Jericho-based Beechwood Organization is planning to redevelop the site of a TGI Friday’s restaurant in Westbury into a condominium and hotel.
The developer is seeking a zone change from the Town of Hempstead to build a 90-unit “condotel” project on the 3-acre site at 829 Merrick Ave. The four-story development would be comprised of two-bedroom residences and include amenities such as an outdoor pool, fitness studio, library, business center, lounge, and more, according to its application with the town.
The development, designed by Westbury-based Studio Core Architects, will be a condominium operated like a long-term hotel, according to Beechwood principal Michael Dubb.
“People will own their own units. We will rent them out for them, we will manage them for them, and we will furnish them,” Dubb told LIBN. “It will fill a void that we have in our area of people who maybe go to Florida in the wintertime and want to monetize their residence, or people who maybe go out east in the summer and want to monetize their residence. Business travelers who want to live in a residence for a period of time, be it from several weeks to several months. I don’t think Long Island has anything like this, and we’ve certainly identified the need for it.”
Beechwood purchased the 10,064-square-foot restaurant building on 3 acres for $12.75 million in May 2025. The property was last occupied by TGI Fridays, which closed in Oct. 2024 as part of the chain’s bankruptcy.
The prolific development firm has been buying several properties on Merrick Avenue over the last decade. Beechwood’s anchor development there is The Selby, a $125 million, 237-unit luxury apartment building at 695 Merrick Ave. that opened in Sept. 2022. The apartment complex was built on the 5.87-acre site of the former Syms clothing store, which Beechwood bought for $16 million in 2017, according to public records.
Besides the former Friday’s site, the company paid $4 million for the 7,308-square-foot building on 1.22 acres at 725 Merrick Ave. in April 2021 that was formerly home to Houlihan’s. The property is currently leased to John Tunney Restaurants which operates its Farm Italy Restaurant & Bar concept there.
In Dec. 2022, Beechwood bought the 12,107-square-foot building on 2.5 acres at 737 Merrick Ave. for $11 million. The property was last occupied by Buffalo Wild Wings, and Beechwood is planning to build a high-end boutique hotel on the site.
Dubb said the company’s vision has been to reimagine the Merrick Avenue corridor.
“This property adjoins Eisenhower Park, which is one of Nassau’s greatest treasures. This park is a tremendous amenity,” he said. “Everybody who lives in The Selby is in that park constantly walking and enjoying the benefits of it. I think we’re taking Merrick Avenue and really upgrading it to complement the crown jewel of parks.”
The Nassau County Planning Commission reviewed the “condotel” plan at its meeting on June 16. Commission members were intrigued by the concept and had no opposition to the plan, according to a source close to the commission, and the matter was referred back to the town for local determination.
The town will hold a public hearing later this summer on Beechwood’s requested zone change from Business X and Industrial Y to Planned Unit Development (PUD) before the Westbury plan can move forward. Housing and hotels are two of the permitted uses under the PUD zoning.