After 40 Years, Peppercorns Will Miss 'Tight-Knit Bond' With Customers

HICKSVILLE, NY — The days are dwindling for Peppercorns. For 40 years, customers have flocked to the Hicksville restaurant for American staples. The lights will go out for good on July 31.

"It's very sad. It's very bittersweet, but we're trying to end [on] more of a celebratory note," co-owner James Madden told Patch. "We have some guest bartenders coming in from the old days."

Customers will also be serenaded by live music from local artists.

"We've seen an influx of people since the announcement's been made," Madden told Patch. "You wonder, 'Where's everyone been?'"

Madden, a fourth-generation Hicksville resident, and his business partner Sean Costello, also with long ties to Hicksville, took over the eatery in April 2017. But Madden had been going to Peppercorns since he was a kid, including "tons of family parties."

Madden joined the restaurant more than a dozen years ago.

"We got out of the gates running," Madden said. "Unfortunately, Peppercorns doesn't fit in Hicksville anymore."

Madden pointed to the changing demographics that have caused a drop off of customers in recent years.

There are no plans, at least in the near future, to find a new location for Peppercorns. Madden blames the rising costs for small business owners to stay afloat in New York.

While Peppercorns will close its doors, a campaign has started to ensure the structure, which started as a firehouse in the late 19th century, gets historic landmark status. Longtime customer and Hicksville resident Julie Ugarte launched a Change.org petition. To date, it's received more than 1,100 online signatures.

"We tried getting it preserved about a year and a half ago. It somehow, some way, fell into the cracks of Albany," Madden said.

No matter what happens with preserving its history, Madden will always cherish the Peppercorns memories.

"Ninety-nine percent of our customers, we all know their names. They know our kids' names," he said. "I've been working in this industry since I was 17; I'm going on 43. Never have I felt a more tight-knit relationship, or bond, than what we have with our customers. We're grateful for that."