Iconic Zorn's of Bethpage Holds Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting

Bethpage, NY; June 20, 2019 – The past gave way to the future but still made its presence felt as Zorn’s of Bethpage, one of Long Island’s most recognizable family businesses for the past 80 years, launched a new era of serving the public with the opening of its new store and building directly next to the former iconic building on Hempstead Turnpike.

Highlights of the Grand Opening ceremonies included remarks from Zorn’s of Bethpage Owner Merrill S. Zorn, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Nassau County Legislator Rose Walker, Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman, Oyster Bay Town Councilwoman Michele Johnson and former Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta. Representatives from New York State Senator Kevin Thomas, Nassau County Clerk Maureen O’Connell and the Bethpage, Melville and Huntington Chambers of Commerce, as well as more than 100 Long Islanders, were also on hand to witness the historic event.

Another tradition honored and continued is Zorn’s of Bethpage’s support of local food banks and charities helping the less fortunate, and the leaders of those organizations also attended: Theresa Regnante, President & CEO of The United Way of Long Island; Randi Shubin Dresner, President & CEO of Island Harvest; Lance Elder, President & CEO of The EAC Network; Michael Tucker President & Dolores Oesterle Marketplace and Grant Director of the Long Island Food Council; and Jean Kelly, Rob Kammerer and Dana Lopez of the Interfaith Nutrition Network (The INN).

Mention Zorn’s of Bethpage to most Long Islanders and you’ll get a response that includes references to fond recollections of the Animal Zoo and holiday meals. Merrill said their new home honors the role her family-owned and operated business plays in feeding Long Island – particularly around the holidays – and ensures they will do so for generations to come.

“We are focused on ‘the same old traditions with a new beginning,’ as we write this latest chapter in the history of Zorn’s of Bethpage,” said Merrill, who welcomed the first customers to the new store on May 8 and was “hands-on involved in the process.”

The new store maintains Zorn’s of Bethpage well-known white and blue colors, familiar to customers and historic photos and memorabilia from the business are featured on the walls throughout the store. The new store also includes a dining area in response to customer requests over the years.

The building has an 8,000 square foot footprint and will also serve as Zorn’s of Bethpage’s corporate and special event catering services.

“Everything Long Islanders have come to know and love about Zorn’s of Bethpage – our quality, freshness, home style recipes and friendly staff – are exactly the same. I hope that our customers will like the layout of the store and how we have tried to keep the same look and feel,” added Merrill.

“This is an important and emotional day for me and my family,” Merrill said during the festivities. “We are finally here, after several long and emotional years of hard work. We are faced many new challenges and we are now very happy to be in our new home. It is amazing to see what was once just a concept become this new store and building. I don’t know how I would have made it through this process without my family including, Kevin and Michael Zorn of Zorn Industries.

“As I look next door, I see a building that was much more than a business, it was part of my life and the lives of my family, and our community,” Merrill said. “I will always cherish the memories of growing up and working there with my grandfather, father, family and so many wonderful people, especially my grandfather, who started over 80 years ago.”

“I was once told by a customer that ‘Zorn’s of Bethpage does not belong to you; it belongs to Long Island,’” Merill added. “It is amazing to be such a big part of so many lives.”

Zorn’s of Bethpage serves dozens of different dishes and sides prepared fresh every day by hand for customers. Among favorites are Zorn’s of Bethpage’s famous, award-winning skinless southern fried chicken and rotisserie chicken, hot turkey dinners, barbequed ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, apple pie, chicken pot pie and many others. Fresh chickens are available every day and fresh turkeys can also be purchased with an advanced order.

“It was very important to me to have my family involved in this effort. The demo and excavation of our building were managed by my cousins, Kevin and Michael Zorn of Zorn Industries. I can’t thank them enough and I couldn’t have gotten through that without them,” Merrill commented.

The new Zorn’s of Bethpage is still located at 4321 Hempstead Turnpike in Bethpage, New York. For more information please visit zornsofbethpage.com or call (516) 731-5500.

Zorn’s of Bethpage is Long Island’s favorite take-out destination. Making great home-made quality food since 1940 has always been at the core of the operation. In 1940, Peter Zorn opened his first retail store on Long Island. His vision was to offer wholesome, oven-ready meals using the freshest ingredients that busy families could take home with them, creating one of New York’s first take-out services. Zorn’s of Bethpage is renowned on Long Island for its all-natural poultry fresh from farm to kitchen. Now over seven decades and four generations later, Zorn's of Bethpage is owned and operated by Merrill S. Zorn and uses the same recipes and cooking methods used by her grandfather. These are the same traditions, recipes and cooking methods that still maintain Zorn’s of Bethpage’s high quality and consistency. The new Zorn’s of Bethpage moved to a new location directly next to its iconic building in May 3rd of 2019. For more information about Zorn’s of Bethpage, visit zornsofbethpage.com.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS: (All Photos are courtesy Zorn’s of Bethpage Corbett PR; Photographer: David Conn - media is granted permission of use for all photos):

• Zorn’s Ribbon Cutting: Pictured surrounded by family, friends, employees and supporters is Zorn’s of Bethpage Owner Merrill Zorn (center) cutting the ribbon for Zorn’s of Bethpage’s new retail location with Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino (mid right) along with former Nassau Executive Tom Gulotta (second right), Nassau Legislator Rose Walker (far right) and Oyster Bay Councilwoman Michele M. Johnson (far left).
  
  
• Zorn’s Opening 1 :Pictured is Merrill Zorn, Owner of Zorn’s of Bethpage, welcoming visitors to a Ribbon Cutting for the new retail location of Zorn’s of Bethpage along with (from left to right) Oyster Bay Councilwoman Michele M. Johnson, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Nassau Legislator Rose Walker, and former Nassau Executive Tom Gulotta.
  
  
• Zorn’s Opening 2: Pictured surrounded by family, friends and employees is Merrill Zorn, Owner of Zorn’s of Bethpage, welcoming visitors to a Ribbon Cutting for the new retail location of Zorn’s of Bethpage along with numerous local dignitaries and local officials including Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, the Town of Oyster Bay Town Board, Nassau Legislator Rose Walker, Nassau Legislator John Ferretti, Nassau Legislator Laura Schaefer, Nassau Comptroller John Schnirman, and former Nassau Executive Tom Gulotta, along with representatives from NYS Senator Kevin Thomas’s Office, NYS Assemblyman Charles Levine’s Office, Nassau Clerk Maureen O’Connell’s Office, and the Bethpage, Huntington and Melville Chambers of Commerce.
  
  
• Zorn’s Opening 3: Pictured surrounded by family, friends and employees is Merrill Zorn, Owner of Zorn’s of Bethpage, welcoming visitors to a Ribbon Cutting for the new retail location of Zorn’s of Bethpage along with numerous local dignitaries and officials including Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino, the Town of Oyster Bay Town Board, Nassau Legilator Rose Walker, Nassau Legislator John Ferretti, Nassau Legislator Laura Schaefer, Nassau Comptroller John Schnirman, and former Nassau Executive Tom Gulotta, along with representatives from NYS Senator Kevin Thomas’s Office, NYS Assemblyman Charles Levine’s Office, Nassau Clerk Maureen O’Connell’s Office, and the Bethpage, Huntington and Melville Chambers of Commerce.