By Matt Weiss
HEMPSTEAD – Students at the University can now boast about having a luxurious, celebrity-owned nightclub close to campus. The building that was once Bogart’s has been turned into Chrebet’s, an extravagant Manhattan-esque restaurant and lounge. Friday’s opening of the restaurant included 400 of Wayne Chrebet’s, a former New York Jets wide receiver, closest family and friends.
“I would probably never go to school if I was so close to a place like this,” said Chrebet’s personal friend Michael Strahan, the New York Giants defensive end. “This is an amazing place.”
Strahan was just one of the many celebrities on hand. Others – such as New Jersey boxing hero Arturo Gatti, former New York Jet Alex Van Dyke, Chicago Bears defensive end Antonio Garay, former New York Giant and Indianapolis Colt Keith Elias, New York Daily News reporter Rich Cimini, “Fox 5 New York” sports reporter Carl Reuter, and CEO of Modell’s Sporting Goods, Mitch Modell – were all out at Chrebet’s to celebrate the special occasion.
“Do you remember what this place used to look like?” said Reuter. Other people who remembered the building’s former appearance could not comprehend that Chrebet’s is where Bogart’s once existed.
With the feel of a primetime nightclub, Chrebet’s is no place for college students who are looking to watch sporting events and have a few drinks. In fact, there is only one photograph in the restaurant of Chrebet from his playing days with the Jets.
Situated next to one end of the massive bar area on the first floor is a picture of Chrebet running through the Giants Stadium tunnel wearing an FDNY hat and waving an American flag in the Jets first game since the September 11 terrorist attacks during the 2001 season.
“We didn’t want to focus too much on the sports angle,” Chrebet said. “This place will be strictly 21.” Chrebet said those students who are under 21 years of age are welcome to come and have lunch during the day, but at night will be stopped by staff at the door.
This means nearly three quarters of the University’s student body will not be able to gain entry after 9 p.m.
The upstairs is complete with a long winding bar area and a full service American grill style menu.
The downstairs is finished with a full service tapist menu and has another immaculate bar area surrounded by several private booths where people can relax in.
When asked whether or not he would open another Chrebet’s in New York City or New Jersey, Chrebet seemed content for now with just one establishment to worry about. “We put a lot of time into this place,” Chrebet said. “I want to just see how things go here first.”
Chrebet’s will strictly only allow customers at least 21 years of age or over to enter after 9 p.m.