~ The Apple Tree in Mattituck is no more...

By Danny McCarthy
Southold Settler John Booth had a multitude of properties. His “Much Moved House” is now located on Oaklawn Avenue in Southold. However, he also had property in Mattituck as well in the 1600s. According to the Reverend Charles E. Craven’s A History of Mattituck, there was a location called “Booth’s Hill.” It was referred to as that for 100 years or more. The name “Manor Hill” “entered the picture” about 1735. It is specified that “The Manor was given to a large tract of land near Booth’s Hill.” The land extended from the highway to the Long Island Sound and “was purchased by a number of proprietors and held by them in common and devoted to pasturage.” Booth’s Hill thus became known as “Manor Hill.”
The Apple Tree Roadside Refreshment Stand (a small stand in front of an apple tree) was opened in 1930, located at Manor Hill, Mattituck, by the Huttenlocher brothers, Ronald and Victor. It was “founded as a vegetable and hot dog stand” and sat only eight people. The business was moved to Main Road, Mattituck in 1935. Josephine Huttenlocher, the mother, was doing all the cooking and baking there. The June 6, 1935 The Watchman reads: “The well known ‘Apple Tree’ roadside refreshment stand has been moved from its former location at Manor Hill to a lot on the main road just east of the Mattituck Bowling Alleys. The Hutenlochers {stet} are expecting a brisk summer business at this location.”
By 1941, The Apple Tree utilized a 20-foot well-stocked bar and offered its facilities that had seating for approximately 200 people. Thirteen employees were on the payroll at The Apple Tree in 1941 and that included an orchestra which played every night.
June 28, 1945 Long Island Traveler Mattituck Watchman: Gustav Huttenlocher, father of the sons who “conducted” the Apple Tree restaurant, died on June 21, 1945. He was “a stenographer in the magistrate courts in New York City for 37 years until his retirement in 1942.” Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia honored him at a testimonial dinner with a letter of commendation for his long and faithful services. Ten judges from magistrate courts attended the event. Gustav Huttenlocher left his widow Josephine and two sons, Ronald of Mattituck, and Victor of Woodmere. He is buried in the New Bethany Cemetery in Mattituck. Son Ronald died in 1950 and is buried in the New Bethany Cemetery. Josephine Huttenlocher died in 1960 and is buried beside her husband in the New Bethany Cemetery. {Victor Huttenlocher died January 1, 1983, and is buried in a Woodmere (Nassau County) New York cemetery.}
July 31, 1952 Long Island Traveler Mattituck Watchman: There was an evening of Dancing every Saturday night at The Apple Tree with the Herb Cook’s Orchestra.
The establishment was sold to Joseph and Marion Pumillo around 1953. Both Joseph Pumillo and his wife Marion were a PFC in World War II. The March 5, 1953 Long Island Traveler Mattituck Watchman shared that a beverage license was issued to Marion Pumillo D/B/A/ {“Doing Business As”} for The Apple Tree “to sell liquor, wine and beer in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, at Route 25A, Mattituck, Suffolk County, New York, for on premises consumption.” October 14, 1954 Long Island Traveler Mattituck Watchman: “There will be a Halloween Dance at the Apple Tree, Mattituck on Friday, October 29th 9 -1:30 AM. The dance is sponsored by the Columbiettes of Stirling Council No. 768. Music by Herb Cook’s Orchestra; costume prizes of $5, $3 and $2 will be awarded.”
According to the March 12, 1964 Long Island Traveler Mattituck Watchman: A beverage license was awarded to The Apple Tree “to sell liquor, wine, cider, and beer at retail in a restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law, at S/S Route 25, between Sigsbee Ave. and Bay Ave., Mattituck, Suffolk County, for on premises consumption.”
The Godfrey, Illinois Hellcat News that was published September 1982 had an obituary of Joseph Pumillo saying that he died “April 19, 1982 after a long illness at the Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson, NY. He was born March 24, 1922.” The item continued saying that “Joe never joined the 12th ADA. He was originally assigned to old Div. Sv. Co. When the T/O change was made, and the company was eliminated, he went to the 82nd Med. Bn. {I believe that’s the 82nd Medical Battalion.} After discharge, he opened the Italian Apple Tree Restaurant in Mattituck, NY.”
