Riverhead Town is receiving two New York State economic development grants totaling $700,000 to establish an agri-tourism center in the former firehouse on Second Street.
Riverhead Town is in contract to sell the former firehouse, which it acquired in a land swap with the Riverhead Fire District, to builder Robert Castaldi for $500,000. Castaldi said today he is hoping to close on the sale in two to four weeks. The Cutchogue builder reopened the long-vacant Suffolk Theater on East Main Street in 2013.
The state grants announced today are aimed at providing a permanent home for the town’s indoor farmers’ market as well as establishing a visitors center for tourists.
Castaldi said he has been in discussions with several breweries about locating at the firehouse. He’d also like to have the site used as “home base” for a trolley company that will offer vineyard and brewery tours to visitors, he said.
“You drop your car off and tour the wineries, breweries and farm stands,” Castaldi explained. “Then you come back to Riverhead, eat dinner at one of the restaurants and stay at a hotel.”
“I’m very, very happy to hear the news,” Riverhead Supervisor Sean Walter said.
“This is a great opportunity to both get the new permanent home for the agritourism visitors center and continue our downtown revitalization efforts,” he said.
State Sen. Ken LaValle said he is very pleased with the downtown district’s progress and glad the state can help. “Everything is beginning to come together and you can see one layer at a time,” he said. “Whether it’s EPCAL, this new project or the other projects along Main Street, it’s coming together very, very nicely.”
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