By Leslie Gonzalez
Auction makes way for theatre expansion
After 54 years of service, the Five Corners Restaurant of Lynbrook has officially shut it's doors. Located at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Merrick Road, the long-term eatery has been unable to renew it's lease due to the planned expansion by the United Artists Movie Theatre two doors down. While Five Corners will remain a memorable chapter in Lynbrook history, the finality of the restaurant's closure was punctuated last Wednesday with an auction of it's contents.
"I'm really sad. I grew up in this place, " said restaurant owner Peter Haramis. Recalling his last day of operation a few weeks ago, he described saying goodbye to his patrons and staff of over twenty years as painful. "I couldn't be here the day we closed. People cried."
Those who noticed the auction posting in the newspaper met one hour prior to the event to inspect the available merchandise. About twenty people perused the one-story restaurant, examining every item and fixture.
The restaurant was strangely quiet: Not a rustle of pots and pans, and no sizzling of anything cooking. Instead, there was the occasional, deep metal clanging of large-scale food service equipment being disassembled, and unidentifiable metal scraps strewn about the floor. Instead of placemats, booth tables were covered with food stock, commercially canned items and bulk paper supplies. On another booth, there were salt, pepper, sugar and spice shakers. Price tags hung from every table lamp, picture frame and wall sconce. The complete contents of the 80-seat restaurant, including glasses, pots and pans needed to be sold, and removed by the end of October.
"I used to eat here before I even moved to Lynbrook, " recalled Jeri Chapnick, a Lynbrook resident of sixteen years who also works at Pugatch Realty next door to Five Corners. Under the same circumstances, the realty company will also need to move it's location in the near future. "It's a shame, and there's nothing you can do about it."
Several regular patrons poked their heads through the door, relayed their sadness, and wished Peter Haramis and his family well. Many remembered him as a child.
Raised in Lynbrook, Peter Haramis distinctly remembers "growing up" at the restaurant, where he quickly learned his family's talent for food service. He describes his father Tom Haramis as the restaurant's founder. Born in 1918, Tom Haramis traveled back and forth from Greece before finally settling on Long Island in 1936. He learned the confectionery business from his uncle, who owned the Northport Sweet Shop, which still stands today.
After World War II, Tom Haramis came to Lynbrook, where he established the Five Corners Sweet Shop in November of 1945. Tom Haramis married his wife Catherine, and Peter Haramis was born in 1953. By 1968, Five Corners had expanded it's service to include a full menu. Peter Haramis eventually took over the family business in March of 1979, after which the restaurant underwent several renovations. Having served generations of hungry customers, Five Corners Restaurant clearly became part of the community.
"Too bad. It was a nice place to go after a movie," said local resident Leona Adelman.
Despite United Artists' recent bankruptcy filing, the company still plans to expand it's Lynbrook facility to a 12-screen theatre. Mr. Haramis first learned of the theatre expansion about 18 months ago, when he was told over the phone that his long-term lease would not be renewed. Since that time, he rented his establishment on a month-to-month basis. When theatre officials could not offer an expansion date, he sought several times to establish a firm, short-term lease, but said he was denied that option, and found his locks changed in September.
"If I was the owner I would have fought this," whispered one auction organizer to another. In fact, according to Mr. Haramis, they did attempt to relocate the business.
"We looked to move (the restaurant), but the cost was simply too astronomical," explained wife Roseann Haramis from the couple's West Babylon home. Instead, Peter Haramis decided to fold his current business and search for a new one. He found an opportunity as an owner/operator with Molloy Brothers Trucking, an office moving company owned by a friend he has known since fourth grade. Mr. Haramis describes the sudden change in professions as difficult, having recently married in March. Both he and his wife are searching to move back to Lynbrook, where Mr. Haramis remains active as a Chairman on the Recreation Commission, and serves on the Village Pool Committee.
As the auction came to a close, participants made arrangements with trucking staff eagerly standing by. The movers hauled away auctioned equipment with little thought that each item represents a sentimental moment in Lynbrook history.
