Kasandra Watkins Schaeffer and her husband, Jeff Schaeffer, come from coffee business and food service backgrounds, but in 2023 they started a warm, welcoming place they could call their own. Mugs on Main (33 E. Main St., Riverhead, 631-381-0494) is the kind of happy hub every neighborhood should have. Local art cycles through the shop’s walls and Jeff’s mother’s paintings fill the back portion of the space. The Schaeffers have curated a certain Central Perk meets craft espresso cocktail feel at the Main Street spot, with leather couches and a long list of signature lattes. 

The Vibe 

Combining classic and eclectic coffee shop vibes, Mugs is at once a caffeine-fueled study center, first-date locale and delicious drop-in to fuel an otherwise trying day. It’s impossible to wear a frown here thanks to the bright decor, colorfully written blackboard menus and string lights that add a cozy feel all four seasons. There’s varying drop-in community fun on the roster each week, too, like open mic night, trivia and bingo, plus Friday ladies’ night special deals and a daily happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m.  

The Food

Morning bites, with lots of eggs, bacon, handheld selections and sides, are served from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come midmorning, more lunch-centric options become available, including sandwiches and flatbreads. Sweets are in store as well, plus a long lineup of coffees, teas, espresso drinks and refreshers, many sporting fun seasonal titles with the option for add-ons like the shop’s homemade syrups for an extra-flavorful punch. Many of the pastries, desserts and snacks are sourced from local vendors, but much of what’s served is created in the kitchen just left of the coffee bar. 

Croissant Sandwich

A pastry-rific twist on a Long Island staple, the buttery croissant wonderfully complements the crispy bacon and smooth fried egg. American cheese adds a salty, savory touch to the otherwise simple sandwich. 

French Toast

The base of this classic dish is made with a crispy croissant, so expect a lighter, flakier texture to this always-fun carby meal. Strawberries, syrup and powdered sugar add a just-right hit of childhood nostalgia. 

Avocado Toast

A health queen or king’s dream, lightly mashed avocado, greens and chunky salsa pack a subtly peppery taste. Served over a thick slice of sourdough and toasted just enough to add support to the toppings, this tasty option is still soft enough to make a satisfying bite. 

Broken BEC

Presentation is everything with this deconstructed dish, which sees cheesy scrambled eggs topped with crispy bacon packed inside a big mug and served with toast. The fun scoop-up twist on the beloved breakfast sandwich makes it even more appetizing. 

Rancheros Wrap

Mugs on Main’s bestselling breakfast is all wrapped up: scrambled eggs, cheese, beans, greens, avocado, salsa and sour cream come together in this slightly smoky and hardy handheld. Creamy avocado and sour cream partner with salty cheese to contrast fabulously against the bitter greens and acidic sweet salsa. 

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Ms. Verity discussed the BID’s plans for other changes as well at last Thursday’s Riverhead Town Board work session. 

In 2017, the coffin races’ first year, the event was moved from Griffing Avenue to Heidi Behr Way, along the riverfront, due to heavy rain the previous day. Subsequent races ran on Griffing Avenue, along the Supreme Court, where spectators can sit on the steps. 

Now, Ms. Verity told board members, the BID would like to move the races to East Main Street. 

“It was great on Griffing , because we have the courthouse steps, but it presents a lot of challenges,” she explained, noting that people who attend the coffin races could miss out on the start of trick-or-treating on Main Street.

Last year was the first time Main Street was closed to traffic to allow trick or treating, and the BID hopes to continue that. 

Ms. Verity said they are proposing to move the coffin races to East Main Street, starting in front of Star Confectionery and moving east.

The police department wants to leave Peconic Avenue and Roanoke Avenue open, while having a traffic control officer help people cross the street, Ms. Verity said. 

“It would be nice to keep everyone in one place,” she said. 

“We just have to be mindful because they have been doing a lot of construction on Main Street,” Supervisor Tim Hubbard said. “That road is pretty choppy right now, although they are going to repave it.”

Still, Mr. Hubbard said, he likes the new location. 

“It makes all the sense in the world,” he said. “That way, one [event] can flow right into the next and nobody is missing out anything.”

Among other BID event changes Ms. Verity discussed, there will be two “Alive on 25” events downtown this year instead of four, as in previous years. The first will take place July 5, and will include a fireworks show. That event has always between very popular, and usually fills downtown. The second “Alive on 25” will be Aug. 9 — without fireworks. 

“I like the fact that ‘Alive on 25’ has been brought down to two dates,” Mr. Hubbard said. “I think you’re going have two really hugely attended programs doing it that way. Before, it kind of watered it down. I think you’re going to see that each of these will be like the fireworks show.” 

Ms. Verity said that having the four events was a drain on the town’s resources. She said this allows the BID to work with other events being held downtown. 

