among them is The Painted Canvas, an art entertainment studio that offers classes, paint and sip nights and children’s summer camps. The business, which currently operates from a space in East Wind Long Island’s main building, expects to open its new 1,000-square-foot store at Shoppes at East Wind in a few weeks.

“Right now we’re transitioning over to the new studio,” said owner Linda Sperruzzi. “Most likely we’ll be the first ones to dive into the water.”

Twenty-eight shops ranging from 500 to 1500 square feet are connected by wide brick walkways laid in a herringbone pattern. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
Twenty-eight shops ranging from 500 to 1500 square feet are connected by wide brick walkways laid in a herringbone pattern. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

In September 2014, Sperruzzi recalled, The Painted Canvas was still operating from a Route 25A studio in Wading River Square when she found herself “constantly” driving past East Wind Long Island.

“As I saw the [Shoppes] going up and being designed, it looked so beautiful that I gave them a call,” she said. “What I like is that the stores are so unique. It’s not a typical mall situation.”

Fellow Shoppes at East Wind tenant Mona Rossero, who owns gourmet olive oil store The Crushed Olive with her husband, Bob, was similarly attracted to the complex.

“This ended up being a perfect spot for us,” said Rossero, who anticipates a June 1 opening. This will be the couple’s sixth store, with their closest current location in Port Jefferson.

“My husband was driving by one day and he stopped in right away,” she said. “He said, ‘I think we found the spot for our next store.’ ”

Rossero said they “loved the whole concept of all the individual shops and the village green with the music and the carousel.”

“It’s like a little world of its own,” she said.

That appears to have been the idea. Barra said he “carefully selected” tenants at the Shoppes, “only bringing in stores that are locally owned and fill a need in the local market.”

“We have created a shopping destination that supports small businesses and will be enjoyed by everyone,” he said.

For updates on Shoppes at East Wind, visit its Facebook page.

There are eight (think octopus arms) glue-laminated timbers to form the structural arches throughout the space that will house the carousel. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)
There are eight (think octopus arms) glue-laminated timbers to form the structural arches throughout the space that will house the carousel. (Credit: Barbaraellen Koch)

Pizza, ice cream and more

The following is an incomplete list of businesses expected to open by this summer at Shoppes at East Wind.

FOOD AND DINING

• Bakery (coming soon)

• Brezza Pizza Kitchen

• Ruggero’s Italian Restaurant

• The Cheese & Spice Market (imported, domestic and local cheeses, loose herbs and spices, salts and seasonings and more)

• Tweets Ice Cream Shoppe (also serving Starbucks coffee)

RETAIL

• American Pie (goods made in the U.S.)

• The Beginning Apparel

• The Crushed Olive

• The Jewelry Box and Gift Shoppe

• Sole Provisions shoe store

• With All My Heart Wedding Boutique and Floral Designs

ART EDUCATION

• The Painted Canvas

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