Downtown concert series living up to expectations. Free shows continue to draw thousands to businesses.

From the North Shore Sun, 7/23/10 - By Peggy Spellman Hoey, Staff Writer

The Rocky Point summer concert series, in its second year, is drawing residents downtown and into area businesses. On a recent Tuesday, Ralph from the group 'Risky Business' crooned oldies tunes to a crowd of over 200 people outside St. Anthony's R.C. Church on Route 25A.

Even with rain in the forecast, several hundred die-hard music fans could be seen dancing the night away at a recent summer series concert night.

Long before the oldies group Risky Business played a host of doo-wop classics, concertgoers flocked to the downtown, filling up nearby restaurants and shops. The scene is exactly what concert organizers envisioned when they began the shows in 2008. And it's something local business owners are extremely excited about. "I wish they would have it every Tuesday," said Helen Fields, who keeps her Broadway boutique, Mrs. Fields Fashions, open late on concert nights. "It's like St. Patrick's Day, but every two weeks."

The concert series was the brainchild of Suffolk Legislator Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham), who tapped into county grant money in order to fund all the festivities in the St. Anthony's parking lot on Main Street as part of the downtown revitalization effort. But even he says the concert series has exceeded his expectations. Just last year it drew about 20,000 people to the downtown area, he said.

Mr. Losquadro said many of the merchants are applauding the concert series because it is helping draw new people to their businesses. To see people coming out on a night where it rained earlier in the day speaks to the success of the concert series, he said.

"I think that just goes to show people look forward to it," Mr. Losquadro said. "People come, they drop their chairs off. They go eat dinner. They are going out to the ice cream shop. They are going out for drinks after. It really has exceeded my expectations."

And even though he said there's no line out the door, Caruso's Pizzeria employee Giovanni Trezza said the concerts bring to life an otherwise dead downtown. "It's nice to have the concerts," he said.

Concert attendee Linda Green agreed. Ms. Green was one of several hundred people who ignored the forecast last Tuesday and treated herself to the concert as well as a strawberry shake from Sweets of the Spoon.

Ms. Green noted that many others are also doing the same and are crowding the downtown on concert nights.

"I think there were about 1,000 people here the last time," Ms. Green said.

Sweets of the Spoon owner Lisa Coleman loves what the concerts have meant for her business.