Published May 5, 2017 |
The owner of multiple restaurants across Nassau and Suffolk counties has taken over the lease at the now-closed Emporium and hopes to re-open this summer.
Gus Berketis of Hicksville told GreaterPatchogue he wants to keep the venue’s new name a surprise for now, but did say he plans to reopen as a more family-friendly music venue with more food options than that at The Emporium.
“Patchogue deserves a big music venue, like Huntington has the Paramount or Nassau County has Mulcahy’s,” he said. “We also have a full kitchen, so we’re going to take advantage of that. There will be a more detailed menu.”
Berketis also has ownership in Jackson Hall in East Islip, the Atlantis Diner in West Islip, the Broadway Diner in Hicksville and the (opening soon) One Jericho American Bar & Restaurant in Jericho, which used to be Angelino’s Italian Restaurant.
He’s been in restaurants for 18 years.
“I did not buy the place,” he emphasized. “I approached the landlord and I am the new tenant. It’s a great space. I love Patchogue and have been looking to do something a long time. All the smaller restaurants are great but this is the only really big space in the village for catering or big shows. But [The Emporium] owners had a different use for it from what I will have.”
The game plan isn’t yet finalized, but Berketis said he hopes to attract big rock and Country groups for concerts, as opposed to operating as more of a nightclub, which had attracted trouble to the area with some criminal incidents.
“Someplace you can go to with your teenage daughter or niece, and feel comfortable,” he said. “This is going to be a very friendly, neighborhood place.”
He said the plan is to open midsummer.
“We’re trying to rush a bit, because there was a lot of catering that was booked, so we’re trying to get it done as fast as possible to accommodate some of the people,” he said.
The owners of The Emporium could not be reached for comment Friday, the same day the club announced on its website’s homepage that it was “Out of Business.”
Emporium file photo
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