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More than a decade after a fire destroyed the pavilion at Cupsogue Beach County Park, the Westhampton barrier beach finally has its gathering place back.
The new pavilion area is set to debut with a grand opening next weekend, bringing a new restaurant, expanded facilities and a fresh look to one of Suffolk County’s most popular oceanfront parks.
The new food-and-drink concept, called The Beach House, will operate inside the newly built pavilion at the top of the boardwalk, overlooking the beach.
For years after the 2014 fire, parkgoers were served by temporary facilities and a food truck operated by the team behind Tiki Joe’s. The fire destroyed the park’s longtime pavilion and damaged portions of the boardwalk, leaving Cupsogue without a permanent concession and restroom building for more than a decade.
Now, Suffolk County’s long-awaited rebuild is giving the 296-acre beach park a full upgrade.
The new pavilion project includes improved restrooms, concession space, staff offices and areas for EMT and lifeguard operations, according to Suffolk County legislation approving funding for the work. The county estimated the full project cost at $8.75 million, with $2.5 million in serial bonds appropriated earlier this year.
The Beach House will be run by a new crew that includes Elyse Grasso, Mikaela Fiscina, Matthew Spinks and husband-and-wife team Jay and Katchlin Janowsky.
Grasso said the team was awarded the concession contract after Suffolk County put the bid out last year.
“We’re very excited,” Grasso told Greater Long Island earlier this year. “It’s a beautiful building.”
The group brings plenty of South Shore hospitality experience. Grasso, Spinks and the Janowskys have operated the concessions at Venetian Shores and Tanner Park. The Janowskys are also behind several well-known spots, including The Wayward in Sayville, Bodhi’s Beach Shack and Buoy 35 in Blue Point, among other restaurants.
The new Cupsogue setup will include indoor ordering, an outdoor bar, a dedicated merchandise area and a wraparound deck with seating. The team is planning a beach-friendly menu with seafood, burgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, tropical cocktails and frozen drinks, along with healthier options.
During the day, The Beach House will lean grab-and-go. At night and on weekends, the plan is to offer more of a sit-down feel on the deck, along with live music.
“We’re really looking to have an elevated space that fits the new concession that’s down there,” Grasso said. “It’s really a spectacular building, and we really want to match that with our food and our drinks and our service.”
The pavilion rebuild began after Labor Day last year, and wrapped up construction this spring.
Cupsogue Beach County Park, located at the end of Dune Road in Westhampton, offers lifeguard-supervised swimming, sunbathing, fishing, camping and outer beach access.
And this summer, for the first time in more than a decade, beachgoers will have a brand-new pavilion to go with it.
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Top: Aerial view of Cupsogue Beach County Park’s new pavilion. (Credit: Next Level Social)
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