Last year, the Northport Historical Society polled our members and followers to help us identify those businesses, persons, and institutions that encompassed the true spirit of Northport. These “icons” were uniquely Northport and made lasting contributions to our community. Among them were, The Shipwreck Diner, The Thomspon Building, The Engeman Theater, Great Cow Harbor Day, and Seymour’s Boatyard. This April, we will be awarding the next Icon Award to Arthur Glad and Pumpernickels Restaurant, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Arthur “Artie” Glad and his family began spending summers in a bungalow on Eaton’s Neck in the 40s. ‘There was no electricity, no running water. There was one water pump for everyone. The streets had no names. They weren’t even paved,’ Mr. Glad reminisced. Eventually, the family moved to Eaton’s Neck permanently when he was in 8th grade. Artie held down several jobs, including that of the garbage man on Asharoken, and working for his sister’s restaurants. After graduating from Northport High School in 1969, Artie became a bar tender at Sugar’s, a bar that used to be where Pumpernickels is today. Pumpernickels was started in 1973, by then husband and wife, Edward and Elfie Neilsen. They hired Artie as a bartender there and he later became a partner. In 2000, after decades in the restaurant business, Artie was allowed to become the sole owner of 640 Main Street.

‘The restaurant serves authentic German dishes, ones that you can’t find anywhere else anymore,’ Artie explained as we sat at the bar, the whole while stopping to welcome customers, many of whom are long time friends. He is well-known and well-loved throughout Northport because of all he gives back to the community. He’s served on the Northport Business Development Committee, initiated Northport Harbor Fun Nights, was a founding member of the Northport-East Northport School District Hall of Fame, and has been a member of the Kiwanis Club since 1975.

Artie is also very interested in Northport history, graciously hosting fund-raisers for the Northport Historical Society, and donating historical documents for our collection. The walls of the restaurant and his office are filled with old photographs, and he often recounts amusing stories of all the good times and people he’s met including sports legends, and movie stars, throughout his 50-year journey with Pumpernickels.

  

The Society is very excited to announce that Artie Glad will be our annual benefit honoree. The benefit dinner will be held at the Northport Yacht Club on April 27th, at 6:00, where he will be presented with the Icon Award. Please join us for an elegant and fun evening of auctions, raffles, and dinner to celebrate Mr. Glad and to help support the Northport Historical Society. Tickets are on sale on our website: Northporthistorical.org, or you can call 631-757-9859, or visit us at 215 Main Street.