Editor’s note: The owners of the planned Stereo Garden in Patchogue have no affiliation or involvement with the owners of the old Emporium nightclub, which previously operated in the same building before going out of business in May.
STORY:
The new owners and staff at what used to be The Emporium in Patchogue say Long Islanders will be in for a big surprise when the all-new Stereo Garden opens in November.
Stereo Garden owner Gus Berketis, who runs restaurants in Nassau and Suffolk counties, said the old nightclub has been undergoing a complete, top-to-bottom renovation.
Gone will be the old red neon lights and dark decor, which will be replaced by a lighter and more modern and urban look, something reminiscent of Williamsburg or Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
“I really don’t think they’ll recognize the place,” he said.
The new space will also feature new audio, video and lighting systems, with a capacity of over 1,000 guests, making it one of the largest venues on Long Island.
Stereo Garden will operate seven days a week as a sports bar, outdoor beer garden, full-service restaurant, concert hall and private catering space.
The musical acts will be Country- and rock-driven. Tickets for the first show, the Chris Lane Take Back Home Tour, are already available for Nov. 2 on Ticketmaster.
There will be over two dozen beers on tap. The restaurant will seat 150, with partitions separating it from the concert space.
“This is going to be a chef-driven, classic American menu,” said Stereo Garden GM Chris Giorgou. “The food will be elevated for dining.”
He also noted the 1,500-square-foot outdoor space will be partially covered, with heaters for when the weather cools.
Berketis, whose ownership group took over the building in May, said they’ve assembled an “A-Team” of people with expertise in restaurants, design, catering, events booking and promoting.
He also credited the village’s government for helping the process along.
“Patchogue has been so supportive of us reinventing this space,” Berketis said, “which is really what makes this possible. And everybody here has been going nonstop — and that’s no exaggeration — in order to do this.”
One of the more trying tasks so far, he said, has been choosing a name.
“The problem is we are a restaurant, a bar, a theater, all under one roof — and you don’t want to identify as one thing,” he said. “So you need a balance. You need to identify with all of those things without having an identity crisis.”
They feel Stereo Garden does just that.
Check back at GreaterPatchogue for updates on the progress on Railroad Avenue.
