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Thornhills is back in business. Rather, we should say it has a business.
After years of sitting empty and dark, the iconic Sayville storefront at the corner of Gillette and Main will have an occupied first floor. Farmiture Gallery owners Nancy and Nick Groudas have inked a deal to lease the space this spring for their unique collection of welded steel sculptures, lighting and “Farmiture™.”
“Nancy and I are excited to move into the Thornhill’s space because of its historical presence on Main Street,” said Nick Groudas, 57. “We believe in the current movement across America to bring back main streets in beautiful small towns.
“The Thornhill’s building has magnificent architectural charm, and the newly renovated space is a wonderful place to showcase many things, especially art,” added Nick Groudas, who is also an art teacher.
In its one-of-a-kind art, Groudas Art Inc. & Farmiture™ uses salvaged steel hand selected from across New York state. The couple says their designs are inspired from rusty old car parts, vintage farm machinery, old bicycles, gears, antique lumber, barn wood and interesting industrial age objects.
For Matt La Piana, who with his wife Lauri purchased the Thornhill’s Pharmacy building almost a year ago, the Groudas are the perfect match for the space he spent months meticulously renovating.
“We are excited and fortunate to find someone local that appreciates the work that we’ve done to the Thornhill’s building,” he said. “Nancy and Nick are so talented, and are looking to be part of Sayville’s Main Street revival.”
For now, the lease deal has the Groudas and their Farmiture Gallery occupying the first floor for two months — April and May. But La Piana noted that the deal is possibly open-ended.
Meanwhile, La Piana, who owns Building Restoration Consultants Unlimited, and his wife, who owns Lighthouse Court Reporting Inc., will share the office space on the building’s second floor.
The La Pianas’ renovation project yielded a glistening space that seamlessly blends the old and the new. It includes a rustic-looking exposed wood ceiling, a nostalgic steel radiator, freshly painted white walls, modern-looking ceiling lamps and a new tiled floor with a throwback design.
The couple also restored the gorgeous neon sign outside the building to its former glory, then held a sign-lighting ceremony in November to show it off to the community.
“Matthew and Lauri La Piana — with much foresight — bought, restored and renovated” the landmark building, Nick Groudas said. “When we met, we found we both share a passion for preserving the past, featuring both architecture and handmade works of art.”
Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce President Eileen Tyznar said she’s thrilled with the downtown arrival of Nancy and Nick Groudas.
“I am so happy that Thornhill’s will host and welcome this exhibit,” she said. “It will add a combination of unique art, character and creativity to create a trendy SoHo vibe on our Main Street.”
Groudas said Farmiture Gallery will deliver a “home-like feel.”
“We want people to experience our unique collection of sculpture, lighting and furniture as a group, as well as individually,” he said.
Groudas said he has created art with Nancy, 50, since they met 25 years ago. They were married in 1997. “Farmiture” is their trademarked brand of unique furniture.
Check out some of their amazing work, as featured on their website, below:
