Businesses feel strain as fire forces Stony Brook community kitchen to temporarily close
By: News 12 Staff Sep 15, 2022, 9:37pm Updated on: Sep 15, 2022
Some Long Island food companies continue to struggle from a fire that shut down operations at a community kitchen.
In August, the Stony Brook Food Business Incubator in Calverton suffered an explosion and fire - forcing it to close.
Nearly 70 small food businesses use the incubator to make everything from rice pudding to baked goods.
Owners of some smaller businesses say they have had to find alternate kitchens to stay afloat.
Business owners say business is down anywhere from 25% to 75% as the Stony Brook facility still hasn't reopened.
"It's been a strain on our family. This has been emotionally draining. This is our livelihood. This is our dream. And when that happened, I felt like someone put a pin to a balloon and that was it," says Maria Camassa, of Lucky Lou's Gourmet Rice Pudding.
The Stony Brook Food Business Incubator is hoping to reopen the kitchen area of the incubator by October at the earliest.