Former Hampton Bays Friendly's To Host Modern American Restaurant And Market In Spring

Salvatore Biundo will be expanding his palate in May, trading his Italian-style dining for casual modern American food.

The Southampton resident, who leases Centro Trattoria & Bar, plans to open his new restaurant, “The Standard: Kitchen Market Bar,” at the former Friendly’s on Montauk Highway.

The restaurant will be open for brunch, lunch and dinner, and will feature a grab-and-go market where customers can grab a fresh salad or pre-packaged sandwich. There will also be a hot entreé section with rotisserie chicken and sides, Mr. Biundo said.

John Tortorella, the owner of J. Tortorella Swimming Pools in Southampton and Centro Trattoria & Bar in Hampton Bays, purchased the 5,200-square-foot building for $1.3 million in June with intentions to fill a void in Hampton Bays.

“I feel there is a demand to have something they can take with them—there’s no good place to get a fresh clean salad or really good pre-packaged food,” Mr. Biundo said on Friday. “There’s a void and demand I’m trying to fill.”

Originally, the duo planned to open the American-style restaurant last fall. Mr. Tortorella attributed the delay to obtaining the necessary permits for the property. Mr. Biundo said it was more because he was still figuring out his vision.

“It took me a while to nail down the correct concept,” Mr. Biundo said. “I’m not rushing it.”

Mr. Biundo declined to comment on the current permitting status, but he did say that renovations began on the building in January. The interior of the building is getting a complete face-lift: “Everything will be brand new from scratch,” he said.

The former Friendly’s building has sat vacant since July 2017 when the franchise owner, Joe Vitrano, said his landlord, property owner Joseph Malvasio of Florida, raised the rent.