In 1969, Robert Matherson bought what was then a waterfront barrier island restaurant and converted it into an enormously popular (and controversial) nightclub. The Oak Beach Inn, located in Oak Beach on Jones Beach Island, was the original, and later just referred to as The OBI. He later opened three more OBI nightclubs and named them according to their geographic location. The OBI North was in Smithtown, New York, the OBI East near the Shinnecock Canal en route to The Hamptons, and the OBI West locations in Island Park, New York (which had two locations: first at 3999 Long Beach Road, and later, briefly, at 50 Broadway). All four clubs were located on Long Island and were wildly successful for many years, bringing people in from all over Long Island, New York City, Westchester, southern Connecticut and New Jersey and hosting acts such as Twisted Sister and The Good Rats.[1][self-published source]
In 1979, Matherson sued the town to lease him more land for additional parking, which the town granted. However two years later, new officials disagreed, which caused Matherson to sue again, and when the court favored with Matherson, the town granted him $3 million and the nine acres.[2] In 1993, an unhappy Matherson started a "Move Out of New York Before It's Too Late" campaign complete with a hearse, banners and TV ads.[3] An article in 1993 in The New York Times provided details about his campaign, including information that the New York State Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control raided the club one year earlier in 1992.[4] One of the OBI West locations burned down after only a couple of years of packing in thousands on the weekends. Arson involving organized crime figures referred to in the movie Goodfellas was alleged but never substantiated.
Closure
Over the years, the OBI was involved in many disputes with the local community over issues such as noise, parking and traffic.[5] Finally, in 1999, Matherson sold the property to developer Ross Cassata, who planned to build condominiums. Matherson then moved to Key West, Florida to open a new club of the same name.[6] When it closed, the inn's two-ton statues of whales and dolphins, which were commonly touched by clubgoers, were moved to Danfords on the Sound in Long Island.[7]
However, Cassata then sold the nine acres to Suffolk County for $7.95 million and the original property was torn down in 2003 and was replaced with a town-operated park, with later added plans of adding a bed and breakfast, upscale restaurant, boardwalk, water-sport area and boat ramp.[3] The park now hosts activities, such as car racing, and it too has caused controversy.[8] At the time of demolition, the Suffolk County Legislator commented that the park agreement avoided "an enormous tax increase in Babylon, which would have had to pay a court judgment of as much as $20 million or watch its coastline be forever scarred by high-rise development" and the money came from the county's greenway program.[2]
Locations
The original OBI was at 1 Oak Beach Road. The building was sold in 1999, torn down in 2003, land turned into a park with a small beach simply called Oak Beach.
The OBI East was at 239 E Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays. The property underwent extensive renovations between 2018 and 2022 and was reopened as the Canoe Place Inn and Cottages with 20 rooms, 5 cottages, restaurant, bar and a 350 banquet room.[9]
The OBI North was at State Road 25A, near Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown. The building burned down in 1980, and the land is now[when?] part of Willow Ridge at Smithtown HOA.
The OBI West was at 3999 Long Beach Road, Island Park. The building was torn down between 1994 and 2004, the land is now[when?] a parking lot for school buses. It briefly was located at 50 Broadway (sometimes listed as 50 Austin Blvd.), Island Park as one of a series of famous nightclubs such as the Shell House, The Action House, The Rock Pile, and Speaks.
Robert Matherson later opened Oak Beach Inn at 227 Duval Street, Key West, Florida. Robert Matherson died in 2007.[citation needed]
In popular culture
Robert "Rosebud" Butt is credited with inventing the Long Island Iced Tea, while working as a bartender at the original OBI in the 1970s.
In 2010, the Babylon-based rock band Two Cent Sam released the "OBI Song" and a DIY video celebrating the Oak Beach Inn's history and impact on Long Islanders and the void in Long Island night life after the OBI's destruction.[10]
References
^Polizzi Sr., Anthony F. (2008). Deer Park 11729: The Tony Polizzi Story. Xlibris. p. 43. ISBN978-1462816880. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
^ abAin, Stewart (October 28, 2001). "IN BRIEF; A Nightclub Closes And a Park Is Born". The New York Times. from the original on 2015-05-27. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
^ ab"From the archives: Oak Beach Inn bites the dust". Newsday. September 30, 2003. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
^Schemo, Diana Jean (August 7, 1993). "A Man Fights Red Tape With His Own Banners". The New York Times. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
^"The Battle of the Oak Beach Inn". The New York Times. June 14, 1983. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
^Gearty, Robert (January 28, 2001). . Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
^. Long Island Business News. April 16, 2004. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
^Spangler, Nicholas (July 21, 2011). "Some want Oak Beach engines muzzled". Newsday. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
Matherson, Robert (October 1998). Scandal at the Oak Beach Inn: Political Corruption Vs. Long Island's Hottest Nightclub. Barricade Books. ISBN1569801339.
