LI Marathon a Boon for Local Business

Angela Borrelli, one of the owners of Borrelli's, said that she is looking forward to the Long Island Marathon on Sunday. In fact, she looks forward to it every year because it always brings in great business.

"We have been around for 57 years so we have been doing this for a long time," she said. "We get a nice crowd of people."

Borrelli said that many runners come on Saturday to load up on carbs before the big day.

"They come in for our pasta," she smiled.

Borrelli said that she is also expecting many customers after the marathon and the Islanders game on Sunday.

"We are going to get regular customers and new people from out of town coming in," she said. "We are going to be very busy and have a full staff."

Felix Navarro, general manager of Friendly's, said that the event will definitely bring in a good amount of business, but some things may negatively effect the restaurant.

On Tuesday, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano and the Nassau County Police Department announced that there will be enhanced security measures for the event due to the bombing at the Boston Marathon in April. There will also be a number of road closures, including one on Carman Avenue.

"The closures and the enhanced security could stop my workers from coming in when they need to be here," Navarro said. "But with the events that happened in Boston, I think that all the enhanced procedures are good. The amount of customers that I will get after the marathon will make up for the loss of business during the dead time."

Both Borrelli and Navarro said that the marathon is a great local event that will bring crowds to their eateries and that will unite people from all walks of life.

"I am excited that it is coming," Navarro said. "People from out of town will get to see what Long Island is all about and really see all that we have to offer."