Springs Chef Says Goodbye to His Water Mill Restaurant

Springs chef Bryan Futerman announced this week that he will close his Water Mill restaurant,Foody's, this Sunday after eight and a half years. 

Despite having the best summer in several years, Futerman said the Water Mill Shoppes, located off Montauk Highway, has so drastically changed in recent years that it doesn't bring in the same traffic. 

"It's not working financially anymore. It's just not sustainable," Futerman said of the family-owned restaurant which offers Italian-American cuisine and pizza and is known for its Cherry Wood burning grill and use of farm to table local and seasonal vegetables. He did not exercise an option to renew his lease, he said. 

The complex needs an anchor store, he said. In 2010, Citarella closed its gourmet food market there after it opened a larger store in nearby Bridgehampton. The Water Mill Citarella was replaced by Avanti Culinary Market, which lasted a little more than a year. Muse,another restaurant in the complex, moved to Sag Harbor in March 2012. Then, Blockbuster closed in October 2012, as did Thorn Bird Floral Boutique.

What's left? Southampton Wines & Liquor, Water Mill Village Cleaners, Subway, the Vitamin Shoppe, and a few offices. The complex really changed ownership. 

There was a glimmer of hope, Futerman said, when SoulCycle, one of the county's most well-known indoor cycling studios, opened in the former Blockbuster space. 

"My business was better this summer than the last few summers. Catering was much better, too. The business improved, but not enough to back that commitment," he said of the new lease — he declined to say how much rent he was paying. "Financially, it wasn't the same ball game on the ground." 

However, during the off-season, the studio is only open on weekends until 11:30 a.m., and doesn't drive much traffic his way.

Futerman said he was looking for another space on the South Fork for the past several months, but with the high cost of rents in the area, he hasn't found the right place, yet. "That's the hard part: I always wanted to be affordable and what not," he said. "I'm really proud of what we did here."

Futerman, a professional chef for 20 years, who grew up in the industry, is exploring his options and speaking with investors. In the meantime, he will stay busy. He is the vice chair of Slow Food of the East End and helps organize Edible School Gardens of the East End. He will also continue to cater. 

The restaurant will be open every day until Nov. 17. It will be closed for a private party from noon to 4 p.m. and then opening to the public for a farewell meal. "Come help us drink the place dry," Futerman wrote on Foody's Facebook page. "There will be great drink and food specials all week as well."