The other big change she presented called for changing the annual holiday bonfire from one large pit to multiple smaller pits that can be placed in locations like the Town Square or East End Arts Council. 

Other BID events proposed for 2024 include the cardboard boat race, co-hosted with the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce. This year’s date will be Aug. 3, with a rain date of Aug. 17.

Also scheduled are the Oktoberfest on Oct. 5; the Halloween Festival — including the coffin races, trick-or-treating and a parade — on Oct. 19; four “Art in the Park” events in Grangebel Park; and a Holiday Parade and Santa House on Dec. 14 on Main Street and along the riverfront. 

Officials said it’s not clear how far along work on the downtown Town Square will be by the time some of the events are scheduled.

Councilwoman Joann Waski noted that the Aug. 17 rain date proposed for the cardboard boat race is the same date as the recently-approved Polish Town Fair and Festival.

Ms. Verity said the police have been given the dates for both events to determine if there is a conflict. 

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It was reported to police Tuesday that in the evening hours on Monday, an 11-year-old male and his father were customers at Larry’s Barbershop, located at 1352 East Main Street.   

The father had consumed alcohol with the barber, later identified as Hilario Hernandez Dela Cruz, and subsequently became intoxicated.    

Police said Hernandez Dela Cruz then attempted to touch the 11-year-old male, and offered the child money to allow him to perform a sexual act on him.  

The 11-year-old male was able to contact his mother and was removed from the location, physically unharmed, according to police.   

The father, whose name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim, was arrested for endangering the welfare of a child, police said. 

Hernandez Dela Cruz was arrested for first-degree attempted sexual abuse, as well as for third-degree criminal solicitation and for endangering the welfare of a child. He is being held for arraignment, police said. 

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Several of the speakers supporting the project read from virtually identical scripts.

The proposal, from Healtherwood Luxury Apartments in Commack in conjunction with The Metro Group, would be the largest apartment complex in Riverhead.

It was first proposed in 2017, according to its attorney John Wagner. It is a market rate project, although the applicant did not give specific rent amounts. Sean Sallie of Heatherwood said they only lease property and don’t sell units. 

The application, called simply 203-213 East Main Street, is a market rate, mixed-use development planned for 1.42 acres that were once home to Sears and other stores in downtown Riverhead. The site has been vacant for several years. It is one of several apartment complexes that have either been approved or are pending. 

The application calls for 52 studio apartments, 80 one-bedroom units and 33 with two bedrooms. If built, the complex would also include 155 parking spaces. 

One of the speakers who supported the project said she was a single mom with three children. 

“I’m very interested in this project, she said, in tears. “I’m a struggling with housing right now.”

“I definitely support this project,” said Ida Palmieri, whose family owns 9 Brothers Building Supply in Calverton. “I think it will revitalize Main Street.”

Others raised questions. 

“This looks like a very impressive project, and they are definitely invested in the community,” said Garrett Moore of East Main Street, a Riverhead teacher. He said he’s concerned about slow response time from police, who he feels are overworked. 

Supervisor Yvette Aguiar said the town will soon have 86 police officers, having added seven new officers to its budget for this year.. 

Cindy Clifford, president of the Heart of Riverhead civic association, said they are happy with the applicant’s reworking of the proposal and with the additional parking space. 

But, she said, they are disappointed that the applicant is seeking tax abatements from the town Industrial Development Agency, “which will again leave us bearing the brunt of paying taxes to support the services that the 165 units will no doubt access.”

In February, 203-213 East Main Street made a presentation before the IDA indicating that they would seek tax abatements. 

Form letters submitted in support of 203-213 East Main Street said the writers backed the project and the developers. The letters read, in part: “With the ongoing housing shortage on Long Island, it’s reassuring to know that this proposal for quality residential development is being considered for approval. 

The question of whether all the current downtown apartments would impact the Riverhead Central School District also was raised during the hearing. 

Town planner Greg Bergman said he recently pursued this concern with school officials, and learned that, of the four existing large apartment complexes downtown, Riverview Lofts, with 118 apartments had added six students to Riverhead schools. The Shipyard, with 36 apartments, and Summerwind Square, with 52, each added three students to district enrollment, according to Mr. Bergman. The largest influx of new students — a total of 30— came from the 45-unit Peconic Crossing project. 

Another question related to how 203-213 East Main Street would impact the 500 apartment limit that was put in place in the town’s 2003 master plan update.

Mr. Bergman said the 500 apartment limit is still in place. It applies only to units in the five buildings that have so far received Certificates of Occupancy in the Downtown 1 zone. If 203-213 East Main Street were approved, and received its CO, he said, the town would still be under that limit. 

The hearing on the proposal remained open until June 30 for written comments, officials said. 

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