Business & Tech

Christiano's Restaurant to Close

Syosset restaurant once believed to be the inspiration for hit Billy Joel song is closing.

The Syosset restaurant once believed to be the inspiration for an iconic Billy Joel song will close their doors for good, according to Newsday.

Harendra Singh, CEO of Singh Hospitality Group, has reportedly bought Christiano's Italian Restaurant and plans to close the popular Syosset landmark.

According to Newsday:

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“Right now, we’re operating as Christiano’s,” Singh said, but once Schaudel’s plans have been finalized, “we are going to close down for a little while.” When the place reopens, it will not be called Christiano’s. “Of that much, I’m definitely sure,” said Singh.

Another Syosset restauranteur, Chef Tom Schaudel, of Syosset's CoolFish, has signed on to revamp the restaurant's concept, said the report.

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It's not going to be an Italian restaurant, but I’m not exactly sure what it’s going to be,” he told Newsday, saying he has already scheduled meetings with designers.

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The 55-year-old Syosset restaurant became famous after Billy Joel dedicated his first performance of "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" to Christiano's at a concert.

Last year, Joel admitted to Newsday he was "going for applause" when he made that dedication, saying "It was like saying 'Yankees' when you're playing in New York."

Still, Christiano's, with its curved wooden bar and red-and-white tablecloths, was a once-upon-a-time favorite of Joel's. Nestled beside the Syosset train station, it has been a staple of the community since Jimmy Christiano opened its doors in 1958. Since then, it has been the neighborhood's destination for

The report did not specify when Christiano's would close.


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