Mattituck’s Love Lane business community is abuzz after a sign posted in the former Love Lane Market’s window Monday advertised the coming of “Lombardi’s Market at Love Lane” to the location.
The Lombardi brand of restaurants includes five popular Italian eateries on Long Island — including the wedding and catering hall Villa Lombardi’s and Lombardi’s Market, an Italian deli and catering service in Holbrook.
This is the first North Fork Lombardi location.
Neighboring storeowners who often tout the tight-knit commercial district, said they are looking forward to the opening of Lombardi’s Market at Love Lane.
“Staring at a big, empty building on Love Lane everyday is never good,” said Nicole Webb, general manger of Love Lane Kitchen. “We are super excited to see some fun stuff come in. Honestly there is more than enough [business] to go around.”
“I’m very excited to have a good Italian place on the North Fork,” said Barbara Forgione, a manager at clothing store Mint. “We are very happy about this.”
What started as a pizza parlor business in Holbrook later expanded into Lombardi’s Market, Villa Lombardi’s catering hall and Mamma Lombardi’s, all in Holbrook, Lombardi’s On The Sound in Port Jefferson and Lombardi’s On The Bay in Patchogue.
The Lombardi family began renting the Love Lane location this week, Corcoran real estate broker Sheri Winter Clarry confirmed on Tuesday.
No word yet on when the Lombardi’s Market at Love Lane will open, but the business is already looking for year-round employees, according to the sign posted in the window.