Empty in Lindenhurst: The Old Chase Bank

A sure sign of the tough economic times is the number of For Sale and For Rent signs you see in the Village and North Lindenhurst.

If you go down Wellwood Avenue, Sunrise Highway, Hoffman Avenue, Montauk Highway or other major roads in the area, residents are sure to find a few.

During the next few months Lindenhurst Patch is going to some of those properties and ask you what you'd like to see in there.

The purpose is to foster discussion in the community on what can, should and could be done to rehab these vacant spaces.

This week Patch is looking at the space formerly occupied by the old Chase bank.

Many in Lindenhurst probably remember when it was a bustling bank location.

However, it's been a long time since then, and the sign by landlord Corporate National Realty (CNR) - based in Woodbury - has been hanging for a while now.

It reads, "Approved for restaurant use," and includes CNR's number: 516-364-2900.

It seems that CNR has no takers willing to come in to open a new business in this location on South Wellwood Avenue in the heart of the Village - let alone transform this property into a restaurant, perhaps a la Tellers Chophouse in Islip or Monsoon in , which are both owned by Bohlsen Restaurant Group.

And Mayor Tom Brennan remarked at a meeting that he's heard nothing on the former bank location.

"I understand they want steep money for it, and I think it might take even steeper money to renovate it," he said.

So what do you think should go there? A restaurant, another bank, something else? Tell us in the comments section below.

(Click to take the related poll, and read what your neighbors had to say.)