There’s A New Sports Bar In Town
/By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
When walking inside The Rust & Gold, the newest sports bar in Huntington village, customers are surrounded by sports memorabilia – trophies, tennis rackets, baseball mitts, a scoreboard – different games, like foosball and retro video games and a sign that reads, “This must be the place.”
Rust & Gold is primed to open its doors Thursday, months after its owners took over what was previously Rookies Sports Club on Gerard Street. After a summer full of renovations, Rust & Gold is set to officially open Thursday at 4 p.m.
“I think it’s going to be fantastic,” co-owner Frank Antonetti said earlier today. “I think it’s going to provide kind of a new arena for local people, and all of Long Island, to come and enjoy a sports bar that provides more of an elevated twist with better food, better drinks and a cooler environment."
Long Islander News photos/Janee Law
The Rust & Gold co-owners Lou Cohen and Frank Antonetti post up next to the spacious, long bar at Huntington village’s newest sports bar. Antonetti said the sports bar’s grand opening is slated for 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Antonetti, formerly a bartender at Swallow Restaurant, added, “I think that we’re going to do our best.”
Antonetti owns the sports bar with business partners Lou Cohen, Jay Janawsky and Ryan Sipp.
While coming up with the design for Rust & Gold, the co-owners came up with the idea to adorn its interior with trophies donated by the community.
“It was important for us to have the community be a part of the décor as much as possible,” Antonetti said.
Rust & Gold’s Instagram account soon featured a post that put out a call for donations from anyone with old sports trophies, or memorabilia, that they were willing to part with. Antonetti said the response was awesome, with 150 pieces of sports memorabilia donated.
The items will the 2,000-square-foot sports bar, which is located at 70 Gerard St. There are eight 65-inch television sets, and a 100-inch projection screen, which is planned to be used for marquee events, such as Sunday Night Football and big fights.
The sports bar recently completed its soft opening, and feedback was fantastic, according to Antonetti. The sports bar has been offering select cocktails, and samples of dishes from the full menu.
So far “people are really enjoying the food and they’re loving the space,” he said. Rust & Gold’s full selection of food and drinks will be available following Thursday's grand opening.
With a chef-driven twist on traditional sports bar fare, Rust & Gold will be offering food truck sandwiches, wings and single, double and triple burgers, along with a collection of starters and small dishes. Prices typically range $5-$13 from appetizers up to the burgers, Antonetti said.
To wash it all down, Rust & Gold’s spacious, long bar offers a wide selection of both bottled and canned beers, and wine. Currently, the tap beer selection includes Barrier Pilsner, Allagash Wheat, Bell’s Amber, Stone Session IPA, Schlafly Pumpkin and Miller High Life. There’s also a sauvignon blanc and a rosé, are also available on tap. Bottled wine, and cocktails, are also available.
In between the eating a drinking, patrons can engage in a wide variety of games, including foosball, retro video games, shuffleboard, bubble hockey and giant Jenga.
“We’re not a typical sports bar,” Antonetti said.
He added, “I think we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure every guest that comes in here gets a level of services that they might not expect.”
Rust & Gold’s operating hours are 4 p.m.-2 a.m., Mondays-Fridays; and 12 noon-2 a.m., Saturdays-Sundays. For more information, visit Facebook.com/therustandgold.
