Honu Restaurant Changes Hands

was sold Monday to a new group of Long Island businessmen.

The new owners,  two experienced restaurateurs and a film producer, say they plan few changes in the New York Avenue restaurant.

"We're not changing things, maybe just polishing a little, do a little more catering and keep it as is," Thomas McNicholas Jr. said.

He and his restaurant partner Anthony Geraci and film producer John Mullen bought the place from John Tunney, John Rieger and David Tunney.

McNicholas and Geraci will continue to own and operate Kasey's Kitchen and Cocktails in Rockville Centre. Mullen worked as an associate producer on the new movie, "Bereavement."

"We dined out a lot in Huntington, love Huntington a lot," McNicholas said. "It fell in our lap that they might be selling" the restaurant, McNicholas said, "and we were obviously interested."

McNicholas said the new owners, operating as Five Cheers Group, believes that the renovation of the former IMAC Theater across the street will bring more patrons to the block and benefit their restaurant.

Honu Kitchen and Cocktails will retain its name and a number of its staff and will continue operating throughout the transition, with McNicholas saying that the restaurant's management team would stay in place.

“Honu is and will always be a very special property for me.  A lot of people have celebrated with us over the past decade and my hope is that they’ll continue to share their stories, weekends and special events with us at Besito” said John Tunney, the restaurateur who currently holds three New York Times "excellents" on Long Island.