Mystery of the Normandie Inn

Anyone who travels through the Bohemia area knows this place off of Lakeland Avenue, right? That kind of weird mansion, tiny castle looking, thing. It's a great building, full of nooks and crannies in the architecture.

I really don't know much about this place. I never ate there. It's been boarded up for years.

An article in Long Island Business News gives a good history. It was built as a residence for a Czech baron in the 1920's, then it was a speakeasy during prohibition, became a hotel, etc.

According to these postings it closed at the end of 2003. One poster (Nick) is probably Nick Campitiello, one of the current owners, id'd in the LI Business News article.

The restaurant isn't listed in an old 2000/2001 Long Island Zagats that I still have around. This website describes the kind of food that was served:

About: Normandie Inn is an upscale restaurant that focuses on and serves French, Italian and American foods. Expect the average entree to cost between $12 and $20.

And the place may be haunted by the ghost of a Maria, who was strangled there. I love that, of course.

The building has been sold to an interior design company, but they obviously haven't moved in yet. I think I'd rather see it as a restaurant.

Cool, narrated slide show by LI Business News.

More pics by moi:

Normandie Inn, I'm sorry I missed you when you were still up and running.