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Tap Room is expanding its Long Island empire into perhaps the Island’s premier downtown destination: Huntington.
And right in the heart of it all. Tap Room has taken over the large and prominent former Honu space, which for about 18 months played host to the instantly popular Craft Kitchen & Taphouse.
(Honu closed in August 2023 after a 20-year run at 363 New York Avenue.)
The space went through a huge makeover to make way for Craft Kitchen & Taphouse, whose owners still operate two locations in their home base of South Nassau: Wantagh and Lynbrook.
“It’s a great business and a great brand that’s similar to ours,” said Tap Room co-founder James Bonanno, who met the Craft owners through mutual friends before they all agreed upon an ownership change.
Tap Room Huntington will be opening tomorrow, Saturday, June 29.
“Aesthetically, they did a great job with [the renovations], so there really wasn’t much we had to do, or needed to change,” Bonanno said.
Huntington marks Tap Room’s seventh Long Island location. There’s also a spot in the works at the new Station Yards mega-complex in Ronkonkoma, and still another in Garden City that’s opening this summer.
That all will bring the total to nine for the rapidly expanding craft beer and gastro pub concept, which started with a small space in Patchogue in 2011 before expanding later into Massapequa Park, Bay Shore and beyond.
In addition to Long Island, Tap Room is building a foundation to expand across several states, the owners have said.
“It’s exciting,” Bonanno previously told Greater Long Island. “And not just for us, but for the team. It’s amazing to be able to create opportunities for the people around us, to help build their lives and their careers.”
As for Huntington, he said the bustling downtown was always on the company’s radar.
“We were always just kind of waiting for the perfect opportunity, not knowing what that was,” he said. “But I think we made the best decision to wait, because this absolutely is the most perfect opportunity for us. It’s a great community and a great destination for dining, nightlife and everything. And, The Paramount is right across the street.”
— all photos of the Tap Room location at 363 New York Ave. come courtesy of Tap Room
