Hamburger Choo Choo, Huntington NY (New York, York: how much, to buy, theatre)

[Taylor Ashley]

Wow! I remember Village Pizza in the '70s. Love, love, loved it!

[ylisa7]

Wow you guys brought back some great memories. As a kid I loved getting my burger from the train. And Village Pizza was great. Haven't been to that area in years. I'm sure everything has changed.

[bigrigol23]

I used to go to Hambuger Coo Coo back in the 70's. My parents used to go there when they were younger. They had the best burgers anywere around. They use to take the meat out of a cooler and it was rolled into a ball. Then they would put it on the griddle and flatten it out. The burgers were loose and juicy. If you ordered onion rings the cook would take out an onion cut it into rings and dip it in the batter while you watched. This place was the best. At lunch time there would be a line to get into the joint! Till this day when I make burgers I still do it the Hamburger Coo Coo way and I tell my friends about this place all the time. Good memories I'm originally from Farmingdale and we use to go up to Huntington to hang out.

[formerFinnegan]

I don't think so - unless the company that purchased Finnegan's Pub and Tap Room in Huntington also opened other locations. Although the Finnegan family had a lot of children two generations ago, they did not have large families, and only two had sons carried on the Finnegan name. I do know Uncle Bill's son and family are still on LI. However, my ex-husband and kids are in Orange County, Calif.

[ToddBurger]

Yes, the Hamburger Choo-choo, which I went to in the late 50's/early 60's. I heard that it was there under various ownerships until the late 90's. I am actually exploring opening a more technically advanced, but similarly themed, version food restaurant in Massachusetts. There is another thread with more info on this site.

[ToddBurger]

Amazed to find this thread of recollections of my childhood favorite restaurant, the Hamburger Choo Choo. I still remember seeing my hamburger and/or milkshake coming round the bend in the counter at the Hambruger Choo Choo. I lived in neighboring Syosset, but always insisted on going to the Hamburger Choo Choo in Huntington. I worked briefly in corporate and operating positions at Burlington Northern Railroad, and then went on to a 25+ year career as a consultant in the railroad industry, advising the US govt, foreign govts, US transit authorities and railroads around the globe on operations, safety, technology, etc.

I am currently involved in trying to launch a technically more advanced, but similarly themed, food restaurant, with the first location in New England, where I currently live.

Anyone with good recall on what worked and what didn't work at the Hamburger Choo Choo, please reply. Your comments would be much appreciated.

[purenkind]

Hey George, my father owned Toy Town / Sports Town right across the street. I have many many fond memories your dad's store. I remember Joe, who was Haiti and used to flip burgers. I had already moved out of Huntington when the Choo Choo burned down. It was so sad to hear about it..

[NJWM]

I was just telling my 6 year old son how when I was a young boy, my mom would take me out to Long Island to visit my grandfather in a nursing home in Huntington shortly before his death, and we would stop on the way back at Hamburger Choo Choo. In my eyes at that time, and in my memories of it, it was the coolest place I had or have ever eaten at. I only went there a few times but the memories of it are indelible. It really tempered the sadness of my grandpa's decline. I only wish it still existed so that I could share it with my son...

[twingles]

OMG I loved that place. I so wish it was still there, my boys would LOVE it. I think it's Cugini East now (offshoot of a place in Mineola).

[minesbroken]

That place was the best!! wish it was still around.