More change is coming to Westhampton Beach’s Main Street — but don’t get too jittery over it. Brody’s, a new caffeine-boosted café, is bringing locally roasted beans in the form of a pup-friendly café to town. So much so, that co-owner Vincent Greco named the place after his own beloved best friend.
“Brody is the current dog I have now, but I’ve had so many dogs and every kind of animal you can think of ever,” laughs Greco. “Flying squirrels, chinchillas, dogs. I’ve been around animals my whole life.”
Indeed, the Manorville native actually started out life wanting to be a veterinarian, not a coffee-slinging business owner. Greco went to Stony Brook University to study bio-chemistry, with a goal of becoming a vet. “It was my life-long dream,” he says. But between the intense courses in school and the day to day work with animals, he got a little burnt out and began working at a Hurricane Bar & Grill franchise owned by his family in Manorville, bartending and considering his next move.
Greco and his father became friendly with Westhampton Beach Brewing owners Brian Sckipp and John Salvaggio, who frequented their eatery during their planning sessions for opening their own spot in Manorville, Westhampton Beach Brew & Grill. As reported here, when the space for Daphne’s in Westhampton went up for grabs, Sckipp and Salvaggio jumped at the chance to finally open another food-forward version of their brand on Main Street. But part of that space included the coffee spot, Caffeine, next door.
“Brian and John brought the idea to my dad about us doing a coffee shop with full creative control for us,” says Greco. “I knew it would be a big responsibility.”
But the idea of a dog-friendly spot where locals and tourists alike could come in for a great cuppa and delicious home-baked goods, dog in tow, began to percolate — and Brody’s was born.
“I’m doing this really for the locals and catering to them and what they like,” says Greco. “Everyone in Westhampton Beach has a dog and people bring their dogs everywhere they go.”
Aside from plans like partnering with and donating proceeds to local animal shelters, Greco has done a deep-dive into learning everything he can about coffee, from its agricultural roots to the right way to roast to keeping things fresh and fun in the cup. He did a stage at a Wisconsin coffee roaster, learning the ins and outs of different beans, their origins and how to properly roast them.
“I learned about agriculture, weather, humidity, water — it was interesting to see how it all comes about.”
Then he started surveying locals and studying coffee preference trends; as it turns out, Long Islanders on the whole tend to favor the medium to dark roasts, which is what he’s settled on for his his house blend (named Buster’s Blend, for Greco’s former pup) via Druthers Coffee in Stony Brook.
In addition to the classic coffee-bar drinks, Greco plans to do cold brew, specialty flavors like Banana Bread, Smoky Chocolate S’more and Snickerdoodle, that will change monthly, fresh pressed juices and all syrups used for flavored coffees will be made in-house. “It’s what I like to do,” says Greco. “I think people will like the homemade more — it tastes a lot better.” There will also be freshly baked croissants, egg sandwiches, muffins, Linzer tarts and other sweet treats.
Another bonus: He plans on staying open a little later than your typical coffee spot.
“I think it’s nice to be able to stroll around town in the early evening and grab a coffee and lemon bar!”
Brody’s is located at at 115b Main St., Westhampton Beach. Check Greco’s Instagram @brodyscoffeewhb for updates on official opening date, as well as days and hours of operation.
