Two big, long-vacant Melville buildings sold

In what real estate industry experts hope is a sign of the times, two of the highest-visibility buildings in Melville -- unoccupied for years- - have finally been sold.

Marc Beige, who owns other property in Melville, has closed on the two buildings once occupied by ADP Inc., the Roseland, N.J.-based business services firm. One building is on Route 110 and has 50,000 square feet of space; the other, on Baylis Road, is 62,000 square feet. They share a 12-acre site.

Beige, president of the Richmond Hill-based costume company Rubie's, declined to say what he paid for the property. In 2007, when they went on the market, the buildings were assessed at $18.1 million.

Beige closed on the deal two weeks ago. "We're considering Class A office space" for the buildings, he said.

He also owns a 110,000- square-foot, curved-glass office building at Route 110 and the Long Island Expressway that, he said, is nearing completion.

Beige said he is an optimist. "I think in the long term, the Route 110 Corridor has a very bright future," Beige said. "I think from my perspective, the [real estate] market is not getting any worse. It's getting better."

One thing might get people into the curved-glass office building: A restaurant is planned there, and Beige is partnered with Tom Schaudel of East Hampton, who has owned 17 restaurants. He also founded Panama Hattie's in Dix Hills as well as Lemongrass and Tease in Roslyn.