OUR STORY
In September 1925, two 20 year old German waiters, Otto and Louis onboard the SS new Amsterdam “jumped ship” to begin a new life in New York. Soon after arriving they met two Hungarian sisters, Helen and Margaret, working as nannies in the rockaways at a dance/social. The two couples eventually married and by 1927 Otto and Helen moved out to Freeport Long Island to run the dining room concession at the Marks hotel on the foot of Woodcleft Avenue. Freeport in The 20s was the “hotspot” where Broadway and vaudeville actors summered. It was also the location of the widely popular L.I.G.H.T.S. club, Long island good hearted thespian society, this was located on the waterfront by St. Marks and Branch Avenue. Notable members included: Will Rogers Victor Moore, Irving Berlin, Leo Carrillo, Al Jolson, The Ziegfield's and John Philip Sousa. By 1929 Helen and Otto had saved enough to purchase the Property at 271 Woodcleft Ave. In 1932, Otto & Helen’s family grew, and their only child Barbara was born.
Which was a small boathouse and open a restaurant of their own calling it “Otto’s Sea Grill.” By 1933 prohibition had ended in New York State issued the first ever liquor licenses to business owners which remains on the wall in the bar followed by subsequent years. During the 40s, WW2 had come, black out curtains and air raids were the norm, as was, bathtub gin, and rum running. Otto expanded the bar and kitchen sides of the building, next to the bar was a beautiful yard and Rose garden surrounded by a white picket fence which would later become the Clam Bar under the direction of Barbara and Arnim. It was at this time that Guy Lombardo, the famous orchestra leader, built his estate across the canal with the help of Otto, securing the property for him. The two had become good friends.
By 1952 while Barbara was in Bryant College in Rhode Island, a young German waiter named Arnim Jagnow came to work at Ottos. When he and Barbara met sparks flew and she called off her engagement to another, by 1955 they eloped. Arnim was a butcher by trade and eventually opened his own shop called Butcher Boys Pride on Merrick Road in Freeport. Ilona was born in 1962 completing the family.
The 70s at Ottos were family years. A decade of high school cast parties, Proms, & Canoe races. The crew was always like one big family with Barbara or “B” as the matriarch. As such we bid farewell to Otto in 1972 and Helen upon her passing in 1978. In the early 80s, Arnim & Barbara joined forces to completely renovate Otto's inside and out. The outside decks were enlarged, the Upper deck bar created, and a small kitchen added to the Clam Bar.
By the 90s Dancing under the stars to great bands like Three man Acoustic Jam, The Blue Scoobies, The Generators and Travellin’ Max had become a summer ritual. The Village of Freeport was reinventing Woodcleft Ave into The Nautical Mile, a Waterfront destination instead of only a commercial fishing port. In 1999-2000 the road was raised almost 3’ at some points to help alleviate flooding. Brick Sidewalks were widened to promote pedestrians strolling The Mile, and quaint street lamps added to the new atmosphere. In 2000, Ilona left behind her career as a critical care RN, and joined her parents working at Otto’s, and opening the colorful shops across the street: Ahab’s Attic & Crow’s Nest Cove. Which were inspired by a mix of Key West & Gosmans shops in Montauk. In 2003 Ilona, Barbara & Arnim, opened Crow’s Nest Mini Golf just up the road adding a new Family activity to The Mile which was prospering.
Families were strolling the sidewalks all summer, A Halloween festival with the Fire Dept was held in October, and The Holiday Boat Parade in December was started by Ilona, & The Freeport Chamber of Commerce with the help of Al Grover & family. The Nautical Mile was thriving. Until...... Mother Nature had other plans with Hurricanes Irene in 2011 and Sandy in 2012. Irene hit in August of 2011 flooding our area with approximately 3’ of water. Closing businesses for cleanup for a few weeks to a couple of months and effectively ending that season early. Sandy hit a year later in October of 2012, devastating the entire east coast, and especially Freeport. Over 5-8’ flooding & storm surge came through our south end, destroying homes and businesses alike. She was not particular. Flood Water came up to Atlantic ave and Merrick Rd. Boats were pushed all over the place. Those businesses like Otto’s that were lucky enough to survive, were closed for months rebuilding and repairing damage. Otto’s reopened our outside deck and clam bar the following June of 2013. The inside rebuild was completed by August of that year. The power of the Sea and the storm surge will not easily be forgotten. There is a brass plate both on the inside and outside of the bar showing the flood water mark of Sandy. Photos in our lobby show the dining room and bar being rebuilt after Sandy. As you sit in the dining room you can imagine that the waterline was just inches from the top of the windows surrounding you. Each window was blown out from the enormous water pressure of the flooding. The storm took its toll on our family as well, both Arnim and Barbara became ill, which was all the more difficult since the family homes had been destroyed as well. In 2014 Arnim passed away after a lengthy illness.
Since Sandy, many new restaurants have opened on our Mile, some are under new ownership, however, we did lose The Schooner, which back in the 20s was The Marks Hotel. As The Nautical Mile regained its foothold after Sandy, Otto’s Celebrated its 85th anniversary in August 2014. With a grand celebration in our tented parking lot, and the music of The Legendary Ink Spots. Barbara was honored as Business Person of The Year by The Salvation Army in 2018, and by The Freeport Chamber of Commerce in 2019. 2019 was also The 90th anniversary of Otto's Sea Grill! For this celebration we celebrated Otto’s 1929 opening with a Gatsby themed Gala evening under the big top in our parking lot. It was definitely a night to remember! The glamorous outfits, The Great Throwdini’s knife throwing show, The Ink Spots, and of course our Family, Friends, & Guests, without whom, we would not be here for 90+ years.
2020 brought a new challenge, as we encountered a pandemic that closed down the world, not just the country. By March we had orders by the Government to close our doors. In June, with restrictions, we could reopen. It was a tragic year, in August Barbara passed away, and we had lost Rosemarie, another long time manager and family member that April, by the end of the year Edelgard had also passed away. A year of loss, & heartbreak, that surrounded our country, not just our family. 2022 is now upon us, and we are emerging from under the shroud of Covid. Most of us are vaccinated, death tolls have decreased, restrictions and mandates are being lifted. We can now see each other's faces and smiles once again.