Queens cabinetmaker plans move to Freeport

New York Vanity Manufacturing Co. Inc. plans to move its operations from Queens to Freeport.

The residential cabinetmaker employs 25 and occupies 80,000 square feet in Ridgewood, which its president says is too much space, with overhead that's too expensive. The company plans over the next month to move into 28,000 square feet of space at 10 Henry St. near the Freeport railroad station, said president George Mantikas.

The former site of a cosmetics company, 10 Henry St. had tax delinquencies dating back to 2007, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano's office said in announcing the move. About $325,000 of it was recovered in the sale to New York Vanity, county officials said.

A $2.4 million-a-year company, New York Vanity was founded in 1984 by Mantikas' late father, Alex, and a partner, East Hills resident Teddy Foukalas, who died recently.

The younger Mantikas said the company needs less space because it has shifted to production of lower volume but more upscale cabinets. He said he is seeking tax abatements from Nassau's Industrial Development Agency and expects his costs of electricity from the village of Freeport's utility to be about half that of his Con Edison bills.

Most of Mantikas' 25 workers, carpenters and assemblers are expected to make the move with him, at least temporarily. "The proximity to the train was very important," he said. "That's going to help us to retain some of those employees." He said he plans to add more workers.