Paradise Diner Opens Sports Bar To Expand Business

The back room of the Hauppauge Paradise Diner has taken on a new, sleeker sporty look as the back dinner room, commonly used as a group meeting room, has been transformed with a sports bar.

Gus Panagatos, owner of the said he hopes to expand his business by adding a sports bar to the back room after

"Hauppauge is a sports-orientated town. I have a lot of teams that come in here looking to eat, year-round, from soccer to ice hockey," Panagatos said.

The smaller dining room behind the front counter/cashier of the diner formerly served as the smoking section, the owner said, and attached to a smaller dining room in the back that could easily be screened off for group meetings. However, due to change in smoking laws and the recent economy, the room has been difficult to fill lately, according to Panagatos.

"I'm trying to improve my business and expand my clientele," he said. "It actually improves my catering business because now I can offer a full bar."

Along one wall of the back dining room, a hardwood bar with an open, free hanging glass rack as been installed. The bar has been decorated with sports hats, jerseys and posters of vintage 1950s and 60s baseball cards that were found in cigarette packages.

Panagatos said the sports bar will serve eight types of draft beer and 12 types of bottled beer with an assortment of wine and hard liquor.

The dining room has taken on a sporty feel with framed New York sports team jersey hanging on the walls, vinyl screens of championship winners plastered over the window and the addition of six new flat screen tvs.

Each hat, jersey and signature have a personal meaning for Panagatos.

"These are all my personal collection," he said. "I've always been a sports fan. One of my all-time favorite players is Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders, he was with them when they won the Stanley Cup.

Over the bar area, Panagatos is slowly beginning to collect Hauppauge High school memorabilia to remember the great sports teams over the years and pay tribute to the teams who frequent the diner. He is working with Joy Ferrara, assistant principal at Hauppauge High School, and Chris Messina, varsity wrestling coach, to represent the Eagles.

Despite the fact the bar is still being decorated and the final liquor shipments weren't in, diner owner said he has had a large turnout on Sunday nights from people who regularly eat at the diner and want to watch the football games.

Panagatos has plans to host a 25 cent wing night on Mondays followed by $1 Taco Tuesdays. A Xbox 360 will also be installed for kids to play on, and perhaps a few friendly virtual sports matches.