John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

Th story is in todays newsday on page a37.

Re: John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

Link

Re: John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

Thanks I was looking for the link.

Re: John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

Limousine owner to buy caterer

BY ALAN J. WAX
STAFF WRITER

July 6, 2004


The owner of John Anthony's on the Water has agreed to sell the well-known waterfront catering hall in Babylon to the owner of one of Long Island's largest limousine providers for $6.7 million.

Port Dock Holdings Corp., a company owned by the Albicocco family, is in contract to sell John Anthony's, one of Long Island's largest catering venues with 20,000 square feet, to Jim Powers, owner of Farmingdale-based All Star Limousine. No business interruptions are anticipated.

The contract and a motion to sell the facility have been submitted to U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Stan Bernstein, who presides in Central Islip. Bernstein has yet to rule on the sale. A hearing, at which higher and better offers may be submitted for the facility, will be scheduled 20 days after a notice of court approval is published. Any deal buster must exceed the contract price by $100,000.

Port Dock Holdings, owned by some of the adult children of the late sand and gravel magnate Sam Albicocco, has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings since August. John Anthony's opened in 1986 as a restaurant-disco on a site overlooking the Great South Bay that once housed the Boynes Hotel.

The company also owns two Huntington venues, CoCo's Water Cafe, and the adjacent catering facility, The Harbor Club at TTee's Landing. Both are now doing well, said Port Dock president Oreste Albicocco.

Powers said he plans to continue to operate John Anthony's with an experienced catering partner. Those involved in the sale would not identify Power's partner, but Gerard Glass, Power's lawyer, said the limousine company owner would be joined in the venture by someone who has been in the catering business for 30 years.

'There will be a seamless transition. All bookings are going on as scheduled,' said Glass, of the Babylon law firm Glass & Glass. 'They're accepting [future] bookings at the present time.'

Glass said the new owners plan to make physical improvements to John Anthony's.

'It's really the crown jewel of our organization,' Albicocco said. 'We loved the property and the business. I wish we didn't have to sell, but this puts us back on solid ground. Right now, it's the best move for our family.'

Port Dock and an affiliated real estate company, Port Dock & Stone Corp., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection 11 months ago as a family dispute about the operation and ownership of the businesses escalated. The dispute was settled in January, but the businesses remain in Chapter 11 proceedings.

Sam Albicocco, who died in October 2002 at age 76, sold the sand business of Port Dock & Stone Corp. in 2000 but continued to own real estate in Huntington and Babylon. Stock in the restaurants is held by Port Dock Holdings.

Re: John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

Did you book with them?

Re: John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

I hope they hire new management - that little guy who worked there was very rude to us and very strange. This has got to be good news for all the brides who have already booked there!!!!!!

Re: John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

My FH actually posted this for JA brides earlier today . . .http://www.liweddings.com/chat/topic.aspx?&P=1&ID=148721#P1398369

Re: John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

bumping

Re: John Anthony's Sold to Limousine owner!!!!

This is sad to me .. we had a bad experience with All Star .. which fortunately came while in the searching process .. so we did not book them.

We had an absolutely amazing experience with John Anthony's .. so I'm sad to see All Star taking over.

As for the story saying that 'physical improvements' were going to be made to John Anthony's .. that I don't understand at all .. the place just went through major, major renovations right before we got married .. less than 3 years ago .. what could they possibly want to change about it????? (Okay .. maybe bathrooms up on the second floor)