Nearly 2 years after fire, Sayville Running Company returns to Main Street

Nearly 2 years since a devastating fire burned through multiple stores on Sayville’s Main Street, one business returned to its original address.

Sayville Running Company, one of the seven small businesses burned in the October 2024 fire, reopened at 19 Main St. on August 15, co-owner Brendan Barrett told Newsday.

"It feels really, really good," Barrett said in a phone interview on August 12, before the opening. "It's a bit like a weight off our shoulders."

Barrett said the building, which was partially damaged in the fire, was rebuilt to its original structure but with up-to-date features, such as a new roof and an accessible bathroom. He and co-owner Michael Nolan planned to lay out the store "a little differently" than before with new fixtures. A fake brick slatwall had been damaged in the fire and couldn't be replaced. 

"Beyond that, nothing with the building is dramatically different," Barrett said. 

The store operated out of a warehouse at 35 Overton St. after the fire. Although the store didn't receive as much foot traffic as it did on Main Street, Barrett said he was grateful to community regulars who helped to keep the business afloat. 

"We knew it would be longer than we thought, but we didn't think it would be this long," Barrett said. 

Eileen Tyznar, president of the Sayville Chamber of Commerce, said the lengthy process of obtaining permits, combined with this winter's harsh weather, likely added to their prolonged return. 

"Mike and Brendan — they are two of the hardest working business owners I've known," Tyznar said. "It's really fantastic to have them come home."

Barrett said the contractor and the landlord kept him and Nolan updated throughout the renovation process. Then, the final approval came through:

"We’ll be closed Thursday and Friday. Looking forward to seeing you Saturday ... ON MAIN STREET!" a social media post on August 11 for the business read.

Barrett said since announcing their return to Main Street, he had received an overwhelming response from friends and customers offering to help move merchandise into the store.

"It feels nice to know that people are rooting for you," he said. 

The specialty running store offers apparel from a wide range of brands, including running shoes, watches and technology. They also provide personalized shoe fitting tailored to customers' running needs and organize and time group runs.

The company also has a Smithtown store and an online store.

Newsday previously reported that the remains of scorched storefronts were cleared in January.

Three businesses, Cafe Joelle, Paper Doll Vintage Boutique and Boris’ Barber Shop, were burned out. The building that housed those stores was razed. 

"It's going to be a while for the rebuild on those," Tyznar said. 

Paper Doll Vintage Boutique now operates at 106 Railroad Ave. and Boris’ Barber Shop relocated to 46 Railroad Ave.

Cafe Joelle had moved before the fire and was renovating its Main Street site to create a new restaurant, Tyznar said. 

Craft business Hammer & Stain, at 15 Main St., operated from the back of its store after the fire. It now runs all of its operations from its second location, in Ronkonkoma, and temporarily shut down the Sayville studio, its website said.

The cause of the fire was not determined, according to reports from the Sayville Fire Department and Suffolk police.

Tyznar said a sign hung for two years on Main Street that said, "We can't wait to have our Main Street businesses come home."

"It's nice to replace the sign, finally," she said. "Somebody's coming home and staying in there, and hopefully those other three buildings will get built out again."