Tom Drake is one happy man.
The owner of the Meeting House Creek Inn has reached an agreement with his landlord that allows him to operate at that location through Labor Day weekend next year.
“I’m very excited,” restaurateur Tom Drake told RiverheadLOCAL today.
Drake said he and property owner Alex Galasso reached the agreement yesterday.
“I’m happy to stay. I love this spot,” Drake said.
He has operated the restaurant at Larry’s Lighthouse Marina for 25 years as of this November.
In an interview last week, Drake said he was closing down at the end of this month at the request of the owner and is looking for another location in Riverhead.
Galasso said in an interview this week he believes it is time for a change at the restaurant. It is adjacent to the marina and boasts an outdoor patio and a 70-foot screened-in porch for dining, both overlooking Meetinghouse Creek and the marina’s docks.
“I’d like to see the restaurant better complement the marina,” Galasso said.
Galasso said he is planning to raise the building about four feet to alleviate flooding issues. He’s rebuilding the bulkheading and would also like to build a second-story addition for storage.
The footprint of the 4,771-square-foot building would not change and there are no plans to expand the 163-seat restaurant itself, Galasso said.
Since the marina and restaurant are considered pre-existing, nonconforming uses under the Riverhead Town zoning code, Galasso has to obtain a special permit from the town board for the renovations. The town board has scheduled a public hearing on the special permit application for 2:05 p.m. on Oct. 7.
Galasso told town board members during last Thursday’s work session that he was planning to close the restaurant for renovations as of Sept. 30 and reopen the restaurant next year under new ownership, but would not say who the new owner would be.
Phil’s Restaurant in Wading River has been advertising on his website and on his bar menu that he’s opening a new location, “Phil’s Waterfront Bar & Grill,” in “spring/summer 2015.” An aerial photo of Larry’s Lighthouse Marina accompanies the announcement, which does not state its location.
Marcario last week declined to be interviewed about the new location. “I’d rather wait till we’re open,” he said last Tuesday at his popular Wading River eatery.
Galasso this week confirmed he’s had discussions with Marcario, whom he described as “a good friend,” but said no lease has yet been signed and “nothing is etched in stone.”
Galasso could not be reached today for comment.
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