By Ed Morrone
As one of Hofstra’s all-time athletic greats, Wayne Chrebet will always hold a special place in the hearts of Pride football and New York Jets fans everywhere. While his football days are over, Chrebet is preparing to open his new restaurant, Chrebet’s, right across the street from Hofstra on March 12. The Chronicle had a chance to catch up with Wayne on the eve of his restaurant’s opening.
The Chronicle: What kind of atmosphere will Chrebet’s offer?
Wayne Chrebet: It’ll be casual. We put a lot of time, money and effort into the place so I think people will be really surprised what it looks like now. It certainly isn’t anything like it used to be, and there’s a whole different feel to it.
TC: Will Chrebet’s be worth the wait for all of the people that have been wondering about it?
WC: That’s for them to decide, but it’s been 14 months of doing it [setting up] and we want to do it right. I could have opened it earlier, but I kept changing my mind and making it nicer. I think people are going to be very satisfied the first time they come here.
TC: What made you want to open Chrebet’s so close to campus?
WC: I’ve always been interested in opening up a place and it just so happened this opportunity became available. They shut down some places around here and it’s a good location and good property. Having retired recently it was something I could sink my teeth into and make a second career out of. And obviously being across the street from my two workplaces [Hofstra and the Jets] really helped the cause.
TC: Could you compare Chrebet’s to a restaurant or bar people might be familiar with?
WC: It’s got flavor from a lot of places I’ve been to in Manhattan and some of the other places I’ve visited over the course of my career. It’s a really nice, dark atmosphere with a good ambiance. The upstairs is a nice American grille/restaurant with a New York City-esque cocktail lounge in the lower level. There’ll be table service with a nice upscale tapist menu with chocolate cheese fondue and that kind of stuff. People are really going to like it.
TC: It’s opening right across the street from Hofstra…are Hofstra students and alumni your primary target customer?
WC: Our target is pretty much everyone. I’m sure there will be some students in here at times and some families for dinner, but it’s a different crowd once 9-10 o’clock hits and anyone under 25 should be prepared to show two forms of ID. But during the day everyone is welcome to come enjoy a meal and see the place.
TC: Why open the place here as opposed to Manhattan?
WC: Even though I’m from Jersey I’ve played and lived up here for 15 years and it’s a place I stared at for the past 11 years while practicing and I just thought it was a prime spot. I think there’s a need for a place like this around here and I like to think I’m bringing the New York City atmosphere to Long Island.
TC: Why will Chrebet’s be able to make it where places like Bogart’s failed?
WC: Well those were college bars. You would never see anyone in there over 30 years old and that’s completely not what I’m looking for. Like I said, all are welcome during the day, and it’s a different clientele. We’ll be offering Happy Hour on Thursdays and Fridays for people 25 and over, but I hope everyone enjoys it because a lot of time has been put into it.
TC: Will Chrebet’s carry a heavy sports theme with jerseys on the wall and pictures from your playing days?
WC: Zero. We might have a picture of me in honor of 9/11 and we’re thinking of putting one [jersey] in from Hofstra and one from the Jets, but nothing too boisterous. Other than the place being named after me there won’t be much football inside. Not a sports bar by any means, but a nice, casual place with great food.
TC: How much will you be involved in the daily operation of the restaurant?
WC: I’ve got nothing but time now and I’m here now to make sure everything gets done. I plan on spending a lot of time here, especially in the beginning to make sure everything goes the way I want it to go and I think it’ll be really special.
TC: Is this the only Chrebet’s you plan on opening?
WC: That’s tough to say right now. The past 14 months have been a grind trying to get everything in place. Maybe a place in New Jersey [eventually] but [for now] I just want to get this place up and running and see how it goes.
TC: How closely do you still follow Hofstra football and Hofstra athletics?
WC: I follow as closely as I can. I try to keep aware of what’s going on in the newspapers and on the Internet. This is a great school with great athletics and a lot of big names have come out of here in the past decade and we’ve got some national exposure now.
TC: How about the rookie season Marques Colston just had?
WC: He was absolutely phenomenal. I got to see him play in person a few times and I don’t really know much about him but from what I’ve heard he’s a great kid. I think he’s going to have a long, successful career.
TC: What did you think about the Jets making the playoffs this year?
WC: Eric Mangini did a terrific job and I knew that coming in. I saw where he came from being under Belichick and Parcells, but it was time for him to step out of their shadows. He did a tremendous job and I think they’re going forward from this. They’ve got a lot of key pieces in place…maybe one or two big free agent signings and some key draft picks and they’ll be back in the playoffs for sure.