2175 5th Ave. Ronkonkoma / Courtesy of Metropolitan Realty Associates

Lumber Plus, a national chain of premium wood products retailers, will soon be opening its first Long Island location.

Unitta Exotique Woods Corp., which does business as Lumber Plus, signed a 10-year lease for the 33,000-square-foot industrial building on 1.75 acres at 2175 5th Ave. in Ronkonkoma.

The company, which distributes high-end tropical hardwoods, flooring and other wood products, plans to open its new Long Island distribution facility this spring. Lumber Plus operates other locations in Miami, Clearwater, Fla., Houston, Sagamore Beach, Mass., and Mississauga, Ontario.

The Ronkonkoma property was purchased in Oct. 2022 for $6.375 million by Metropolitan Realty Associates and Angelo, Gordon & Co. when it was occupied by Alken Industries, a manufacturer of aircraft metals. Following Alken’s departure, MRA sought a new tenant for the building that features 18-foot clear ceiling heights, three loading docks and two drive-in doors.

“While there was strong interest in leasing the building, MRA’s focus was on securing a full-building user committed to a long-term lease. Lumber Plus shared our vision,” Joe Farkas, founder and CEO of MRA, said in a company statement. “The strategic decision by Lumber Plus reflects MRA’s dedication to delivering optimal solutions for tenants seeking quality existing industrial space while maximizing the potential of our real estate investments.”

The acquisition of the Ronkonkoma property was part of Metropolitan Realty Associates’ $50 million strategic equity investment in Long Island industrial real estate assets, growing the portfolio to six industrial properties in Suffolk County.

Frank Frizalone, Nick Gallipoli, Tom Deluca, John Giannuzzi and Ryan Korzekwinski of Cushman & Wakefield represented the tenant, as well as the landlord in the lease transaction.

“The lease signing marks the efficient repositioning of the asset at 2175 Fifth Avenue and reaffirms the strong market fundamentals on Long Island, both of which were key factors contributing to 2175 Fifth’s status as a solid investment for the partnership,” Farkas said in the statement.