Lordie and Autumn
Central Islip and diversity are two things that go hand in hand
from music tastes to ethnic background, but it can be mostly shown in something
we all love, food. Food is something that can really bring a small town together and make lasting memories
and lasting laughter for all. Why focus on local franchises when it just wouldn’t show who we are?
Thus, Lordie and I decided to focus on the “mom and pop” shops, the local
businesses that make up our community. The small businesses that make the
history of Central Islip. These are the people that we can see on a day-to-day
basis, whether we bump into them while shopping or at a local high school game,
they’re there. We share the same history and the same streets. Their children go
to our schools or their relatives teaches in them, they’re apart of our
community on a different level, a personal one, and that’s great. So, our first
thought was to head out to a local Italian restaurant called “Porsia`s” where
everybody goes. From going on a date to after a game, you’re sure to find your
friends in this little shop. We remembered that “Porsia`s was up for about, five
years and we wanted to know more about their history. Many say that the owner
built it for his wife, Porsia , but others said he “named it just to name it”,
nonetheless, Lordie and I were going to figure where it started from. We wanted
to see if they were from Central Islip themselves or not. Before walking over to
“Porsia`s”, we decided to check out some other local businesses too, so we
walked down to “Hero Time”, a hero deli, and met a women named Isabell. “It’s
been up for nine years but I’ve been working for four” she states, we couldn’t
get any more information than that, so we walked across the street to a small
Italian restaurant called, “Central Pizza” and met Solomon. “I’ve been making
pizza for forty years, but I started managing four years ago.” He states.
“Central Pizza is the oldest food chain in CI, we’ve been up since 1975, first
we were Woolworth`s, now were “Central Pizza!” he states with a nod. “ We always
support the community, from helping in the nursing homes, to donating to Central
Islip boys’ varsity soccer, we care about Central Islip! Plus we have the best
pizza!” he lastly added with a genuine smile. After speaking with Solomon,
Lordie and I decided to walk over to “Porsia`s”, but sadly, the manager was busy
catering, then we tried “Stuff-A-Bagel”, but of course it was closed, and lastly
we tried “Foo Chow Kitchen” a Chinese restaurant, but the manager wasn’t there
either! Lordie and I decided that next week we`ll expand not only on “Porsia`s”
but on each of the businesses we’ve been in, provide menus, and also more
information about other businesses (like “Tango”) and how their business
affected Central Islip.