RETAIL: Lowe's ready to dig in at former Huntington Townhouse

Lowe's hopes to put another shovel in the ground on Long Island, this time at the former Huntington Townhouse. Last week, the North Carolina-based home improvement retailer, which competes feverishly with The Home Depot, said it has bought the Commack Multiplex Cinemas for about $13 million. Movies will continue to be shown there for up to two years, when construction of a new Lowe's is expected to begin.

A.J. Carter, a spokesman for Huntington Town, said the town board rezoned the Townhouse property for general business a year ago. "That cleared the way for the development of the property," Carter said. Lowe's submitted a site plan about a month ago, he said, and the plan is being reviewed by the town planning board.

A Lowe's spokeswoman said the company has seven stores on Long Island and one under construction in Rosedale, Queens. If Huntington Town approves the plans there, construction is expected to begin early next year for a 103,000-square-foot store.

Lowe's has become more aggressive about opening stores in the Northeast, retail experts say. But the company has a way to go before it catches up with The Home Depot, at least on Long Island, where there are about 24 stores.