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The revival of Shands General is right around the corner.
The iconic Patchogue location at 67 W. Main Street, which was last operated as the BrickHouse Brewery for over two decades, is readying for its re-debut this month in Patchogue.
But it won’t be a general store as it was when James G. Shand operated it in the late 1800s. Instead, it will be a completely new dining experience in the area. More about that below.
The building is said to be one of the oldest in the village, and “we wanted to pay homage to Shand and keep the historical aspect of the building in mind,” said Bert Wiegand, a member of the group of millennial restaurateurs that took over this space in 2023.
Wiegand and his partners added antique brass railings, white marble floors in the bar area, and tri-fold windows in front of the restaurant that will open up during the spring and summer.
When you walk inside the new Shands General, there are three different vibes:
- The front with its Italian patio vibe by the tri-fold windows
- The 40-foot bar with its high ceilings and three large booths of handmade black walnut tables that will fit 10 to 12 people
- The main dining room, which will be quaint and quiet with a more relaxing feel
Overall, Shands is expected to seat between 140 to 145 people.
Wiegand, along with his business partners James McPeak, Francis Derby, Sean Burke and siblings Steve and Julian Rizzo, got the keys to the two-story historic building back after New Year’s Day in 2023.
First, they started with the upstairs, transforming the BrickHouse’s old catering space into an intimate, upscale cocktail bar called The State Room, which has been perennially packed since its opening in February of that year.
(The State Room, separated from the downstairs restaurant, uses the side entrance on Havens Avenue to get in. There’s a staircase, with an accessible stair lift, that leads to the lounge and bar.)
Now the team is ready to show Long Island its downstairs. They are eyeing a June 26 launch.
“I’m excited to see the reaction on people’s faces when they walk in the door,” said Julian, who gave Greater Long Island an exclusive tour of the space last month. “When they try something they’ve never tried before.”
The Dining Experience
For the menu, head chef Derby, who has worked in Michelin star restaurants in NYC and beyond, was looking to give patrons a “Long Island brasserie” experience — but that doesn’t mean it’s completely French.
The menu starts with plates that the table can share (similar to what you can find in The State Room), plus a raw bar filled with local seafood.
Homemade pasta is on the menu, too, along with a fully composed veggie section featuring items from the two local Brookhaven farms the team has been partnering with since the first concept opened.
They’ll have a chops and cuts section, with a variety of steaks, whole roasted ducks and chicken, as well as a burger.
The ownership group said they plan on adding brunch later as well.
Check back with greaterlongisland.com for a sneak peek of the new location.
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Top: The exterior of Shands General. (GLI Photo/Nick Esposito)