Alfred Weissman of Alfred Weissman Real Estate, Inc., which took title to the former Saks Fifth Avenue building in February, told the Garden City Chamber of Commerce that his firm is actively searching the market for the best possible use of the building, aiming toward professional and/or retail use.

According to Trustee Donald Brudie, who attended the July 13 chamber's networking event at the Garden City Country Club, Weissman praised the work of the Garden City-based Albanese Organization, particularly the improvements the organization has made along Franklin Avenue. Brudie added that Weissman intends to attract the same types of tenants to his newly acquired property.

After calling Franklin Avenue home for more than 40 years, Saks Fifth Avenue, which broke ground at the Franklin Avenue location back in 1960, said goodbye to Garden City last January when it officially closed its doors. The department store operator, Saks Inc., closed 11 of its under-performing locations as well as three of its Off 5th discount outlet stores in order to focus on the more profitable stores.

The village came close to losing the store a few years back when Saks officials considered making a move to Roosevelt Field Mall. The store, however, stayed put on a street that it helped get its name - "Long Island's Fifth Avenue."

Some said the village's failure to continue its Franklin Avenue revitalization project north toward Old Country Road, in spite of the chamber of commerce's repeated requests, served as Saks' "doom."

While nothing was conclusive as of press time, Weissman did add that he would keep the chamber informed of forthcoming decisions.