Longtime Mattituck resident Marion Pumillo, 84, died on August 20, 1999 at Riverhead Nursing Home, where she had resided for the previous two years. A son, Jody Pumillo, said his mother had been a great fan of The Apple Tree softball team, which won many championships. “The old teammates all showed up for her funeral,” he said. “She had a lot of friends at The Apple Tree, and everybody loved her dearly.” Marion Pumillo was also a member of Riverhead American Legion Post 273. Her husband Joseph predeceased her April 20, 1982. The family received friends on Sunday, August 22, {1999} at DeFriest Funeral Home, Mattituck. Prayer services were conducted in DeFriest Chapel on August 23 by the Reverend Peter Allen, followed by interment at Calverton National Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Mattituck Fire Department Rescue Squad, Pike Street, Mattituck, NY 11952. Both Joseph Pumillo and his wife Marion Pumillo are buried in the Calverton National Cemetery.
The landmark restaurant was finally sold in 1972. Antonia Booth, Southold Town Historian, wrote about The Apple Tree in the August 2011 Peconic Bay Shopper, and shared: “… It moved to the location where the Half-Shell Republic was later.”
In mid-1962 continuing to the summer of 1965, Nat Marchiano played at The Apple Tree with The Kingsmen. Nat mentioned that “The cook’s name was Mary and was brand new when we started to play there in 1962. She made an amazing pizza, albeit Polish, but it was celebrated as the best around! She adopted us and made sure we had something to eat when we went on breaks.” Nat recalled her serving him coffee when he would get there early on a Friday or Saturday winter evening before he had to play, and that would warm him up. “The place was cold before the crowd came to warm the place up!”
Ken Joseph and his band, The Strangers, played at The Apple Tree from 1965 to 1966. “The Tree drew folks from all over Suffolk County. The crowds were enormous with cars filling the parking lot and lined up along Route 25 too. Frank was the owner/partner that dealt with the band. He paid us well, and drinks and food were on the house. There was a freshly made pizza for us after the last set around 2 AM. They treated the bands with great respect. We even had a dressing room behind the stage. At the end of the evening, the Tree bartenders {would come} up and {sing} with us. Commuting from Patchogue and points further west to Mattituck in the winter snows was challenging. Many evenings we drove home before snow plows were out.”
In the summer of 1965, Nat switched bands with his brother Nick who also played guitar. Nat let me know that Nick took his place with the Kingsmen and then Nat took Nick’s place with The Tradewinds. In the summer of 1966, The Tradewinds played at The Apple Tree.
The bottom of the band business “fell out” for Nat Marchiano in the early 1970s. As of 1981, Nat Marchiano resided in Costa Rica due to a posting availability to work as a project manager for RCA to construct a cable TV system. Subsequently, he got married and went to work even more regularly at Embassies that included Warsaw (Poland), the Embassy San Salvador, and then back to San Jose, Costa Rica. His last posting as a direct hire happened before he retired at age 65 at Embassy Caracas, Venezuela. He is fluent in Spanish and to date he has served in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. He said: “If all goes well {we} should be in Santo Domingo {working} in mid April and in Managua by June of this year!”
Nat recollects that he thinks the cover charge at the door in “the early days” at The Apple Tree was $1 on regular weekends and $2 on the Fourth of July and Memorial Day weekends.
Nat Marchiano was gracious to stay in touch with me and share some even further thoughts: “The Apple Tree was a favorite Friday and Saturday night destination for teenagers and early 20-somethings who traveled from as far away as Ozone Park {Queens} in the early to late ’60s to both enjoy the rock and roll and hang out with the locals from Riverhead and the North Fork.”
“A promoter who called himself Chuck Anthony booked old rock acts into the Apple Tree from 1963 to 1966 or so.” Nat remembered playing the guitar for Little Anthony and the Imperials (Tears on My Pillow), the Cadillacs (Speedo and Gloria), and the Peppermint Twist band that turned out to be two members of the Young Rascals (Felix Cavaliere and Eddy Brigaddi).
Nat also remembered that “They {The Apple Tree owners} had an air conditioning system installed in the early 60s but by the time the 750 {plus} teenagers had squeezed themselves into the room, the air was humid and this guitar player {Nat} took off his jacket and could feel my eyes burn from the salt of the perspiration rolling off my brow. Those were the days!”
Since the original “Apple Tree” days, the restaurant has been under the names: “The Coach House,” “The Coach Stoppe,” “Half-Shell Republic,” “The Apple Tree” (again), “Half-Shell West,” and finally as it is known today as “The Restaurant at Four Doors Down.” The owners Bob and Barbara Chiappetta used to own “Mattituck Lanes.” When they closed the bowling center, they did want to stay involved in the North Fork. They moved the restaurant and pub part of the business “four doors down.” Their complete renovation of the premises really had established a truly authentic neighborhood restaurant and pub.
