Downtown Riverhead

The Town Board will vote Tuesday to designate Riverhead town square master developer J. Petrocelli “qualified and eligible,” allowing the company to move forward with the construction of a hotel, public plaza and playground in the center of downtown.

After more than a century serving up breakfasts, chocolates, and memories, Riverhead’s beloved Star Confectionery — known as “Papa Nick’s” — will close its doors on Aug. 27. Owner Anthony Meras reflects on family, community and a career behind the grill.

Alive on 25 drew throngs of people to downtown Riverhead Friday night to enjoy live music, food, craft beverages, kids' games and activities and even professional wrestling performances, capped off with a fireworks display.

Alive on 25, billed as "Riverhead's popular summer block party," is set to take over Main Street and beyond on Friday, July 18, with a special fireworks display on the riverfront after dark.

A Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop will open in downtown Riverhead on Thursday at noon, bringing classic and exclusive flavors from the iconic ice cream brand to East Main Street.

Olga’s, a new restaurant serving Guatemalan and American classics by a local immigrant family, opened its doors in downtown Riverhead Tuesday. 

Small businesses in downtown Riverhead that serve the Latino community report steep drops in foot traffic and revenue as immigrant residents increasingly avoid public spaces in a time of high anxiety locally and across the country. 

Ben & Jerry’s, the popular ice cream brand with flavors like Cherry Garcia, Phish Food and Chunky Money, is coming to downtown Riverhead with a brick-and-mortar shop on East Main Street. 

The nonprofit organization that plans Alive on 25, Oktoberfest and other events in downtown Riverhead is currently “frozen” because its board and town officials have not yet been able to resolve issues over the organization's 2025 budget. 

The Suffolk Theater will present its first live theatrical production this month, "12 Angry Men," a play about 12 jurors tasked with deciding a death penalty case of a teenage boy accused of murdering his father.