Thursday, October 1, 2026
The West End may see several new eateries open in the next few months, including a microbrewery that is slated to occupy the former Tiki Bar and an upscale burger franchise.
At a meeting of the West End Neighbors Civic Association on March 23, residents inquired about the new businesses, and raised concerns about parking and other potential effects on the neighborhood.
A microbrewery is planned at 832 W. Beech St. — the former Tiki Bar, which was purchased by a group of investors at auction. The 3,413-square-foot space has a capacity of 186 occupants and has a cabaret license. David R. Maltz & Co. Inc. sold the property last November for $700,000, according to real estate broker Richard Maltz, who declined to name the new owners.
The Tiki Bar’s liquor license was revoked by the New York State Liquor Authority last year after the business racked up numerous violations, including serving alcohol to minors, and its owner at the time was unable to pay a $10,000 fine. The business went into foreclosure shortly afterward.
“Greg La Penna, from the Whale’s Tale, is one of the gentleman involved, and he plans to put a microbrewery in there,” said Long Beach Police Department Inspector Jack Radin when a resident inquired about the vacant space. “It would be a restaurant that serves homemade brews.”
La Penna could not be reached for comment. Rick Hoffman, the civic association’s president and a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, said that the liquor license revocation would not apply to the new owners. Hoffman said he did not know when the new business would open, but from what he has heard, it is expected to be considerably different from the Tiki Bar.
“As new owners, they still have to file [for a liquor license] with the New York State Liquor Authority,” Hoffman said. “They’re going to do some kind of food establishment as well, under the variance they previously had.”
Mike Smith, a spokesman for the liquor authority, said that the business, which is currently undergoing renovations, has not yet filed for a license, and he confirmed that the revocation applied only to the former owner. “The potential applicant should be aware that if they apply for a liquor license at this formerly problematic establishment, it will be reviewed at a local level and by the members of the authority at a full board meeting,” Smith said. “They’re going to be looking at how they are going to prevent what has happened in the past and how they intend to protect the public’s health, safety and welfare if we grant them a liquor license.”
One Pennsylvania Avenue resident said that some neighbors wanted more information about the business’s hours of operation and how it would impact the community. “It really depends on what they’re going to do with it,” said the resident, who declined to be identified. “Is it going to be like the Beach House, that has music? It would have been nice for them to present this at the West End Neighbors Association meeting. When the Tiki Bar was there, we had a lot of damage done to our cars and our property on the weekends. It’s a concern to have vacant stores, but it’s also a concern to have more bars.”
A new burger joint on West Beech Street?
The West End could also see an “upscale” burger franchise open at a vacant office space at 945 West Beech St., one that the prospective owner said would cater to — and employ — local residents. Jonathan Saporta, president of Saporta Consulting Group Inc., gave a presentation to the civic association about his plans to open a Jake’s Wayback Burger, a franchise that he said is aimed at providing fresh food and casual service.
Saporta, a West End resident, said that the business would not serve alcohol, would operate from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. seven days a week and would accommodate 70 to 80 customers.
“I want it to be a hometown thing,” he said. “We would also be hiring locally.”
Saporta said he does not believe his establishment would have a big impact on parking in the area, since potential customers either live nearby or would frequent other businesses in the area. “It’s not adding more traffic, it’s taking the traffic that’s already here and giving them another option,” he said. “Most of the people who come to our restaurant live nearby. No one is driving from Island Park to Jake’s Wayback Burgers … it’s meant for people who are already here and live here.”
Saporta also said that the restaurant would include technology that disposes of grease in an environmentally friendly way and produces no odors. He said he would work to stave off loitering and would not extend his hours of operation to accommodate late-night bar crowds.
But some residents said that a business that accommodates 80 customers could lead to a considerable amount of traffic in the area. At a hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals on March 24, at which Saporta requested an off-street parking variance change, at least four residents asked the board to deny the variance, saying they were concerned about potential parking problems and other quality-of-life issues, Hoffman said. He added that the board expects to make a decision at its April 28 hearing.
Saporta said he hopes to open in July, and wants to address residents’ concerns. “We’re very much concerned with the input you have,” he told them.
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