After nearly a century in business, Belluscio’s Restaurant — a beloved dining spot for generations of Rye residents — is closing its doors and soon will reopen as Sumak, a Peruvian eatery.
The historic property has been purchased by Teofilo Matias Huyhua, a food industry veteran with nearly three decades of culinary experience, including supervising at Rye’s Tiki Bar. A former Rye resident, he recently moved to Port Chester.
Huyhua, a first-time restaurant owner, has pledged to honor the building’s historic significance.
“I will keep the historical stamp of the restaurant: the structure will be remaining the same internally and I will be fixing some cosmetic things,” Huyhua said. This commitment to preservation comes as welcome news to the generations of patrons who have felt at home in the Belluscio’s dining room.
Belluscio’s, once Midland Tavern, opened in 1933. The restaurant had been under the operation of Frank Belluscio for almost 40 years — and in his family since its inception. In the mid-1920’s, Frank’s great-grandparents, Vito and Emily, moved from Manhattan to 352 Midland Ave. (then Meadow Lane), where they opened a grocery store on their front porch.
Following the end of Prohibition, Vito opened a bar called Midland Tavern in an extension of their home, and his wife, Emily, began providing guests with meals. Belluscio’s Restaurant got its name in 1986 when Frank officially took the reins.
The $825,000 sale was brokered by Jason Mehler of William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage and Insurance. Mehler described the valuation process that led up to the sale: “My assessment of the Belluscio’s Restaurant included analyzing comparable sales, market conditions, and special characteristics,” he said. “With consideration of these factors, I provided a reliable estimate of the property’s value.”
For the new owner, local engagement is a priority. “I am very willing to participate in many activities,” Huyhua said. “I am a person who supports events for the benefit of our community.”
Huyhua, whose son lives in Rye with his mother and is a member of Rye High School’s sophomore class, hopes the new restaurant will also continue to be a place for families to gather. “Our community can expect to come with their family to enjoy and share new cultures and try different dishes,” he said.
An opening date for the space’s next chapter has not been announced.
“I would like to open the business as soon as possible, once I have all permits clear to operate,” Huyhua said. Requirements include a Food Service Establishment Permit and additional permits from Rye City Hall.
For many Rye residents it’s the end of an era full of memories made at tables in the Italian eatery. As Sumak prepares to open its doors, Huyhua hopes his new restaurant will forge a legacy of its own.
