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They’re still firing up the grill at Dang BBQ.
A giant wave of community support has enabled the barbecue restaurant in Islip to keep its doors open for at least a few more weeks — perhaps until the end of March, ownership said on Tuesday.
On Feb. 25, Dang BBQ owner Anthony Mastro announced that the Islip eatery would shut down within a week. But loyal customers and others in the Long Island community, including local restaurants, have since come forward to provide a big boost in business at the eatery, an effort coined #savedang.
“The community has come out in full force and has saved the staff’s jobs for at least a few more weeks,” Mastro wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday. “Tonight we were set to have a goodbye party after hours, but we’ve changed it to a staff appreciation party.
“We couldn’t have made it through this last week without every single one of them, and I can’t begin to say how much I appreciate each and every one of them,” he added.
Mastro said Dang will definitely remain open through March 17. If business continues as it has this past week, the barbecue restaurant will remain open through the end of March.
“We’re still in a big hole, but we are going to keep working as long as we can,” Mastro said. “Thank you all for the support you have shown us. It means the world to me.”
Struggletown BBQ in Mount Sinai is among those helping to lead an effort to rescue Dang.
“The town has rallied, and the store has been busy and there is an effort going on to #savedang,” the business posted on Facebook shortly after Mastro’s closure anouncement. “We all know these are tough times for small businesses here on Long Island and I can also attest to the fact that the BBQ business isn’t an easy one.
“If anyone is going to be over in the Islip area over the next few days or weeks and you’re a fan of BBQ done the right way, why don’t you stop in and give Dang BBQ a try,” the post continued. “They could really use all the support they can get right now.”
Top photo: Facebook
