Irving's Pastrami Of Farmingdale Closes; Greek Eatery To Replace It

SOUTH FARMINGDALE, NY — Irving's Pastrami of Farmingdale has closed.

Souvlaki Street, a Greek restaurant, is "coming soon," according to signage posted on the 180 Merritts Road storefront.

Irving's came to Farmingdale in October 2021. Andrew Fenton opened the shop with the help of his family.

Irving's was founded on pastrami, but its menu also carried steak sandwiches, burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, knishes, milkshakes and more.

The pastrami shop originally opened in Woodbury in March 2018. However, the family closed its first shop to focus on Farmingdale, where it served sandwiches for less money than in Woodbury. All sandwiches at Irving's cost $9.95.

Fenton was a teenager when the key to the pastrami sandwiches were entrusted to him in the early 1980s by a man named Irving. Irving was in his 80s and near death when he gifted his grandfather's original pastrami recipe to Andrew, who promised he would one day share the sandwiches with the world.

Fenton used the recipe to cook for his kids, though his children, Gianna and A.J., encouraged him to branch out and make more sandwiches than the original pastrami, American cheese and secret sauce concoction that became known as Irving's Favorite.