STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Like the sands of time, so shift Staten Island’s small business owners in the pandemic. And the food show goes forward.
We have one of the first eateries to break into 2021 — Vodega in West Brighton. Tariq Zaid of Richmond Hood Co. fame and Hany Shaarawy co-own the soon-open 24-hour vegan deli at 829 Castleton Ave. The first day is Saturday, Jan. 9 making it the premier food operation to open for the New Year.
Vodega will feature about 90 percent organic product on its shelves with plant-based food options and an “accidental vegan” stash. (That’s where to find the Oreos.) The breakfast, grab-and-go and hot espresso/coffee format (Thevodegadeli.com) aims for the attention of a variety of Staten Islanders who live in and travel through the neighborhood, said Tariq. The spot will function as vegan mac ‘n’ cheese epicenter for those from the hospital, DEP station, schools, courthouse, bus depot, schools and for the over-night delivery driver.
Staten Island new restaurants (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
Can’t get enough chalupas from the Port Richmond Taco Bell? Well, there’s another one coming a little further down Forest Avenue to soon-open Roman Blum Plaza in Mariners Harbor, also future home to Asian Foods supermarket. The new TB is on the end-cap of this sprawling development right behind a freshly built Burger King, the latter aiming for a spring opening.
In a West Brighton shopping complex that houses health food Call It A Wrap, Sumac Middle Eastern restaurant and Egger’s Ice Cream Parlor, there will be a brand new Papa John’s, said landlord Stewart Waldman. That will be the second Papa John’s for the borough, the existing location in Grant City. The franchise, founded by John Schnatter in 1984 and for whom the outfit is named, had two former locations on Staten Island, one in Great Kills and the other in Port Richmond near Jewett Avenue.
Ungaro's coal-fired pizza in Port Richmond (Courtesy of Kim Ungaro)
Ungaro’s Pizza in Port Richmond (Ungarocoalfiredpizzacafe.com) has finally opened after a year and a half effort. The biggest delay for the coal-fired parlor came from delays on a widened water main, the key ingredient to install a new sprinkler system.
Kim and Domenico Ungaro are practiced proprietors of the pie biz dedicated to “the best pizza toppings and salads and calzones.” They established Domenico’s in Princes Bay — owned from 2002 to 2006 — and Domenico’s in Bay Terrace — opened in sold in 2007 and sold to new owners in 2016.
Ungaro's in Port Richmond serves a coal-fired pizza. (Courtesy of Kim Ungaro)
And what’s up with serial restaurant opener Peter Botros’ places?
First up, his Jewish deli location fell through on the South Shore.
“But that doesn’t mean we aren’t still actively looking and working on menu/recipe development,” Botros confessed.
At Sofia’s Taqueria, he and his business partners have nailed down a deal for a South Shore location, an address that will be announced shortly.
In the meantime, he said, “Sofia’s on Bay Street is working hard to serve the community with daily and weekly specials and of course, Margaritas.”
Sallys Southern in West Brighton rolled out a complete lineup of daily specials in 2021.
“So far the biggest buzz has been our Sunday Seafood Boils! Craft cocktails, mocktails, and our Old Fashioned ‘library’ is available 7 days a week,” enthused Botros. He added that new Rustic Pizza in Grant City has earned a cult-like following in the pandemic. He maintained, “It’s fresh gourmet pastas, artisan pizza and Italian fare worthy of a high brow white table cloth restaurants. We also rolled out Sunday Family Dinner. Think: Grandma’s Sunday Sauce, but we do all the work.”
Flashback to June 22, 2020: Stone House setting up with social distancing in Clove Lakes Park. The restaurant closed in the fall when indoor dining was banned. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Stone House
The Stone House in Clove Lakes Park is still closed but not forever. A hopeful Peter said his staff is still booking future weddings and events. Violette’s Cellar also remains temporarily closed but the Grant City, subterranean speakeasy has had a small facelift.
“We’re keeping the incredibly popular small plates concept, but adding a full menu of eclectic entrees and pastas to be rolled out when indoor dining returns to our beautiful wine cellar and speakeasy,” said Botros. He’s also tinkering with two new concepts while looking for locations tailored to them.
“Our two restaurants in the Catskills — Binnekill Tavern and Tito Banditos — are open with few restrictions as Upstate New York is not feeling the same constraints we are here in NYC,” said Botros.
- About 40 restaurants were represented at the Richmond County Courthouse on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2020 to announce a lawsuit and injunction on behalf of restaurant owners and IROAR, a lobbying group. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)Staten Island Advance
Speaking of constraints, the sentiment among some restaurant owners is that Staten Island’s legislators have failed the community’s food industry as indoor dining remains banned in NYC.
Rob DeLuca of DeLuca’s Italian Restaurant and president of restaurant lobbying group IROAR — the Independent Restaurant Owners Association Rescue — said the exception comes from newly-elected Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis who has checked in with him at least twice a week for months to get input on federal legislation in the works.
Indoor dining is permitted in the Garden State. Here, patrons dine at Talula's Pizza in Asbury Park, N.J. December 18, 2020 (Noah K. Murray) Noah K. Murray for | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
One South Shore owner was deeply saddened to hear borough residents talk of routine carpools to Jersey restaurants with a designated driver. Proprietors who tend outdoor sections have expressed their dismay to the Advance observing the Garden State’s packed-out dining rooms “just over the bridge” while Staten Island entrepreneurs struggle.
Said DeLuca, “Our local politicians haven’t done much to help Staten Island restaurants, some have been vocal for the press but we have seen very little action. They need to help us get open so we can feed our families and pay our bills.”
DeLuca implored empathy from legislators. He said, “If you don’t want to do it for us, do it for our employees. Opening all small businesses should be priority number one right now.”
He offered, “Maybe if we took [legislators’] salaries away for a year and still asked them to pay their bills they’d be more aggressive in tackling this issue. You need to put the right people in front of Cuomo’s advisors, not just a paid speaker as intermediary.”
DeLuca’s has closed for a few weeks and will reopen later in January with a refreshed menu.
Keep in touch.
Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
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