Despite confirmation Friday that the parcel on which Claudio’s sits is on the market, owner Bill Claudio wants to assure the public that it will be business as usual in Greenport for the popular eateries this coming season.
“Not much is going on,” he told SoutholdLOCAL Saturday morning. “This was just a simple decision made by the family, all five of us who are owners, that it’s time to take a look and see what the market thinks. I’m 76 — and I’m not retired.”
That said, Claudio sent a letter to all employees saying, “See you in the spring. We’ll be open and operating.”
But after 145 years of owning the oldest single-family run restaurant in the country, Claudio says it’s time to take a look at options. “All of us are starting to move up in years. We don’t want to do this until we die. So I think it’s just simply taking a look at its worth on the market, and seeing if there’s any interest. Period.”
This season, Claudio says the eateries will be open in time for Easter weekend.
To the many who’ve made Claudio’s a beloved part of their family traditions for generations, Claudio said, “We’ve been doing this for 145 years and we’ve been pretty happy doing this for people, and improving on it whenever we can. I absolutely look forward with pleasure to seeing everyone this year.”
Currently, the parcel is home to three restaurants, a snack bar, two souvenir shops and parking — and Claudio’s has long been known as a bastion of the community and a magnet for scores of tourists who have flocked to the waterfront businesses for decades.
According to an article in the Daily News, the two-acre property has “no official asking price,” and is listed with Guthrie Garvin of Cushman & Wakefield.
