One Rockland restaurant has closed and a longtime Upper Nyack deli is saying goodbye

More changes are afoot on the Rockland dining landscape.

In Sparkill, Denis Whitton, a longtime Rockland restaurateur, has closed his short-lived speakeasy. Meanwhile, Hartell's Jukebox Deli in Upper Nyack is closing, but there's no word on what might take its place or when. Details follow.

Six23 Social, Sparkill

What for three years had been the French-inspired Autumn restaurant and then was rebranded last July into the speakeasy Six23 Social in Sparkill closed June 8. Whitton cited a confluence of reasons, stating that he was in the red from day one, having opened during the height of the pandemic.

Though people said they loved his new concept — a Prohibition-themed spot dotted with Depression-era lights and walls covered with black and white photos from the 1920s and '30s — its weekend business wasn't enough to sustain it.

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Whitton, who's been in the business 25+ years, said it's been particularly difficult, as he's now closed two restaurants in six months — Pier 701 in Piermont and now this. "It's for two different reasons but it's been hard," he admitted.

That said, he's not ruling out something out else down the road.

Hartell’s Jukebox Deli, Upper Nyack

According to the owners, their lease expires in July and the landlord already has an accepted offer for another food establishment. They did not want to say much else other than they're grateful for their successful three years, will miss their customers and will keep The Journal News/lohud up to date if they end up opening somewhere else.

There are still a lot of moving parts, so there's no definite date on when Hartell's will close. Nor are there any specifics on what may take over the space.

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Hartell's has a history of resurrections — it opened during the 1970s, closed in 2015 and was later bought by Frank DeNardo, who closed it in December 2020.

In 2021, Congers native Bernadette Scollin stepped in, bringing back the nostalgia of the old-school corner deli with the rebranded (but still beloved) Hartell's Jukebox Deli.

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Heard of an opening — or closing? Email JRMuchnick@gannett.com.

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.