Welcome to Extravagant Realty’s “Meet Our Neighbor” series. Each
month we feature one of our fabulous North Shore business neighbors. This
month, Jack’s Shack in Glen Head nourishes us with food for thought.
Almost 20 years ago, Jack’s Shack owner Willie Degel had a vision
to open a steakhouse like no other. His restaurant would serve only the highest
quality products and would provide uncompromising service.
Degel’s dream was first realized as a small store front restaurant
fondly named Uncle Jacks Steakhouse in Bayside, Queens. He paid fanatical
attention to detail and tweaked the menu until it was perfect. Service was
elevated to an art form, with captains anticipating every need and whim to
create an unprecedented dining experience. The restaurant was an immediate
success with an A-list of customers including local sports stars, celebrities
and politicians. Today, there are several Uncle Jack’s Steakhouses in New York
City and Degel has received many awards and glowing reviews and is a star on
the Food Network’s Restaurant Stakeout.
Residing in Old Brookville, Degel decided to open another
restaurant concept and to open it locally with a focus on “helping his
community grow by creating more jobs in the area,” says spokeswoman Navjit
Sandhu, “and ultimately aiding in the growth of the town.”
Enter Jack’s Shack, Degel’s “baby” in Glen Head. Open just a
little more than a year, the restaurant now employs 25 employees and serves
Long Islanders “a healthy meal at an affordable price.”
Degel is very passionate about changing the way America eats and
Jack’s Shack has given birth to a community emphasis on healthy, fresh food
from identified, reputable sources in a setting that is primarily made from
reclaimed or recycled ‘green’ building materials. “ This all natural, organic,
casual eatery offers a healthier alternative to fast food, which appeals to the
now more health conscious masses,” says Sandhu.
Wait, but who’s Jack? The restaurant is named after Degel’s late
great-uncle Jack. In the late 1930’s, Degel’s uncle owned a restaurant in New
York City, which was very popular with the locals. While growing up, Degel was
regaled by tales of his Uncle and became fascinated by the man which got him to
dreaming of one day owning a restaurant himself.
Jack's Shack's menu reaches across tastes and budgets with tacos, salads, sandwiches, soups and, the ever-popular Big Jack Burger, "a juicy cut of meat that has a lot of flavor and everone seems to love it."
The menu is always evolving 'to fit the needs of our customers," says Sandhu. "Chef Dan is very creative and always puts a fun spin on the food, expecially weekly specials."
Health-conscious customers line up for the salads, grilled chicken
and fresh fruit and veggie smoothies. “Smoothies are especially popular with
children,” says Sandhu. “It’s really great to see the children choose our
smoothies over soda. We love that we are contributing to their good health.”
“We have all been blessed with this beautiful planet, it is our
duty to keep it clean and preserved for future generations,” says Sandhu. “We
now have resources to help our planet, and it is very important that we pitch
in and do so.” Hopefully Degel’s enthusiasm spreads and “we all start becoming
a little more careful,” she says.
It starts in the community. "The businesses around the Shack have been very friendly toward us," says Sandhu. "Gem Craft Boutique and Extravagant Realty have been so welcoming and more than helpful and we are lucky to have such caring neighbors. We look forward to a long lasting friendship with them."
Jack's Shack located at 671A Glen Cove Avenue, Glen Head, NY 11545. You can visit them at www.jacksshack.com or "Like" them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/#!/GetShacky?fref=ts
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