Another East Meadow business has recently folded, and the restaurant formerly known as , is now another vacant storefront.
Previously located in a strip of stores at 355 Newbridge Rd., the Greek and Mediterranean café was once managed by the local, Ibrahim Osman. Now neighbors and East Meadow residents wonder when the place closed down and why.
East Meadow Chamber of Commerce President Millie Jones said The Nile’s owner had been a past Chamber member. Jones learned that The Nile was closed when she visited the strip and observed that other nearby stores had undergone name changes and changes in management.
“I just happened to be in the area and notice,” said Jones. “I don’t think anybody was aware of the fact [that the Nile] was closing…It’s been [closed] at least a month.”
Jones believes many East Meadow residents will miss The Nile, however.
“I know it was a popular restaurant,” she said. “People loved their food.”
She hopes that the next business to take over the spot will remain community-oriented as well.
“We would love to see a little boutique,” she stated. “We would love to see mom and pop stores opening up in East Meadow — we really don’t have many of those.”
Rick Oliveira, an East Meadow resident who works at , across the street from the defunct Nile, offered a different perspective on the restaurant’s closing.
“Finances just weren’t making it there,” Oliveira said.
Owner Steve Messana added that he would like to see “something other than food. A bagel place would be good.”
Another local, Jai Mitchell, offered an alternative. In place of The Nile, he suggested “show business--entertainment.”
The door of the empty Nile building currently bears a “For Rent” sign, and its future has yet to be determined.
What would you like to see where the Nile once stood? Tell us in the comments.
