Zaro’s Cafe will close Saturday after 33 years in Huntington Station.
Edmund Zarou, manager of the Greek and Italian restaurant, confirmed the closure of the eatery, which was established in 1993. He is a third-generation operator of the restaurant.
“While we have weathered many challenges in the years following [COVID-19], the ongoing economic challenges have made it impossible to continue,” Zarou said. “We are thankful for those who supported us and the many memories we’ve shared. You were never just customers — you were family.”
The Zarou family business struggled to stay afloat through rising costs and lower sales. Zarou told Newsday in August, “We’re paying more for goods, we’re paying more for labor, we’re paying more for all the other stuff that you have to pay for. Then on top of it, people are coming in less or spending less because they’re tight.”
Zarou then reduced the price of its gyros to $10 to try to increase foot traffic and coordinated an event with Suffolk County Legis. Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station) to draw community support. The event generated two days’ worth of sales in three hours, Newsday previously reported, though it wasn’t enough.
The closure “reflects the very real challenges restaurants are facing today, including rising food and labor costs in a difficult economy where many are dining out less often,” Sanin said Thursday in an emailed statement. “A longtime beloved staple, the loss of this restaurant is already being felt across Huntington.”
Zaro’s Cafe also offered a number of other deals in the months following the fundraiser, including lunch specials, family meal deals and kids-eat-free Saturdays. “We literally tried everything,” Zarou said.
The family “isn’t going far, though,” Zarou added. They will be shifting focus to a home party rental company.
Zaro’s Cafe, 135-6 W. Jericho Tpke., Huntington Station, 631-271-4400, zaroscafe.com. Open noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday’s FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
