Former CPA Office May Turn Into Health Club

A former East End office of certified public accounts has turned into a temporary place to sell bushes and may transform into a fitness club.

The owner of a proposed indoor cycle studio is scheduled to go before the City Council on April 16, for a waiver of parking requirements at 369 E. Park Avenue, where accountants Hertz & Rosenzweig did business prior to Hurricane Sandy. In the interim, Budget Bushes, which has business signs posted in the vacant unit’s window, displays a limited number of shrubs out front.  

Scott Kemins, the city’s building commissioner, told Patch that the bush business at the storefront, located between Lincoln and Monroe boulevards, is only temporary. “The plant-bush place ... actually [doesn't have] approvals to operate, hence why it might be very temporary,” he said.

A call to the phone number listed on the Budget Bushes signs yielded Joe Cioco, who said he is a local contractor whose friend owns the building. The City Council agenda lists Ben Farrante of Oceanside as its owner.  

“I’m the person who is redoing the building and I put the bushes up there because I’m trying to get rid of some,” Cioco said. “But we’re not staying there.”

Cioco said he rebuilt Unsound, the surf shop located three doors down from the vacant unit that was destroyed in the storm, as well as the home of its co-owner, Dave Juan, who lives in Long Beach. “We just filmed last week at his house with MTV and kids came from all over instead of going to spring break,” he said.

Hertz & Rosenzweig declined to comment for this story.