A glittering reminder of Brooklyn’s past has come down, but it may just be a sign of great things to come.
The iconic neon lights that welcomed diners to the chrome-plated Long Island Restaurant on the corner of Henry Street and Atlantic Avenue has been taken down, but city records say it has been sent to the cleaners, and the beloved fixture could soon come back.
Permits on the building say the sign was removed so it could be cleaned, but one of the building’s owners only promised that the greasy spoon, which served hungry Brooklynites from 1951 until 2007, would reopen next month, then promptly hung up the phone.
Reports of the of the restaurant’s imminent reopening have persisted for years, but no one has been able to put burger to grill since the owners put a “closed” sign in September of 2007 and never came back.
In December, the website Eater reported the Art Deco eatery who’s name reminds Brooklynites that, yes, they do live on Long Island, will be run by a team of fancy Manhattan restaurateurs.
Reach reporter Jaime Lutz at jlutz@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-8310. Follow her on Twitter @jaime_lutz.
