Visions for Vacancies: Babylon Paint & Hardware

In the first of a continuing series “Visions for Vacancies” Babylon Village Patch will feature vacant storefronts and seek input from readers as to the type of business they would like to see fill the empty location.

Just two weeks after Babylon Village Patch arrived in the village in November 2010, a 75-year-old retail institution closed its doors and was one of Patch’s most compelling tales to tell. The Babylon Paint & Hardware store at 264 Deer Park Avenue was a victim of the recession and owner Bob Norman was candid about his feelings as he held the final sales event.

"It's a hard thing [to close] and it hurts. There's a sense of failure and at the same time a sense of letting down the community," said the life-long village resident.

Since then the store has remained vacant though there was hope in mid 2011 that a new enterprise, a quasi deli/luncheonette, would take over the site. But that business didn’t move forward for various reasons.

In the past year and a half many new businesses have come into vacant storefronts and it’s likely, as the recession ebbs, that someone will have a great idea for the former hardware location.

Patch wants to know what readers would like to see open at the location. In the comments section below, let Babylon Village  Patch know what your vision is for this vacancy.