beach, commonly, referred, abbreviation, long, island, nightclub, located, beach, jones, beach, island, near, captree, state, park, town, babylon, suffolk, county, york, site, former, town, babylon, park, contents, history, controversy, closure, locations, pop. The Oak Beach Inn commonly referred to by the abbreviation OBI was a Long Island nightclub located in Oak Beach on Jones Beach Island near Captree State Park in the Town of Babylon Suffolk County New York The site of the former Oak Beach Inn now a Town of Babylon park Contents 1 History and controversy 1 1 Closure 2 Locations 3 In popular culture 4 References 5 BibliographyHistory and controversy EditIn 1969 Robert Matherson bought what was then a waterfront barrier island restaurant and converted it into an enormously popular and controversial nightclub The Oak Beach Inn located in Oak Beach on Jones Beach Island was the original and later just referred to as The OBI He later opened three more OBI nightclubs and named them according to their geographic location The OBI North was in Smithtown New York the OBI East near the Shinnecock Canal en route to The Hamptons and the OBI West locations in Island Park New York which had two locations first at 3999 Long Beach Road and later briefly at 50 Broadway All four clubs were located on Long Island and were wildly successful for many years bringing people in from all over Long Island New York City Westchester southern Connecticut and New Jersey and hosting acts such as Twisted Sister and The Good Rats 1 self published source In 1979 Matherson sued the town to lease him more land for additional parking which the town granted However two years later new officials disagreed which caused Matherson to sue again and when the court favored with Matherson the town granted him 3 million and the nine acres 2 In 1993 an unhappy Matherson started a Move Out of New York Before It s Too Late campaign complete with a hearse banners and TV ads 3 An article in 1993 in The New York Times provided details about his campaign including information that the New York State Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control raided the club one year earlier in 1992 4 One of the OBI West locations burned down after only a couple of years of packing in thousands on the weekends Arson involving organized crime figures referred to in the movie Goodfellas was alleged but never substantiated Closure Edit Over the years the OBI was involved in many disputes with the local community over issues such as noise parking and traffic 5 Finally in 1999 Matherson sold the property to developer Ross Cassata who planned to build condominiums Matherson then moved to Key West Florida to open a new club of the same name 6 When it closed the inn s two ton statues of whales and dolphins which were commonly touched by clubgoers were moved to Danfords on the Sound in Long Island 7 However Cassata then sold the nine acres to Suffolk County for 7 95 million and the original property was torn down in 2003 and was replaced with a town operated park with later added plans of adding a bed and breakfast upscale restaurant boardwalk water sport area and boat ramp 3 The park now hosts activities such as car racing and it too has caused controversy 8 At the time of demolition the Suffolk County Legislator commented that the park agreement avoided an enormous tax increase in Babylon which would have had to pay a court judgment of as much as 20 million or watch its coastline be forever scarred by high rise development and the money came from the county s greenway program 2 Locations EditThe original OBI was at 1 Oak Beach Road The building was sold in 1999 torn down in 2003 land turned into a park with a small beach simply called Oak Beach The OBI East was at 239 E Montauk Highway Hampton Bays The property underwent extensive renovations between 2018 and 2022 and was reopened as the Canoe Place Inn and Cottages with 20 rooms 5 cottages restaurant bar and a 350 banquet room 9 The OBI North was at State Road 25A near Jericho Turnpike Smithtown The building burned down in 1980 and the land is now when part of Willow Ridge at Smithtown HOA The OBI West was at 3999 Long Beach Road Island Park The building was torn down between 1994 and 2004 the land is now when a parking lot for school buses It briefly was located at 50 Broadway sometimes listed as 50 Austin Blvd Island Park as one of a series of famous nightclubs such as the Shell House The Action House The Rock Pile and Speaks Robert Matherson later opened Oak Beach Inn at 227 Duval Street Key West Florida Robert Matherson died in 2007 citation needed In popular culture EditRobert Rosebud Butt is credited with inventing the Long Island Iced Tea while working as a bartender at the original OBI in the 1970s In 2010 the Babylon based rock band Two Cent Sam released the OBI Song and a DIY video celebrating the Oak Beach Inn s history and impact on Long Islanders and the void in Long Island night life after the OBI s destruction 10 References Edit Polizzi Sr Anthony F 2008 Deer Park 11729 The Tony Polizzi Story Xlibris p 43 ISBN 978 1462816880 Retrieved August 9 2015 a b Ain Stewart October 28 2001 IN BRIEF A Nightclub Closes And a Park Is Born The New York Times Archived from the original on 2015 05 27 Retrieved August 9 2015 a b From the archives Oak Beach Inn bites the dust Newsday September 30 2003 Retrieved August 9 2015 Schemo Diana Jean August 7 1993 A Man Fights Red Tape With His Own Banners The New York Times Retrieved August 9 2015 The Battle of the Oak Beach Inn The New York Times June 14 1983 Retrieved 6 August 2013 Gearty Robert January 28 2001 BABYLON BACKING PLAN FOR BEACHFRONT PARK Move would doom a 114 unit condo project Daily News New York Archived from the original on March 7 2016 Retrieved August 9 2015 Long Island Marketing Briefs Long Island Business News April 16 2004 Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved August 9 2015 Spangler Nicholas July 21 2011 Some want Oak Beach engines muzzled Newsday Retrieved August 9 2015 https www canoeplace com https www youtube com watch v GIPKEJgHlns You tube video about the clubBibliography EditMatherson Robert October 1998 Scandal at the Oak Beach Inn Political Corruption Vs Long Island s Hottest Nightclub Barricade Books ISBN 1569801339 Coordinates 40 38 22 08 N 73 17 14 08 W 40 6394667 N 73 2872444 W 40 6394667 73 2872444 Oak Beach Inn Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Oak Beach Inn amp oldid 1125666002, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
