American Beauty Bar & Grill to close in Bellmore
American Beauty Bar and Grill is closing in Bellmore. The restuarant's sister locations in Massapequa and Massapequa Park will remain open. Credit: Linda Rosier
After six years, Bellmore’s American Beauty Bar & Grill will close in two months, according to owner Maria Cassano. She cited the rising costs of food and other expenses of running a restaurant as drivers of the decision.
"Us having a lot of friends in this business, we’re just watching a lot of people drop like flies," she said in a phone interview Friday afternoon.
Cassano opened American Beauty Bar & Grill in 2019, six months before COVID, in the space that was formerly Effin Gruven, which closed in 2017.
"Post-COVID, I think the landscape of the hospitality industry as a whole has changed," Cassano said. "Insurance has gone through the roof, food cost is through the roof, we’re just kind of at the point, we’re like ‘someone throw us a bone.’ We feel like we’re really getting forgotten and just kind of getting dumped on. Everything is just stupid expensive and it’s not getting better."
Cassano leased the building at 2562 Sunrise Hwy. and isn’t sure what the location's future will be. "I suspect that it’s going to sit like that for some time just because there’s so many restaurants going out," she said.
The group's other sister restaurants, American Beauty Bistro at 24 Central Ave., Massapequa and American Beauty The Restaurant at 1026 Park Blvd. in Massapequa Park will remain open, Cassano said.
The announcement was made in a statement on the restaurants Facebook on Friday morning.
"After years of unforgettable nights, live music, cold drinks and amazing memories, American Beauty Bar & Grill will soon be closing its doors," the statement reads. "We don’t have a final date just yet, but we invite you to stop over in the coming weeks to share a meal, raise a glass and be part of our final chapter."
There’s still fun to be had — American Beauty is keeping events on the schedule for now, including drag bingo brunch (July 20 and Aug. 3) as well as hip-hop brunch (Aug. 10 and 17).
American Beauty Bar & Grill 2562, Sunrise Hwy., Bellmore, 516-308-3214, americanbeautyrestaurants.com,Open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Saturday and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday's FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
