Arby's Opens to Mixed Reviews in Bellmore

After a series of community meetings and concessions, Arby's opened on Sunrise Highway about two weeks ago.

The main civic group involved said they came to agreements that they felt were beneficial to both the community and the eatery.

Matthew Walden of the Bellmore Preservation Group said that Arby's owner, Thomas J. Clarke, his lawyer, William Bonesso, his architect and members of the community all worked together.

"The Arby's really worked with the community," Walden said.

Bonesso said that after many discussions, Arby's made some changes to the original plans for the franchise:

•  The hours of operation were changed. The drive-thru was originally scheduled to be in operation until midnight every night, but it's open until 11 p.m. most nights.
• The ordering station was repositioned and placed further away from residential property.
• A landscaped island was placed between the ordering station and residential property to block sound from the restaurant.
• The dumpster enclosure was relocated and additional landscaping.

"I think that it was a satisfactory agreement that the community and the owner came up with," Bonesso said.

However residents who reside behind the fast food eatery on Royle Street still have some concerns.

"I can't stand it," one woman named Kathy said. "They have the dumpsters come in four in the morning even on Sunday and it wakes me up. I hear noise. We have complained many times."

Cassie Gerrato, 14, said that even though she can see the lights from her dining room, she is not bothered by it.

Paula Cammiso, lives directly behind the restaurant.

"It's fine, it's a business and it is what it is," she said. "The noise does not bother me, the traffic does not concern me, I have better things to think about."

Traffic was also a major concern before Arby's opened and it still is for some.

Zee Kanouch, assistant manager of 7-Eleven on Sunrise Highway said that traffic from Arby's drive-thru often blocks the driveway of his store.

"We have a problem," he said. "The mornings are no problem at all, but from noon to like 2 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m. -- no one get into the driveway."