Much Missed Espresso's Next Act—But Not This Summer

When Espresso Italian Specialties and Grill, the beloved sandwich shop on Sag Harbor's Division Street, closed its doors earlier this year, locals went into a kind of collective mourning. Gone were the days of giant wheels of focaccia stuffed with cold cuts and slathered in Espresso's secret dressing.

Rumors that the celebrity chef Bobby Flay would be taking over the location proved to be unfounded.

As it turned out, a Flay protege, former Nick and Toni's executive chef Paul Del Favero, who has been eager to run an eatery of his own, will be moving in to the storefront on the corner of Henry and Division Streets.

But according to the Sag Harbor Express, those eagerly awaiting the opening of the new spot, to be called Harbor Market and Kitchen, shouldn't hold their breath. Extensive renovations in the works mean that it won't be ready for the summer season. 

Douglas Moyer, the architect for the project, made that clear in an appearance before the Sag Harbor Historic Preservation and Architectural Review Board. At the meeting, he detailed his plans for the property--gutting the inside and sprucing up the outside--and received feedback from the board’s chairman, Cee Scott Brown, who suggested that the architect sheath the exterior of the building in clapboard instead of composite material, as planned. 

As quoted in the Express, Brown told Moyer, “This is the moment to make nice with the neighbors anyway you can.”

In the meantime, bereft fans of the old Espresso can indulge in a little nostalgia by visiting its website, which remains online.

See photos attached.