Jackson's Plans Expansion, Adding Catering Room

Artie Bloom, designs – and builds – all of his restaurants, a policy he says translates into his food.

For Jackson's restaurant owner Artie Bloom, building a restaurant is as important as running one, which is why he's adding a catering room and full-service party center, Parties by Jackson's, to the eatery this fall.

Bloom, along with his daughter and son-in-law, Shelby and Harry Poole, rented the store next to the restaurant and have started renovations to annex the space. It's not the first time this architect, who designs and builds all of his restaurants from scratch, has transformed a restaurant.

Bloom originally brought the seafood-inspired Blue Oyster Grille to the Commack location, and renamed it Jackson's several years later, providing a local hangout for families. It's a reinterpretation of Fat Artie's, a restaurant Bloom used to own. 

Jackson's currently does on and off site catering, but plans to expand their services with this additional space.

The space will have a moveable wall, designed by Bloom, to give the restaurant the ability to open or close the room, depending on how many guests are at a given party. They will also provide vendors for invitations, decorations, party-favorsor Jackson's restaurant owner Artie Bloom, building a restaurant is as important as running one, which is why he's adding a catering room and full-service party center – Parties by Jackson's – to the eatery this fall.

Bloom, along with his daughter and son-in-law – Shelby and Harry Poole – rented the store next to the restaurant and have started renovations to annex the space. It's not the first time this architect, who designs and builds all of his restaurants from scratch, has transformed a restaurant.

Bloom originally brought the seafood-inspired Blue Oyster Grille to the Commack location, but then renamed it Jackson's several years later, providing a local hangout for families. It's a re-interpretation of Fat Artie's, a restaurant Bloom used to own.  

Jackson's currently does on and off site catering, but plans to expand their services with this additional space.

The space will have a moveable wall, designed by Bloom, to give the restaurant the ability to open or close the room, depending on how many guests are in a given party. They will also provide vendors for invitations, decorations, party-favors, and photography services. Bloom is also installing a television to provide space for business conferences.

"The photos on the wall are of actual customers – we take the photos with a digital camera once you've become a regular and then it gets printed in the office and placed on the wall," Bloom said.

Bloom even allows photos of regulars' pets, like the bulldog who graces the hostess station. The photos change intermittently, he said – basically if you'd like to be on the wall and you're a regular, he'll consider it. 

The additional space was rented in June and should be complete in November, with reservations being taken in the next few weeks for holiday parties.