London Lennie’s began shucking in the seafood business half a century ago and Queens residents are still hooked.
The perennial seafood destination on Woodhaven Boulevard celebrated 50 years of reeling in hungry patrons with a lively celebration at their Rego Park restaurant on Wednesday, April 14.
“This crowd is a testament to what first brought people into this restaurant when it first opened,” said Leslie Barnes. “I have stayed true to my father over the years by only serving the best and freshest seafood.”
Leslie’s mother, Joan Barnes took over for her ailing husband and eventually turned the reigns over to her son, after he graduated college. Joan is still visible at the restaurant and even involves herself with its day-to-day activities.
“I’m happy to come in and help from time to time,” said Joan. “I do some bookkeeping, some correspondence and a lot of the social events.”
However, Joan is not just there to work; she provides a connection with the past that is invaluable to an establishment as venerable as London Lennie’s.
“I feel very lucky to have my mom around to help out,” said Leslie. “She wants to be here as a part of the business, but also she’s got a lot of friends that she brings in. People know her; she’s our connection to the past.”
That connection with the past keeps Leslie grounded in the present. He understands that some people cannot afford to eat out as often as they would like to and that is why he instituted London Lennie’s “Seafood on a Shoestring” menu for those hard workers who want a taste of the sea.
“Even with the tough economy, people still want to eat out,” said Leslie. “As a restaurant owner, you have to be aware of what others are going through. If you are on a budget, we have a quality menu with the same good food and the same freshness as our standard menu.”
Changing with the times is not something that Leslie is afraid of; in fact, he believes that the ability to adapt is one of the most important aspects of any successful business.
“People’s tastes change and we try to change with them,” said Leslie. “We do what is necessary to change where we need to, but we never sacrifice quality.”
