Owner Of Nutty Irishman & 317 Main Street Talks Phase 3 Plans

FARMINGDALE, NY — Joe Fortuna, owner of two eateries on Farmingdale's Main Street, said he's very excited for the third phase of New York State's coronavirus reopening plan, which went into effect Wednesday. While his two businesses, The Nutty Irishman and 317 Main Street, are not yet back to firing on all cylinders, regaining indoor seating will "100 percent help," Fortuna said.

But with live musical entertainment making up a large portion of both stores' normal revenue streams, Fortuna said the businesses are not out of the woods yet.

"I’m concerned because the entertainment part of our business was an integral part," he told Patch. "There’s no direction on when that’s returning."

Under the third phase, restaurants are allowed to reopen their dining rooms at half capacity. However, Fortuna managed to temporarily convert the show space in the back of 317 Main Street into another dining area, effectively putting the restaurant back at 100 percent capacity while meeting the state's guidelines, which entail tables being at least six feet apart.

The Nutty Irishman, a bar that's primarily a live music venue, is more difficult to work with, Fortuna said.

"We don’t know when we’ll be able to go back to the days where you have a DJ, dancing and live music," he said. "We are utilizing [The Nutty Irishman] restaurant. That is really gonna be a fraction of what our revenue used to be."

In an effort to show adaptability, Fortuna will launch a BBQ menu out of The Nutty Irishman, citing the lack of a pure BBQ joint on Main Street. The full BBQ menu is slated to debut July 2.

Some of the outdoor tables Fortuna used under the second phase were moved into the back room of 317 Main Street. He'll still keep some outdoor seating, though, for those who want to enjoy a meal on a nice day. The merchant said Phase II treated him nicely.

"We got very lucky with the weather. Because the weather was fantastic, it went really well."

With patrons now allowed to dine indoors again, tape marks the floor of 317 Main Street, ensuring tables are at least six feet apart. Employees' health is being monitored, and sanitizing stations were placed in the bathrooms and near all doors.

"That’s what we’re doing to keep everyone safe," he said. "The staff as well as the patrons."

There's protocol customers must follow when dining at 317 Main Street. A reservation must be made for those wishing to sit indoors, the restaurant posted on Instagram. All customers must wear a mask when entering the building or using the bathroom.

An executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo in mid-March put a halt to the sit-down service of all restaurants in the state as a way to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Only Wednesday were customers allowed to eat indoors at restaurants again. And it was only June 10 when restaurants could allow outdoor seating again under Phase II. For months, merchants were forced to rely on takeout and delivery services.

"At the very beginning, it was very worrisome," Fortuna said. "317 is a new place. We have a lot of debt that’s personally guaranteed. It was very nerve-wracking. Thank God the federal government came through with the [Paycheck Protection Program], and with the [Economic Injury Disaster Loan] loans. If it wasn’t for that, the future of both places probably would not exist."

The Nutty Irishman has been a fixture in Farmingdale Village for years. 317 Main Street, an American gastropub featuring executive chef and champion of The Food Network's "Chopped," Eric LeVine, debuted roughly a year ago. The menu, offering an array of hearty comfort food such as macaroni and cheese bowls, sandwiches and steaks, has swayed many to fill the seats of the eatery on a nightly basis.

All staff of 317 Main Street have been on-boarded once again after financial strains due to COVID-19 caused them to be furloughed. A handful of bartenders were brought back at The Nutty Irishman but not the full staff, Fortuna said.

Even with the return of indoor dining, cash flow won't yet be the same, according to the businessman.

"A large part of our revenue stream was from entertainment. Until we’re able to get that back going, the profits will not be the same."

317 Main Street shares an address with its namesake, and the restaurant can be reached at 516-512-5317. The Nutty Irishman, a couple of doors down, is at 323 Main St. and can be called at 516-293-9700.

This article originally appeared on the Farmingdale Patch