Commack has a large commercial business base between Jericho Turnpike and Commack road, so its no surprise who is moving in and who is moving out is big news to its residents.
Here's a look at 11 of the biggest business stories in Commack in 2012:
* Main Catch Now Serving Up Dishes to Customers: Main Catch, a fine seafood restaurant, has opened its doors in the former site of Southside Fish & Clams and is ready to serve its diners. The Commack restaurant is still run by the same ownership, but has put a new focus on their customers.
* Northport Ford Closes Shop: The rough economy has claimed another Commack business, as Northport Ford suddenly closed down in late January.
* Dick's Sporting Goods to Occupy Former Pathmark Location: Dick's Sporting Goods is coming to Commack within the year, filling the spot left vacant by Pathmark, according to a leasing agent for the property. Dick's Sporting Goods is now open for business.
* Lawsuit: Commack Hess Illegally Zoned; More Study Necesssary: A Commack business and four residents have filed a joint lawsuit against the Smithtown Town Board for its decision to allow Hess to build a new gas station in Commack.
* Locals Protest Commack Hess Before Smithtown Board of Zoning Appeals: Commack residents came out in force against Hess's efforts to build a new station in what many called the most dangerous intersection of their community
* : More than a dozen residents spoke out against a Kings Park company's continued operation of a pre-cast concrete business on Old Northport Road on Nov. 27 before Town of Smithtown's Board of Zoning Appeals.
* Commack Eateries Take "Tremendous" Hit From Sandy: More than three weeks after Hurricane Sandy, power has been restored to most of Commack's residents and businesses. While residents are attempted to resume life as usual, many local restaurants and eateries are trying to overcome what some described as 'tremendous' blow.
* All Sides Call for Resolution in Industrial Area Hearing: Not much has been agreed on between residents and business owners in the industrial area of Kings Park, but one thing became clear at Wednesday evening's planning board hearing; all sides want resolution on the failure to properly address zoning along Townline and Old Northport Road.
* Lowe's Submits Revised Plans for Commack Store: Lowe's is taking the next step forward in converting the former Commack Cinemas into a massive home improvement center. Lowe's submitted revised building plans for a 166,000-square-foot home improvement store and garden center to Smithtown Planning Department on Oct. 18. Lowe's plans for a Commack store have been approved by Smithtown Town Board.
* PJ Venture Gets OK to Build New Restaurant in Commack: P.J. Venture received approval from Town of Smithtown's Planning board on Oct. 17 to build a new restaurant, from the ground up, in the Cosentino Shopping Center off Crooked Hill Road and Henry Street in Commack.
* Tempers have flared across Long Island over gas shortages that kept customers waiting in hour-long lines to fill a tank to get to work or fill a 5-gallon container to keep a generator going over the past two weeks. But not in Commack.
* Commack Target Found Selling Banned Pesticides: The Target Corporation agreed to a civil penalty of $43,850 after a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation investigation revealed the company was selling pesticides banned on Long Island at stores across Long Island, including its Commack and Commack South locations.
