With Whit as Head Chef—The Blarney 2.0 Blazes a New Era in Breezy

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Just a mere two weeks ago, The Blarney 2.0 in Breezy Point held its soft opening, and with a complete facelift, plus—the stunning revelation that none other than Whitney Aycock of Whit’s End is the head chef, it’s no wonder the Breezy Point landmark has generated a buzz on Instagram with already 2,386 followers. However, for partners Tommy McGoorty Jr., Tommy McGoorty Sr., Thomas Hickey and Dennis Keating, just keeping the torch lit for the pub/restaurant—which in its present location has brought the community together for almost a century—is a dream come true.

As cited by the Breezy Point Historical Society of New York (BPHSNY), a 1933 article in The Rockaway Point News announced that Jack McGuire and Jim McGarrity, owners of the Rockaway Point Inn, acquired The Strand at 5-7 Market Street in Rockaway Point (now known as 202-24 Rockaway Point Blvd., Breezy Point). McGuire and McGarrity renamed the pub/restaurant, The Blarney Castle, and even hired a celebrity chef, Wendel Reiser, renowned for serving “Broadwayites, and NYC mayor Jimmy Walker.” Imagine, in those days an extravagant seven-course dinner at The Blarney Castle was a $1.00!

Fast forward, Breezy’s Jamin brothers acquired The Blarney Castle, and according to Keating, made it a mainstay for the Breezy Point community for more than 50 years.

He shared, “Francis Jamin was the sole owner for, I believe, 55 years. His brother was the head chef. Last November, when we heard that the Jamins were retiring and selling the restaurant, my partners and I decided to place a bid.

“Between the McGoortys, Thomas and me, we have a combined 82 years of working at The Blarney Castle. I worked here for 20 years, McGoorty Sr. has been here 30 years, and Thomas, 32 years. We each love this place so much. So, together, we decided to put our best foot forward and place a bid. And thankfully, we wound up getting it,” Keating said.

As for landing Aycock as head chef, Keating said it was fortuitous timing. “We knew Whit for his restaurant on Beach 97th Street in Rockaway and admired how he expanded his place from one storefront to occupying three. Plus, his food was always great, and he has a huge following.

“Around the time we gained ownership of The Blarney, Whit closed his restaurant due to rising rent. So, when we heard he was getting out of his place, we hoped to sit and talk with him, to see if he would possibly be interested in coming to Breezy,” Keating said. “Honestly, we were not expecting it to necessarily go our way, but Whit loved our vision for The Blarney. We’ve only been open two weeks, and so far, it’s been going great. Everyone is excited that Whit is here in Breezy. For The Blarney, it’s a perfect marriage.”

Aycock is a like a phoenix, always rising and with each setback emerges even more resilient. And with his presence as head chef of The Blarney creating quite a buzz, Aycock is happy to be back doing what he loves—dishing up carefully crafted dishes with the flair his fans know and love.

When asked what deliciousness he will be serving up at The Blarney, Aycock quipped, “Whit’s hits with a twist!”

He said, “Definitely some classics with shrimp, steak, fresh fish, pasta and more. However, you can’t just do copy, copy, copy. There’s going to be some new hits. I’m working on the menu specials. Going from zero to 100 is impossible, but with each step and once we execute the menu well, people will be happy. Good food’s hard to find. I’m just stoked to be back in Breezy, which is where my Rockaway journey began. After everything I’ve gone through in the past year, I’m just lucky to be here, doing what I love.”

However, dear fans of Aycock’s infamous personal pizza pies—no, that will not be on menu.

The Blarney 2.0 has gone through renovations. Gone is the half wall that went down the middle of the restaurant. Now the space has a much more open feel.

Keating said, “The old Blarney had a lot of wood. It was just a tad bit outdated. Our original plan was just to do small renovations until we got it to where we wanted it to be. However, as we started renovating, we decided just to go ahead and redo the entire space. That’s why we joke around and call it The Blarney 2.0.”

As for the outside sign, it still states, “The Tavern.” Keating explained that due to Breezy Point being a cooperative, they first have to get permission from the cooperative’s board.

He said, “Technically, you can’t change the outside of the bar because the cooperative wants every storefront to look the same. Everything has to be in unison. So, for us to alter anything, we have to get approval to do so. In time, we plan to change the sign.”

For Roxbury resident Edward Kurosz, a longtime patron of The Blarney, he’s just happy to see his favorite watering hole/restaurant back open.

“I’ve been coming here for over 50 years, since I was 18. I missed coming here while it was closed. This place always delivers the whole package deal—good drinks, food and company. It’s like ‘Cheers,’ a hometown place, where everybody knows your name. Everybody’s a comedian,” Kurosz said.

This is expressly why Keating and his partners, who both worked and hung out at The Blarney for decades, wanted to be part of its legacy, harkening back to a century ago.

Keating said, “The Blarney 2.0 is about keeping the community happy and preserving the history of this space. We’re just another option for whether it’s people in Breezy, or folks in Rockaway looking for the same three things—good food, drinks and live music.”

As posted on BPHSNY Facebook page in February: “The Blarney Castle will say goodbye to an era tomorrow night… We will miss the Jamins who always supported our BPHSNY and wish them a joyous retirement. And we wish sincerest success to the incoming owners. The Blarney plays a large part in our community!”

The Blarney 2.0 is located at 202-24 Rockaway Point Blvd. in Breezy Point. The bar is open seven days a week. Kitchen/restaurant’s opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Last seating at 9 p.m. For reservations, chef’s specials and more info, phone: (718) 634-4503. Also, follow the_blarney2.0 on Instagram.