No alcohol at Byron Lake Pool restaurant

At the Town of Islip Board Meeting on Tuesday, May 14, the town voted unanimously to award Kargili Enterprises Ltd., aka Tasty Frosty, based in Bay Shore, to build an operate the three-season restaurant at Byron Pool, which is slated to open by June 29, in time for the busy summer schedule.

“Byron Lake Pool is scheduled to open on Saturday, June 29, concurrent with the opening of the other three Town of Islip pools. The town is confident that Byron Lake Pool will open as planned and on schedule,” said councilman Jim O’Connor (R-2nd District)

While no renderings have been made public yet, Kargili advised that the menu is flexible and will be determined upon discussions with the town and community input.

“They do anticipate having healthy, gluten-free and kid-friendly options,” said a spokesperson for the town.

It is unclear if the restaurant will open in time for the 2024 summer season, but the town representative said Kargili will operational “as soon as they can [be].”

Two bids were returned for submission from the Request for Proposal (RFP) that the town put out in early March 2024, which included Kargili and Suffolk County Caterers LLC.

Kargili has stated in their proposal that the Byron Pool restaurant will not be seeking a beer and wine license (a liquor license was strictly verboten by the Town of Islip in their RFP, as they unambiguously stated, “in no event shall the service of hard liquor be permitted at the restaurant.”).

There was some back-and-forth when agenda item No. 21, to award Kargili the contract, was first brought to a motion by O’Connor, whose jurisdiction covers Byron Lake Pool as councilman John Lorenzo (R-4th District) was adamant to be on the record regarding alcohol at town pools.

“I just want to make sure on the record that this contract has no alcohol being sold at this pool in this concession stand at any time, not after hours not during pool hours. I don’t believe in alcohol at town pools. I’m being told it’s not in the contract for any alcohol,” said Lorenzo.

Councilman Jorge Gaudron (D-1st District) added, “Echoing the words of councilman Lorenzo, I understand that’s not going to be included in the contract as I understand from my conversation with attorney Garbarino.”

“Kargili Enterprises successfully secured the contract in response to the RFP issued by the town. Kargili Enterprises was the vendor that operated the concession stand at Byron Lake pool and park immediately before the venue was closed for construction. The town received two responses to the RFP, and Kargili Enterprises was deemed the best of the two bids,” said O’Connor. “The town hopes that Kargili Enterprises will have the concessions fully operational on the date of the pool’s opening on June 29, 2024. However, due to the late awarding of the contract, there is a possibility that Kargili Enterprises may not have the facility prepared by June 29. If this occurs, Kargili Enterprises has assured the town that they will provide a food truck to serve the residents and patrons of the park and pool until the concession is ready. Kargili Enterprises cites several food trucks that they operate in their qualifications in response to the RFP,” said O’Connor.

In addition to being the previous owner/operator at Byron Lake Pool, Kargili Enterprises has prior experience operating concession stands at Casamento Pool and Park, Roberto Clemente Pool and Park, and the Central Islip Community Center.

“Consequently, we believe Kargili Enterprises to be a suitable choice to operate the restaurant at Byron Lake Pool and Pond. The contract awarded to Kargili Enterprises is for a three-year term,” said O’Connor.

“If for any reason Kargili Enterprises fails to fulfill the terms of the contract, the town retains the right to terminate the contract should their performance not meet the contract’s standards. The town board has been assured that Kargili Enterprises will not be selling alcohol at Byron Lake Park and Pool at any time,” said O’Connor.

Oakdale Civic Association president David Chan said, “We are excited that the opening for the Byron Lake pool is right around the corner. We are hoping that this concession contract will complete the opening of the pool grounds for the public’s use. Having the food concession contract awarded and the fact that no alcohol will be served is a good sign. I think just having a decent food option for the community to use while they are enjoying the pool will be wonderful.”

With the Byron Lake Pool project in Oakdale in full force and scheduled to open in two months, the Town of Islip placed an RFP earlier this spring for a three-season restaurant and concession at the site and accepted proposals until March 28.

A pre-proposal meeting was held on March 12, but the town was unable to disclose at that time or comment on prospective developers in attendance.

Community members discussed the project on social media, with the Oakdale Civic Association’s official page holding a poll on whether an establishment serving beer and wine would be welcomed, and 62 percent of voters said they would be in favor.

The RFP stated that “should the selected respondent with to pursue a liquor license to serve wine and/or beer at the restaurant, it should do so with the understanding that any serving of alcoholic beverages shall be strictly limited to outside the pool’s operational hours.”

During the public portion at the March 19 town board meeting, Oakdale resident Lee Kennedy addressed the board citing concerns about alcohol being served at a place frequented by children.