Bellini furniture to close, reopen with new owners

Bill San Antonio

The signs in the window of Bellini’s baby and teen furniture on Northern Boulevard say everything must go. Inside dressers, bedframes and cribs are strewn about, awaiting new homes before the store closes at the end of April.

But Bellini will not be out of commission for long.

The store will reopen in June under new ownership from within the same parent company that has owned the chain – and its lone North Shore location in Manhasset – for more than 30 years.

“We’re going to be going back in,” said Dave Zagorski, the president of Barry Imports, who along with David Freedberg will be taking ownership of Bellini’s Manhasset store from Freedberg’s uncle Barry for a reopening sometime in June. “We have a good following on Long Island. People were disappointed the store was closing.”  

An opening for new ownership came about because Barry Freedberg wanted to retire, Zagorski said, and the company was not ready to shut down operations in Manhasset.

Barry Freedberg was not available for comment.

“We have an opportunity with this location to go in and redo the store and make it look spectacular,” Zagorski said, adding he has previous retail experience with Bellini at stores in New Jersey.

Bellini currently has 15 stores across eight states on the East Coast. Zagorski said Bellini is also planning a location in San Francisco.

The company plans to close its other two Long Island locations, in Rockville Centre and Huntington, thereby driving all its business in the area to Manhasset.

“The goal is to combine the stores and import company and franchise company and operate it as one,” David Freedberg said. “The Miracle Mile is historic for its shopping and offers everything. Everybody knows where it is. Manhasset is our most trafficked store.”

Zagorski said he is working on bringing in additional manufacturers to appeal to the Gold Coast consumer and pledged improved, “white-gloved” service for delivery needs.

“The plan is to offer full-room design, help our customers design the rooms,” he said. “Service is really important to me. We want to make sure our customers are well taken care of.”

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