7. Patchogue
Patchogue is a village on Suffolk County’s south shore and is part of the Town of Brookhaven. Like Northport, Patchogue remained largely unsettled until around the 1750s, a century after the land was first colonized. Humphrey Avery, a man from New London, CT, purchased seven of the nine necks of land in Patchogue, and in order to pay off debts a few years later, the Governor agreed for him to sell his land through a lottery, which was so successful that he bought back a part of the land. The Baker family was particularly prominent in the 1700s in Patchogue, and Captain Jonathan Baker was imprisoned during the American Revolution for secretly supporting the British.
Patchogue opened a paper mill in 1798, Patchogue’s first factory, and a number of other mills began to open in the following few decades. By 1850, shipbuilding and lumber became fruitful industries for Patchogue residents, and Patchogue was one of the first communities on Long Island to have a school district, opening in 1795. Once the LIRR was installed in 1869, the area became a center of tourism, and hotels and boarding house lodges began sprouting up, as well as theaters featuring vaudeville acts. Although the emergence of malls drew tourists away from the downtown, Patchogue rebuilt itself and was named among the 2019 Great Neighborhoods by the American Planning Association.
In 2017, the village put together the Downtown Patchogue Walking Tour, which details 31 different locations across Patchogue, five of which are listed on the NRHP. Notable locations on the walking tour include the United Methodist Church, built in the High Victorian Gothic style, the Union Savings Bank, Conklin’s Stationery Store, and the newly built New Village. Many buildings along East Main Street were built over 100 years ago, including the Congregational Church of Patchogue, Brickhouse Brewery, and the Dove Building. The village also features a number of murals including the Hans Gabaldi mural and the Zoeller mural of the Patchogue River. Patchogue is home to a handful of parks like Shorefront Park, which faces Patchogue Bay, Father Tortora Park, and the Village of Patchogue Community Garden.
Carnegie Library in Patchogue
Patchogue is home to a number of creative and modern eateries in its downtown, including a number of upscale seafood restaurants like Catch Oyster Bar and South Ocean Grill. RHUM on East Main Street serves “Island inspired cuisine” like jerk chicken tacos and Dominican ribs. There are a number of American eateries like barbecue joint Bobbique, the bistro PeraBell Food Bar, and casual eatery The Tap Room. For a taste of Mexican-Colombian fusion, try Gallo Restaurant for dishes like their Mountain Platter and arroz con pollo. Philly cheesesteaks feature on the menu of Beyond Philly, while specialty cheese and wine are offered at The Cheese Patch. Other noteworthy eateries include That Meatball Place, Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery, and Locale Gastro Bar and Pizzeria. Patchogue is also home to the Blue Point Brewery. On a visit last week, Main Street was bustling with pedestrians and the restaurants were busy with outdoor dining.