Port Plaza's Re-opening and Uncle Giuseppe's Grand Opening set for Wednesday, June 30

LONG ISLAND, N.Y., June 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Edens & Avant announces today the June 30th re-opening of its Port Plaza in Port Jefferson Station, Long Island, N.Y. Located at 1046-1068 Route 112, just off the Nesconset Highway (Route 347), the center has undergone a multimillion dollar redevelopment to create a more community-focused retail destination.  A prominent part of the redevelopment includes the addition of Long Island grocery chain, Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace, which will hold a Grand Opening celebration beginning at 9:30 a.m.    

"With Uncle Giuseppe's, PJ Cinemas (another local favorite for the past 18 years) and other popular, regional businesses located right beside national, name brand retailers, Port Plaza now has a vibrant shopping mix that meets the diverse needs of the entire community," said Elizabeth Furnelli, Edens & Avant Vice President. "Along with selecting the right retailers, we also wanted to create a more engaging shopping experience by adding outdoor dining areas, enhancing the center's landscaping, improving the parking design, and creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment."

Expected to create around 180 jobs for the local community, the new Uncle Giuseppe's is just one part of Port Plaza's redevelopment. Of particular note is the inclusion of many sustainability measures to increase energy efficiency as well as reduce the center's environmental impact. The redeveloped center now features high-efficiency lighting fixtures that reduce overall consumption; a white roof TPO membrane system that reduces thermal pollution; a drought tolerant landscape design featuring plant species that help reduce overall water consumption and air pollution associated with grass cutting; and a new building sign package comprised of state of the art energy efficient LED light fixtures that reduce energy consumption while drastically increasing bulb life.

"Uncle Giuseppe's is extremely excited to come to Port Jefferson Station," said Philip DelPrete, Founder and Chairman of the Board. "We look forward to giving locals a unique Italian-inspired shopping experience that is reflective of both quality and value in everything we offer."

A full-service supermarket with a gourmet Italian theme, Uncle Giuseppe's offers fresh pasta, sausages and mozzarella made right before your very eyes. With Long Island locations in East Meadow, Smithtown and Port Washington, the new Port Jefferson location is Uncle Giuseppe's largest store (54,000 square feet), specifically created to meet the needs of Long Island's east end.  Uncle Giuseppe's new store features Italian inspired architectural and decorative details that include a hand-painted sky ceiling, scenes from Italy throughout the store, and Roman columns adorning the mozzarella room. Inside the store, shoppers will find deliciously diverse offerings that include a fresh produce market, an Italian bakery, extensive seafood and meat departments, a full service deli, a pizzeria and hot food section with ample seating, and a candy store with flowing chocolate fountains. In addition, the store features an espresso bar, a floral section, a fresh cheese department with hundreds of varieties of cheese from all over the world, and daily-prepared sushi.

On June 30 at 8:30 a.m., members of the press are invited to a special preview of the redeveloped Port Plaza and the new Uncle Giuseppe's, followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 a.m. There will be live singing and plenty of delicious samples so everyone can get a taste of Italy right on the east end of Long Island.

Follow Uncle Giuseppe's online at www.uncleg.com or www.facebook.com/unclegiuseppes. Follow Port Plaza on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PortPlazaLI or Twitter @Port_Plaza.

About Edens & Avant

Edens & Avant develops, owns and operates neighborhood shopping places in primary markets throughout the East Coast. Focusing on innovative development and redevelopment together with key acquisitions in urban areas, the Company has built a portfolio of more than 128 retail centers in 15 states. Edens & Avant has Regional Headquarters in Washington DC, Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Columbia, SC.  For additional information about the Company and its retail real estate portfolio, please visit www.edensandavant.com.

SOURCE Edens & Avant