CONTINUING COVERAGE

Students at pro-Palestinian encampment at Rutgers University begin to disperse from Voorhees Mall

PGA Championship brings in big business -- but not for everyone in Bethpage

Bethpage business owners say they lose money and customers during the PGA Championship.

News 12 Staff

May 13, 2019, 9:56 PM

Updated 1,816 days ago

Share:

As excitement is mounting for another major golf event at Bethpage State Park, many business owners in downtown Bethpage are less than thrilled about the PGA Championship starting later this week.
John Coumatos, owner of B.K. Sweeny's Parkside Tavern on Broadway, and other business owners say they actually lose money and customers during the major golf event. They say road closures make it difficult to access shops and restaurants on Broadway.
Legislators and the Chamber of Commerce are asking people attending the golf championship to also spend time downtown. The plan is to have a shuttle bus running between Bethpage State Park and downtown Bethpage, where they'll drop off people after the golf tournament.
Frit Nokaj, an owner of Three Brothers Pizzeria on Broadway, says the past two PGA Championships have hurt his business. And he says not only do people from the tournament not come to get pizza, he loses his regular customers due to a lack of parking.
Bethpage is holding a downtown street fair this weekend, hoping to entice people to spend time in the area.


More from News 12
10:49
Students at pro-Palestinian encampment at Rutgers University begin to disperse

Students at pro-Palestinian encampment at Rutgers University begin to disperse

2:12
Mostly sunny Friday ahead with cooler temperatures; tracking weekend rain

Mostly sunny Friday ahead with cooler temperatures; tracking weekend rain

NJ Transit teams with BetMGM to provide rail serves to MetLife Stadium concerns

NJ Transit teams with BetMGM to provide rail serves to MetLife Stadium concerns

0:46
Car crashes into Hasbrouck Heights apartment building; residents evacuate

Car crashes into Hasbrouck Heights apartment building; residents evacuate

Biden says 'order must prevail' during campus protests over Gaza

Biden says 'order must prevail' during campus protests over Gaza

1:47
News 12 beats the heat today at Long Branch beach

News 12 beats the heat today at Long Branch beach

2:13
Police: Explosion, fire at Old Bridge business kills 73-year-old woman, severely injures 4 others

Police: Explosion, fire at Old Bridge business kills 73-year-old woman, severely injures 4 others

0:47
Learn to make candles at Urban Glo in Union

Learn to make candles at Urban Glo in Union

2:22
I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

0:35
Prosecutors: NJ couple pleads guilty to starting illegal marijuana service and employing their son

Prosecutors: NJ couple pleads guilty to starting illegal marijuana service and employing their son

0:24
Should former inmates be allowed to serve on juries in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy says yes

Should former inmates be allowed to serve on juries in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy says yes

0:29
Unruly passenger ordered to pay over $20,000 for interfering with flight from London to Newark

Unruly passenger ordered to pay over $20,000 for interfering with flight from London to Newark

0:20
Authorities: 2 women, 1 man stabbed in altercation at Newark McDonald's

Authorities: 2 women, 1 man stabbed in altercation at Newark McDonald's

0:19
FBI offering $5,000 reward for info on Paterson bank robbery suspect

FBI offering $5,000 reward for info on Paterson bank robbery suspect

0:24
Cape May County lifeguards file lawsuit against Avalon to get pension

Cape May County lifeguards file lawsuit against Avalon to get pension

2:06
Nutley school uses virtual reality to help children with neurodiversity succeed in the real world

Nutley school uses virtual reality to help children with neurodiversity succeed in the real world

2:22
Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

Do you constantly reuse the same username and password? 6 steps to help safeguard your online accounts

1:39
Teacher testifies on second day of trial of father accused of fatally abusing son

Teacher testifies on second day of trial of father accused of fatally abusing son

0:30
Police: Boys bring loaded gun to indoor trampoline park, firearm accidentally discharged

Police: Boys bring loaded gun to indoor trampoline park, firearm accidentally discharged

0:43
Jersey Proud: Girl Scouts deliver cookies to 2 NJ veterans hospitals

Jersey Proud: Girl Scouts deliver cookies to 2 NJ veterans hospitals