Erin Schultz reported in a Coffee talk in Mattituck column in the Suffolk Times that stories fly “Every weekday around 6:45 a.m. at the window seats at the Mattituck Village Market. Jovial men who are retired from various professions exchange discussions.” One Tuesday morning “They shared memories about when Four Doors Down restaurant in Mattituck was The Apple Tree and how soul bands The Drifters and The Young Rascals used to play there. And throughout the lively conversation, members of the coffee klatsch made sure to wave and say hi to almost everyone who came into the market.”
I’d like to thank Mattituck-Laurel Library director Jeff Walden, Mattituck-Laurel Library reference librarian Jerry Matovcik, and Mattituck-Laurel Historical Society and Museums’ historian and curator Norman Wamback for their offering assistance, as well as the kind folks who generously replied to requests for remembrances of The Apple Tree.
Since having this article originally be printed in the April 2016 "The Peconic Bay Shopper," The Apple Tree closed. Being that I have a true and resounding way to actually "preserve history here," like "The Peconic Bay Shopper" does, the April 2016 "The Peconic Bay Shopper" has my The Apple Tree History article that begins on page three {!!!} -{&}- Academy Printing Services, Inc that publishes "The Peconic Bay Shopper" will have their website updated so this will be ABle to be seen online AGAIN soon.
CHENZA's TWISTED TACOS
Shirley Picon and Daniel Wajdik III signed a lease for the former Mattitaco Restaurant on Route 25 {or Main Road} in Mattituck. The couple is getting married soon -{&}- they are planning-on opening their CHENZA'S TWISTED TACOS very soon this Spring 2023. CHENZA's TWISTED TACOS will occupy the vacancy Mattitaco left at 10560 Main Road after owner Justin Schwartz’s lease expired.
I can relate as I starred as Fagin in OLIVER! at the Mattituck North Fork Community Theatre in 1990. CHENZA'S TWISTED TACOS has a "twist" of its own as the menu will include flavors from around the globe. The “twist” on the couple’s tacos is that they will boast flavors from around the globe {i.e.: Germany and Jamaica to Italy -{&}- Japan, PLUS Korean barbecue with kimchi to Greek salad with feta cheese ~ all in a tortilla}. “The idea is the presentation looks like a taco,” SHIRLEY PICON said. CHENZA's TWISTED TACOS will also serve ready-to-go hot meals for those not quite feeling tacos, as well as dessert options like tres leches and flan. They will even offer taco-fied dessert crepes.
Daniel Wajdik has been a chef since 2010. Since 2010, DANIEL WAJDIK made his name as an executive chef at Vino n Vittles in Greenport and The Dory Bar & Restaurant on Shelter Island before becoming a private chef in the Hamptons. He recently ran a food truck dubbed Chenza’s Cruising Cuisine from 2018 to 2020 -{&}- has had many taco recipes in the back of his mind for years.
In The Suffolk Times dated 04.06.2023 article by NICHOLAS GRASSO: {DANIEL WAJDIK} "said he is most excited for North Forkers to try the Hawaiian taco, with barbecued pulled pork, grilled pineapple, red onions, shredded cabbage and some barbecue sauce." “We also have vegan tacos, veggie tacos for vegetarians and gluten-free tacos, so there’s going to be something for everybody,” he added.
SHIRLEY PICON was born in Peru. That NICHOLAS GRASSO article included that SHIRELY PICON "is excited to introduce diners to Peruvian dishes including ceviche, the original Peruvian version of which calls for large-kerneled Peruvian corn and slices of cooked sweet potato with the fish cured in citrus juices, as well as lomo saltado. “[Lomo saltado is] steak you fry very, very quick because it’s little pieces with onions, tomatoes, and some soy sauce,” she explained. “It’s Peruvian, but in Peru we have fusion, so it looks a little Chinese because we’re used to doing it in a wok.”
SHIRLEY PICON "studied business administration and fashion design in Peru, before starting her company, Almira’s Collection, through which she designs and curates swimwear and other beach essentials for resort guests. She continues to manage the business from her and her fiancé’s Hampton Bays home."nn
April 1991 I starred as Herman the dance hall owner in SWEET CHARITY at the Mattituck North Fork Community Theatre -{&}- belted out the CY COLEMAN/DOROTHY FIELDS' hit "I Love To Cry At Weddings." I personally extend all-the-kindest-regards to DANIEL WAJDIK -{&}- SHIRLEY PICON.
Those interested can follow the restaurant’s Instagram account, @thechenzas and https://www.facebook.com/thech... for updates.
AND TOO - BELOW IS THE WEBSITE LINK FOR EAsT ON MAIN:
https://www.nofoeastonmain.com...