EmpanadaVille in Mastic Beach Announces It’s Closing by End of the Year
EmpanadaVille, the Mastic Beach restaurant that focuses on empanadas, has announced that it is closing its doors by December 31st. Located at 374 Neighborhood Road in Mastic Beach, EmpanadaVille first opened in 2014. The food spot serving traditional Puerto Rican fare said that Sunday will be its last day in business citing ever-increasing food costs that made it impossible for them to keep up.
“We have been trying to stay afloat in this crazy economy that we are all experiencing, but at this point we are drowning,” they announced on Facebook on Thursday afternoon. “To stay in business would be further detrimental to us financially as things have slowed down tremendously for us this year.”
The restaurant owner – identified as Jessica Rodriguez – started a GoFundMe page to keep themselves afloat saying the money raised would go toward operating costs but failing that they would put the funds toward continuing their catering business.
“Through the years we have made so many wonderful connections and have had the pleasure to serve thousands on Long Island our traditional Puerto Rican food,” they said in the post. “My goal always was to transport people to Puerto Rico or to bring them back to their childhood through my food. It is extremely sad to see it go.”
They have not ruled out other options either. A commenter on social media suggested a food truck.
“I think this may be the way to go too,” the restaurant responded on Facebook.
📷 EmpanadaVille Facebook page.
