Vacant big-box retail on the Route 58 corridor
Summary
The Staples Plaza hearing laid bare a broader problem: large vacant retail spaces across Riverhead that brokers say can't be leased at any price. How the town handles dead retail space — including whether non-retail uses like medical facilities can fill it — affects the look and vitality of the corridor.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 1
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Apr 9, 2026.
Impact analysis
The vacant space was marketed as low as $21 per square foot versus a comparable market rate of about $26, with no taker.
Property owners and the town's tax base benefit if vacant storefronts can be reactivated.
Mentions & discussions (2)
Zoning Board of Appeals - Apr 9, 2026
The Staples Plaza hearing laid bare a broader problem: large vacant retail spaces across Riverhead that brokers say can't be leased at any price. How the town handles dead retail space — including whether non-retail uses like medical facilities can fill it — affects the look and vitality of the corridor.
Chick-fil-A on Route 58 in Riverhead gets final approval: May 1 Planning Board wrap-up
Chick-fil-A on Route 58 in Riverhead gets final approval: May 1 Planning Board wrap-up RiverheadLOCAL
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