New Owner Reopens Greenport Eatery, Skipper's II: 'We Are So Thankful'

GREENPORT, NY — A beloved eatery that was a North Fork mainstay for decades will be reborn this week in Greenport.

New owner Cynthia King of Orient has embarked upon a journey sure to delight locals as she reopens Skipper's II, located at 4545 Rt. 25 in Greenport.

The restaurant, located near Island's End Golf & Country Club, was owned first by Joan and Roy Tate, then for more than three decades by Bobby Heaney, who retired in 2016; Skipper's then changed hands and restaurateur Bryan Villanti opened the doors as Rocco's Caddyshack in 2018.

Rocco's Caddyshack then closed, and now, King is set to write the iconic eatery's next chapter.

She's planning an opening night for friends and family only Wednesday. The restaurant will officially open to the public for lunch and dinner Thursday at 4 p.m. — "We will be in full swing for Mother's Day" — and be open seven days a week.

"The community and the locals needed to have this," King said, adding that east of Greenport there's a dearth of eateries that are open year-round. "In the summer, the Village of Greenport is heavily congested with tourism — so, if you’re looking for a little tuck-away, this is the place to be," she said.

King said she has received encouragement and support from both Heaney and Villanti as she embarked upon her venture. "They both helped me immensely," she said.

Skipper's II features a menu designed to bring back some of the options previously offered at the first Skipper's, she said. "We are an all-American pub/restaurant," she said, adding that highlights of the offerings include seafood and a variety of appetizers.

"Our chef, Corey McKnight, who takes pride in his quality of his food, will be a godsend," she said.

For scores who have long loved Skipper's, the restaurant's opening will feel like going home.

"The only changes we made were cosmetic," she said. Her main goal, King added, has been just "trying to be fair on the prices."

King said Skipper's is a family business; she thanked her husband Buzzy, her three children and grandchildren, and her sister-in-law Laura King Riggins. "She has been at my side since we decided to move forward. Without her, and her knowledge, I'm not sure where I'd be."

Reflecting on the months that have led to opening night, King said: "The most rewarding part of this is giving back to a very supportive community."

There is a need for a place to go off the beaten path, she said.

Her focus will be on quality, King said — and serving the community that has opened its arms to encourage her dream.

"Because of the support of the local community, I can only hope to give back," she said.

King worked at Eastern Long Island Hospital for 17 years. "Then, in between, I had various jobs, but just couldn't find my niche," she said.

The mother of three beautiful children and "the two loves of my life, my grandchildren," she said she often frequented the original Skipper's and Rocco's Caddyshack. And in her heart, a dream was born.

"I always told myself, 'This is going to be yours someday.'"

King said she made sure to secure the original Skipper's stained-glass window, to "show the community that we care."

The window had been replaced with the Rocco's Caddyshack sign, she said. "We felt that this piece of history from the old Skipper's needed to come back."

King is filled with gratitude. "We are so thankful for the love and support of our families and our closest friends that helped out with everything and anything that needed to be done. We had a few minor hiccups because the place was closed for a minute — but it all worked out."