Hempstead Avenue Construction Causes Gas Main Break in Malverne

A gas main break shut down a section of Hempstead Avenue in Malverne Wednesday afternoon, upsetting some local merchants who had to grapple with the foul odor and possible loss of business.

A construction worker hit a the gas main outside the Malverne Bagel Store around 11:30 a.m. while excavating the sidewalk.The petroleum-smell was quickly noticed by the workers, local police and others in the area including staff at the nearby Marcucc for Hair and Mike and Village Card Shoppe. The Malverne Volunteer Fire Department, village police and DPW were quickly on scene. They notified National Grid, who arrived shortly after noon to fix the problem.

A construction worker at the scene said this breaks can be common, especially when the gas mains are located close to the surface. This particular one, he said, was higher up than usual.

"This is just another thing that's bad for business," Mike, the owner of Village Card Shoppe, said, adding that he has seen less customers coming into his store since the construction began.

Usually business picks up for him in the fall when schools are back in session, but with crews ripping up the sidewalks, he says, "No one is parking here. They should have started in the summer when everyone is away. It's killing us."