RyeCity REVIEW THE
May 18, 2018 | Vol. 6, Number 20 | www.ryecityreview.com
Rye Town Park close to deal for new restaurant operator
The Rye Town Park Commission is close to a long-term agreement with owners of the popular Thornwood restaurant, The Barley House, to run the restaurant and food and beverage stands at Rye Town Park and Oakland Beach. File photo
Playoff
ready!
Leah Kenny takes a shot against Bronxville in an early-season contest. Kenny and the Garnets are eying a first-round playoff matchup against Sleepy Hollow on May 19. For story, see page 15. Photo/Mike Smith
Mamaroneck Diner slow to reopen after virus scare Mamaroneck Diner, a village of Mamaroneck mainstay, reopened this week after a norovirus scare lead to a voluntary shut down. On Friday, May 11, the diner, located on 405 E Boston Post Road, voluntarily closed its doors after at least two employees became ill with norovirus—a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea and other flu-like symptoms. Some customers who ate at the restaurant have also become ill though it’s unclear how many. “It has recently been brought to our attention that a few people
have gotten ill from a common virus in and or around our diner,” read a social media post from the diner on Friday. “We have voluntarily decided to work under excessive caution in this situation and have closed the diner… to be 100 percent certain that our place of business is clean…” On Monday, May 14, the diner was cleared by the Westchester County Department of Health to reopen but, as of press time, they have yet to do so, citing lengthy restocking efforts. According to a statement from the county Department of
Health, the Mamaroneck Diner has been cleared of any wrongdoing and has not been cited with any health code violations. The illness likely spread from person to person. Some employees are waiting to be free of symptoms for 72 hours at which point they will be allowed to return to work. The restaurant has already hired an outside professional cleaning company to disinfect the restaurant and Department of Health officials have continued to supervise on-site as is standard procedure. According to the Centers for
Disease Control, CDC, tens of millions of people are infected with norovirus each year making it the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the U.S. To decrease the chances of contracting the illness, the CDC recommends regularly washing your hands, safely preparing food, and properly and regularly disinfecting potentially bacteria-rich surfaces. A representative for the county Department of Health could not be reached for comment, as of press time. -Reporting by James Pero
The Rye Town Park Commission is near an agreement with the owners of a Thornwood restaurant group for control of the food and beverage operations at the park this summer. According to Rye Town Supervisor Gary Zuckerman, a Democrat and president of the park commission, the commission is finalizing a long-term contract with a restaurant group that owns and operates The Barley House in Thornwood, a hamlet of the town of Mount Pleasant. The Barley House features an array of draft beers and plenty of food options, including appetizers, burgers, sandwiches and other bar-friendly items. Last July, the restaurant organization also opened up a location in Tarrytown called the Barley on the Hudson with a similar menu of American bar food. According to Zuckerman, the park’s restaurant will not be open by Memorial Day considering how long contract negotiations have lasted with 3 Guys Restaurant Group, which owns The Barley House. The park’s beach and pool area has always opened its season during Memorial Day weekend. With the park commission nearing an agreement with the restaurant group, the commission’s most recent vendor, Home-
style Caterers, which owned and operated the Ocean Grille and several Nathan’s Famous hot dog stands around the park, will not return for this upcoming season. Homestyle Caterers’ contract expired last October after replacing the park’s previous restaurateur, Seaside Johnnies, in the same year. While Homestyle Caterers’ operation was short-lived, it was always the intention of the park commission to find a long-term deal with a vendor. The park commission received permission last year from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, to negotiate food-service contracts up to 20 years with tenants. Under current state law, the park commission cannot accept a deal with a vendor that exceeds three years without special state approval. The park, which overlooks Oakland Beach and the Long Island Sound, is located off of Forest Avenue in the city of Rye. The 62-acre green space and beachfront offers seasonal swimming and year-round use for passive and semi-active events. The park commission consists of members from the city and town of Rye, the villages of Port Chester and Rye Brook, and the Rye Neck section of the village of Mamaroneck. -Reporting by Franco Fino