The Long Island Bar & Restaurant was owned and run for over 50 years by Emma Sullivan, her husband Buddy, and her cousins Pepita and Maruja. Buddy and Emma took over the bar from Emma's father, Ramon Montero, who opened it in 1951. Emma’s and Buddy’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are based in the bar's surrounding neighborhoods.
Owners Joel Tompkins, left, and Toby Cecchini. Photo by Tristan Willey.
Joel Tompkins and Toby Cecchini restored and re-opened the bar in 2013. Cecchini owned the Manhattan bar Passerby. He is also the author of Cosmopolitan: A Bartender's Life and a columnist for The New York Times' T Magazine. Tompkins co-founded the underground restaurant Coach Peaches.
The Long Island Bar's kitchen is led by Executive Chef Kevin Garrett. Kevin moved to New York in 2016 and is the former Chef of Bufalina in Austin, TX.
Interview with Emma Sullivan by Neighborhood Slice. Emma passed away in early 2022. www.neighborhoodslice.com