Empty in Farmingdale: Former Ice Cream Parlor

Walk down Main Street or drive down Route 110 and Hempstead Turnpike and you will notice many boarded up storefronts adorned with "For Rent" signs, an indication of the hard times the area -- and country -- are facing.

The Village of Farmingdale mayor and board of trustees are embarking on a local revitalization plan they hope will spark economic growth in the area and fill the empty sites with businesses and housing.

Over the next few months, Farmingdale Patch will spotlight these vacant properties to foster discussion in the community on what can, should and could be done to rehab these abandoned places.

This week's property is Bollinger's on Main Street, which closed just this past Sunday.

Elias Properties owns the part of the strip the store is in, but owner Joe Tinisi has listed it himself "as-is" in hopes that someone will rent the space and maintain it as a restaurant/old-fashioned ice cream parlor. After 45 days, the property will be listed more generally and the contents - like the old fashioned booths - will be auctioned off.

The space is a slice of Main Street history opening as Von Lessen's. There was a fire in the early 1990s and it was expanded from one storefront into two. 

What should go there? Another ice cream parlor? Tell us in the comments.