Huntington Restaurant Owner Asks For Unity Amid Upheaval

HUNTINGTON, NY — Alex Moschos came to Huntington Village on Monday, hearing that a protest in response to the killing of George Floyd was scheduled to pass by his restaurant, Neraki Greek Mediterranean Grill. He was apprehensive and hoping that he wouldn't witness any property damage or vandalism. But by the end of the day, he told Patch he felt "embarrassed" by his initial worry.

"I was a little nervous about the possibility of it getting out of hand," the Port Washington resident said after seeing looting and violence in media reports from around the country in the week since Floyd's death sparked unrest. "But my experience on Monday was life-changing."

"When I saw how kind and respectful the kids were ... It was probably one of the most peaceful protests I've ever seen," he said.

After the protests wound down, he said he spotted a young woman who was alone and seemed distraught.

"She said some woman told her that George Floyd deserved to die and it shook her to the core. She was crying and shaking. We spoke for a bit and walked. She was from the area and grew up on these streets and she never believed someone could say something so hurtful. She had called her mom because she was so upset. Streets were closed and her mother was having a hard time getting to her. We talked and I got her to where her mother was. Her mother is a nurse and we spoke for about five minutes and they went on their way. A moment I will never forget."

When a video of the owner of Tutto Pazzo Luigi Petrone calling the protesters "animals" and "savages" and joking about throwing watermelons at them went viral, Moschos wanted the community to know that isn't how everyone feels.

"I feel as a community that we stick together and go against hate," he said. "I am a local restaurant owner and want it made clear that all restaurateurs do not share the same sentiments that were expressed by another restaurateur yesterday during the peaceful march that occurred in Huntington yesterday. I was very proud of the people marching and the way they conducted themselves. I was especially proud of young men and women who were respectful and voiced their feelings in a way that wasn't threatening or disruptive to anyone and or business in the village."

Protesters brought watermelons emblazoned with anti-racism messages to Tutto Pazzo Tuesday, and another protest at Pancho Villa's — whose owners were also seen in Petrone's controversial video — took place Wednesday.

Joey Petrone, co-owner of Tutto Pazzo and brother of Luigi, issued a statement Tuesday night condemning the offensive remarks and announcing that the two brothers were no longer in business together.

Moschos, who has operated his restaurant for a decade in Huntington, hopes there is a way all the restaurant owners in Huntington can move forward, especially in the wake of the coronavirus shutdowns and economic uncertainty.

"We are hurting, we are a restaurant-centric town," he said. "We need to go forward together."