'90s-themed Nostalgia bar opens in Bethpage
Nikki Brady, of Bethpage, left, and Sean Owens, of North Babylon, talk at the bar in front of a neon Pokemon sign at Nostalgia Bar in Bethpage on Sept. 29. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Long Islanders can take a trip back a few decades when they step inside the ’90s-themed bar-restaurant Nostalgia in Bethpage. This new venue, which takes over the old One Eye Jacks space, features an explosion of pop culture that will impact the menu, drinks and décor.
“People are feeling nostalgic these days and craving simpler times. The '90s were such a blissful period. There’s something magical about it,” says co-owner Costas Themistocleous, 33.
Only 25¢ for 5 months
Long Islanders can take a trip back a few decades when they step inside the ’90s-themed bar-restaurant Nostalgia in Bethpage. This new venue, which takes over the old One Eye Jacks space, features an explosion of pop culture that will impact the menu, drinks and décor.
“People are feeling nostalgic these days and craving simpler times. The '90s were such a blissful period. There’s something magical about it,” says co-owner Costas Themistocleous, 33.
The 1,200-square-foot facility, which holds 100 people, offers an entertainment station where guests can play Nintendo games at the end of the bar as well as arcade cabinets like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Street Fighter. There's also a patio in the back.
Louis Pelosi, 36, of Smithtown, who attended opening night in September, says, "It’s pretty sick to see all these old things again in a public place."
The TVs will roll '90s films, cartoons and sitcoms as the walls show off various toys and posters from the decade. There will even be a ‘90s-themed photo-op area.
“You can select your favorite background from the ‘90s to take a picture in,” says Themistocleous. “For example, you can make it look like you are sitting on the couch in the living room from ‘Full House.’ The picture will print out from behind the bar for free.”
Other nostalgic features include a ‘90s trivia night on Wednesdays at 7, as well as old-school phones installed on the wall at tables with some familiar voices on the other end.
“You can pick up and hear messages from SpongeBob SquarePants . . . or a sitcom character from the ‘90s,” says Themistocleous.
Items on the breakfast-lunch-dinner menu get in on the ‘90s theme such as fried macaroni and cheese Reptar Bites (“Rugrats”), Chubbie’s Famous Burger (“Boy Meets World”) and each pizza is named after a Ninja Turtle.
Leigh Richman, 36, of Old Bethpage, also attended opening weekend and says the food "comes out exactly like you would get at the cafeteria at school, which is part of the nostalgia and the point." She adds, "I plan on getting the Reptar Bites and the pizza rolls, because you have to have pizza rolls if you’re thinking the '90s."
Signature drinks include Mambo #5 (tequila, orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, grapefruit juice, garnished with salt and orange slices), The Shermanator (vodka, rum, gin, tequila, peach schnapps, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, garnished with an orange slice) and Semi-Charmed Kind of Ice (vodka, lemonade, sweet and sour mix, club soda, garnished with lemon).
“There will be vodka-infused Jell-O shots based on the colors of the Power Rangers — red, blue, yellow, pink and green,” says Themistocleous. “We’ll even serve Duff Beer from 'The Simpsons'.”
Nostalgia, 380 N. Wantagh Ave., Bethpage, is planning to remain open seven days a week (Sunday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., Friday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 a.m.) with a kitchen that stays open until close; 516-342-1732.
With Joann Vaglica