Smokehouse Tailgate Grill Is Shuttering Its New Rochelle Location

Don’t worry, they’re moving across the street.

The beloved Westchester County restaurant has plans to move across the street into a new development on North Avenue.

At the end of 2019, Smokehouse Tailgate Grill will close its New Rochelle flagship to start a new chapter directly across the street as part of new development on North Avenue.

The newly erected building — which should be open by late spring or early summer of 2020 — was actually part of the plan when Smokehouse Tailgate Grill signed a two-year lease to its current space in 2007. At the time, they knew that their landlord was trying to get zoning approval for a multi-story building that they’d move into. After two years without the new building coming to fruition, Smokehouse Tailgate Grill signed a 10-year extension that lasts through December 2019.

smokehouse restaurant
The development that will house the grill’s new location.

“Obviously our landlord got done what he needed to get done for approval,” says Justin Zeytoonian, managing partner of Smokehouse Tailgate Grill. “It’s a great project that will bring a lot of businesses and more apartments to this city.”

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While Zeytoonian and the Smokehouse Tailgate team will miss the divey charm of their O.G. restaurant, they’re excited about building a new spot that’s almost three times larger. Because they have room to work with, expect a private room with its own bar, open kitchen views, the possibility of custom smokers on display, and a few relics from the flagship in the décor. Zeytoonian also stressed that they’ll build a bigger bar with 20 draft lines to further showcase their craft beer credibility. And, in case you were wondering, they’ll still have on-site parking.

Smokehouse Tailgate Grill's current location.
Smokehouse Tailgate Grill’s current location.

Before they become one of the anchors of the new digs, Smokehouse Tailgate Grill plans to go out of their soon-to-be-old digs in style. They’ve already kicked off their “Fridays on the Patio” with live music every Friday night through October, and you can look for a once-per-month “Food Truck Friday” collaboration to go along with the tunes. Past BBQ-themed collaborations have included Walter’s Hot Dogs and Abeetz, with Hapa, Latusion, and Jimmy’s Soft Serve expected in the coming months.

a smokin' sammie

It’s sure to be a party for the rest of their run, albeit a melancholy departure from the place they’ve called home for more than 12 years. Regardless, Smokehouse Tailgate Grill knew they wanted to stay in the city. “We have a really strong regular customer base, and we get new ones all the time. We wouldn’t leave except we have to leave, right? So, now we’re forced to build a new restaurant or go home,” says Zeytoonian. “But we’re not going home. It’s a good place, and there’s no way we’d want to leave New Rochelle.”

Smokehouse Tailgate Grill
606 North Ave
New Rochelle
914.813.8686

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