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It’s the end of an era in Hicksville.
The owners of Peppercorns Restaurant, James Madden and Sean Costello, said their final goodbyes on Aug. 1, the restaurant’s last day of operation.
Madden and Costello, who took over Peppercorns in 2017 and only grew its loyal following from there, said the building’s landlord at 25 East Marie St. presented an “opportunity” that forced their hands. They felt the deal was best for their families.
“The doors are locked. The walls are empty. The keys have been handed in. Our hearts are full though,” the owners wrote on Facebook. “Thank you ALL for the memories. We will forever be grateful for allowing us to be apart of your lives.”
On their last day, many packed the iconic Hicksville joint — including former longtime News 12 anchor, Carol Silva. She wrote the following on her Facebook:
Built in what was the community’s firehouse, commissioned in 1893, Eddie Restivo opened the clubby steakhouse in December of 1983.
“What began as an idea for something new in Hicksville, Eddie and now [Madden and Costello] have grown Peppercorns into a place that has welcomed thousands of guests and employed a few hundred people over a span of 40 years,” the owners wrote.
According to the Peppercorns website, the building was moved from its foundation and pulled by horses to its current location in 1932.
The owners gave no public indication of what’s planned next for the prominent location. Scroll down for the complete post on Instagram.
— Reporting with Michael White
Top: James Madden and Sean Costello in front of Peppercorns Restaurant. (Credit: Facebook)
