Center Moriches is home to its own country music radio station. WJVC, located at 96.1 on your FM dial, is licensed to Center Moriches and broadcasts to eastern Long Island.
Center Moriches is a hamlet in the town of Brookhaven, in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York
Center Moriches is home to its own country music radio station. WJVC, located at 96.1 on your FM dial, is licensed to Center Moriches and broadcasts to eastern Long Island.
Center Moriches is a hamlet in the town of Brookhaven, in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York. Town names can get a little confusing in the area because Center Moriches lies between Moriches and East Moriches, which of course makes perfect sense, but makes it hard to know where you are! Locals don't fret about it too much, and you will sometimes hear the whole area referred to as The Moriches.
Moving to Center Moriches
Center Moriches is a coastal town on the south shore of Long Island. The population was 7,580 at the 2010 census and the town consists of just over five square miles of land. If you've never been to Long Island, or if you've only been to the western end, closer to New York City, you're in for a treat. Center Moriches provides the ultimate charm of small-town Long Island.
There are two big things you're going to need to have when you are ready to start your apartment search in Center Moriches: good credit and cash.
The area is very light on apartment rentals, so most of the rental properties in this town are private homes and landlords will definitely be running a credit check on you. There may be a small fee for this. If you can come to an agreement for a house rental in Center Moriches you'll then have to be prepared with some cold, hard cash. This is New York after all and it's expensive. You probably already knew that, though.
Rentals in private homes may require as much as two, or even three, months' rent as a security deposit. You can probably imagine that this is because of the high cost of home repairs in the area. You'll usually have to give over first and last month's rent too. This can really add up to a big wad of cash and you should just be prepared going in. It will be worth it though when you are relaxing in your new place with a great water view of Moriches Bay.
There is no one better season than another to look for rentals in Center Moriches. It is not as seasonal as some of the other beachy-type towns on Long Island. There is steady stream, or maybe it's more of a steady trickle, of rental properties in Center Moriches.
Neighborhoods of Center Moriches
Center Moriches can pretty much be separated into northern and southern areas by the Montauk Highway, also known as Route 27A; this is the main drag through town.
Northern Center Moriches: This area is between the Sunrise Highway and the Montauk Highway and is more sparsely populated than the southern end of town. If you find a house for rent in this area you will be that much closer to the highway for commuting and you will likely have fewer neighbors. The high school in is in this area also.
Southern Center Moriches: Southern Center Moriches is much more residential, especially as you get closer to the water. Everyone wants a house with a water view, right? Here, you are a little farther away if you want to head out of town, but if you're staying put to enjoy the water view, you won't mind at all.
Living in Center Moriches
Transportation
Long Island is generally pretty well set up when it comes to public transportation, but once you get this far out on Long Island, services get a little more sparse. Suffolk County Transportation does offer Center Moriches residents bus services to Riverhead and west to Patchogue where you can catch the train into New York.
The Sunrise Highway is your best bet to traverse the island and it will take you into New York City, about 70 miles west.
Culture
Center Moriches, as tiny as it is, is home to a couple of buildings that have made it to the National Register of Historic Places list. The historic Masury Estate Ballroom still stands. It was built in 1898 and brings back memories of times when heading to the beach ballroom was the perfect Friday night summertime date.
If you truly appreciate history, you'll want to go see the Terry-Ketcham Inn on Main Street. This historic inn and tavern was built in 1693. Once the stagecoach days came to Long Island it was one of the stops for those heading out from Manhattan to The Hamptons, even way back then!
Local Stores and Restaurants
Almost everything you could need or want in Center Moriches is located along the Montauk Highway. CVS, Waldbaum's Supermarket, Jonesy's Hardware and the Boulevard Florist can all be found along what is effectively 'Main Street' in Center Moriches. In fact, some even call it Main Street.
And there's no need to go anywhere else for a great meal. Stay local and try the pizza at Alitalia. It is consistently voted as the top pizza joint around. La Volpe Ristorante is a Zagat rated family-owned restaurant that has won several awards. This place is definitely worth checking out.
If you'd rather cook your own fresh-caught seafood, stop by the Atlantic Seafood Fish Market and grab the day's catch. If you want, they'll even cook it for you for take-out. This a classic Northeast no-frills fish shop. You can eat it here but don't expect cutlery; it's paper forks and plates all the way.
Outdoors
If you're ready to enjoy the great outdoors and all that Long Island has to offer, check out the Terrell River County Nature Preserve in town. The preserve covers 260 acres in Center Moriches, right on the Moriches Bay. The area is wooded and the one and a quarter mile trail to the beach offers great views of the marsh and the Terrell River. You can even bring the dog, as long as he remains on his leash.
The City
Of course, if you really want to get out for a night on the town or some major league, big city fun, it's nice to know that New York City is just down the road. You could certainly drive, but why have the hassle of a car in such a city? The Long Island Rail Road can hook you right up to the city, wherever you want to go. So, go catch a Yankee's game or the latest Broadway show. Why not take advantage of living in the hub of the universe!
Center Moriches is the perfect place if you are searching for that relaxed South Shore lifestyle of beaches and boating. You may have to have a bit of patience while waiting for your perfect rental to come up in Center Moriches, but it will be worth the wait.
