Uncle Giuseppe's to open Fire Island pop-up market
Grab-and-go prepared foods at Uncle Giuseppe's, which is opening a summer pop-up at Ocean Beach on Fire Island. Credit: John Muggenborg
Fire Island ferry riders will soon have a new thrill: Uncle Giuseppe's Italian supermarket is opening a summer pop-up at Ocean Beach.
Located on Bayberry Walk, the shop will be within Ocean Beach Trading, joining the Kismet Coffee Company in the multiuse space near the ferry terminal.
Opening May 9, Uncle G’s Ocean Beach Popup will offer prepared sandwiches, paninis, salads, grab-and-go dinners, fresh pasta and sauce, antipasto and cheese platters for entertaining, plus BBQ and grocery essentials. The Italian grocer has seven locations across the Island, including Melville, Port Washington, Massapequa, North Babylon, Smithtown, Port Jefferson Station and East Meadow — plus a fall opening in Bohemia. Add to that, Uncle G’s will make daily grocery deliveries to Ocean Beach Trading, which will serve as a catering hub for Fire Island.
"It’s all fresh daily and from a name brand that’s recognized — certainly in this area," said Evan Brett, managing partner at Ocean Beach Trading. Brett said the partners — which include Fire Island restaurateur Jon Randazzo, who co-owns Ocean Beach spots Castaway, CJ’s, Taco Beach Cantina and The Landing Bistro — were "trying to take all of our learning curves and lessons learned, what the store did and didn’t have, and apply it." More grab-and-go items topped the list. While the group wanted to remain a convenience store, they wanted to be a bit more upscale. The question was how to strike that balance.
"We’ve always believed in bringing Uncle G’s to where our guests are — and Fire Island is such a special place for so many of them," Carl DelPrete, CEO of Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace, said in an emailed statement. "What started with deliveries quickly turned into something bigger. This pop-up is our way of planting roots in a community that has embraced us with open arms, and giving beachgoers an easy way to enjoy the same fresh, quality food they love — right here on the island."
Ocean Beach Trading is debuting another new concept: Ferry Fries, a Belgian fries-in-a-cone concept akin to Manhattan’s Pommes Frites stand.
"There really wasn’t anything great to get on the boat back to Bay Shore," Brett said of Fire Island's late-night options. And what would summer fries be without dogs? Kups Krazy Dogs, an Islip truck, will supply craft hot dogs for this game changer, open until midnight.
Uncle G's Beach Popup at Ocean Beach Trading, 476 Bayberry Walk, Ocean Beach. Open daily from 7 a.m. until the last ferry, 631-583-8440.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
