History of the Wantagh Inn...

The Wantagh Inn, which opened on December 8th, 1984, sits on the site of the old Wantagh Meat Market. The Wantagh Meat Market, owned and operated by the Adel family, opened in the early 1900’s. Mr. Adel was a kindly old gentleman, and any child who accompanied a parent to the Wantagh Meat Market to get the family’s weekly meat was given a slice of bologna.

Mike & Geraldine Dunphy purchased the Wantagh Meat Market in 1981 from Mr. Adel’s daughter. At the time Mike was working at the “Red Blazer", New York City’s first major sports bar, on 82nd St. and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. At that time people said, “Excepting Madison Square Garden, the Red Blazer was the best place in town to watch a game.” At the Red Blazer TV monitors were everywhere, and at that time Queens and the Bronx did not have cable. Many nights after Yankee games, players such as Craig Nettles, Lou Pinella and other sports stars could be seen at the bar. Other future celebrities, such as
future NYS governor, George Pataki, (and John Connaughton) were regular customers.

Prior to working at the Red Blazer, Mike worked in
the “John Barleycorn” on 45th Street between 2nd
and 3rd Avenues, where Irish music was played
seven nights a week.

Mike was born in Macroom, Co. Cork, before coming
to the United States; Mike worked in several London restaurants. He also spent four years working on cruise ships - HMS Queen Elizabeth 1, Carmania, Caronia and the Pretoria Castle.

Mike welcomes you to the Wantagh Inn.