East Massapequa: Diversity, restaurants, waterfront homes draw buyers
Girolamo Guttilla, left, shared a slice with father Giovanni, owner of Giovanni’s Pizza and Restaurant on Merrick Road. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
THE SCOOP There's a little bit of everything and everyone in East Massapequa.
A 3.4-square-mile sliver on the South Shore, it's home to well over a dozen restaurants, three supermarkets and a great diversity in its population of over 20,000.
"There's a lot of diversity there, yes, which brings about a beautiful community with all kinds of folks from all walks of life and a variety of cultures," said Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph S. Saladino. "It's very special."
The community "is a beautiful reflection of unity, where people of many nationalities come together as one," agreed Carol Gordon, president of the Breezy Point Civic Association, based in the hamlet's maritime southeastern portion.
Statistics bear this out: U.S Census data shows East Massapequa is 69% white, 15% Black, 12% Hispanic and 2% Asian.
"People come from all over, different nationalities, but everyone's very friendly," said Jacob Raff, the group's secretary, who moved here within the last few years. Given the variety of cultures, he added lightheartedly, "The food is great!"
Gerry Stanbrough owns Corner Galley on Merrick Road, one of two main east-west thoroughfares in the community. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
Indeed, a wealth of restaurants lines Sunrise Highway and Merrick Road — the two main east-west thoroughfares — from barbecue to brasserie, White Castle to Dairy Queen. The most historic is the Nautilus Diner, a local landmark established in 1963 and renovated in 2014 with Nassau County officials attending the ribbon-cutting.
"If you live in that area, everyone knows the Nautilus," Raff said. "Since the day we moved in, that Saturday we were at the diner and haven't had a reason to go to another diner since... My daughter had her first birthday [party] there."
Ivanna Zaccaria, of Massapequa, and her dog Chanel enjoy the outdoors at Town of Oyster Bay Dog Park. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
A pair of shopping centers lines either side of Unqua Road south of Sunrise Highway, and another lies near the hamlet's northern border, the Southern State Parkway. Big-box stores include Dick's Sporting Goods, Kohl's, Men's Wearhouse, Raymour & Flanigan and T.J. Maxx. The hamlet is home to a Lidl, a ShopRite and a Whole Foods.
It also houses more than a half-dozen parks and recreational facilities, including a large dog park. The 42½-acre Marjorie R. Post Community Park has tennis, basketball, bocce and volleyball courts, a swimming pool with kiddie pool, a roller-hockey rink, a seasonal ice-skating rink, picnic areas with barbecue grills and more.
Rina Beach, of Lynbrook, plays pickleball with her granddaughters Olivia and Penelope, of Massapequa, at John J. Burns Park. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
The 52-acre John J. Burns Park likewise has tennis and basketball courts, plus platform-tennis courts and multiple soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, Little League and T-ball fields, both turf and natural, as well as a boat-launching ramp. The newest addition, Field of Dreams, opened in 2005 through the efforts of multiple civic groups to turn a vacant lot into a sports complex.
Additionally there is the private, nine-hole Peninsula Golf Course. As well, the hamlet's numerous canals and creeks make it a haven for boaters.
Three school districts serve different parts of the community, with Unqua Elementary, Berner Middle School and the main campus of Massapequa High all physically within its borders.
And a final thing appealing to homeowners: "The town portion of the property taxes," said Saladino, "has not gone up in eight years."
Houses along Pocahontas Street W. in East Massapequa, where officials say town taxes haven't risen in years. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are four condos, priced between $569,999 and $749,990, on the market.
OTHER STATS
Population 20,377
Median age 44.3
Monthly LIRR ticket from Massapequa Park $299.75
School districts, graduation rates Massapequa (99%), Amityville (79%), Farmingdale (92%)
Libraries Massapequa, Amityville, Farmingdale
Transit NICE Bus Routes 54, 55, 80
Sources: 2024 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR; data.nysed.gov; Nassau Inter-County Express
ON THE MARKET
$1.95 million
This $1.95 million East Massapequa home overlooks South Oyster Bay. Credit: Real Broker NY
Floor-to-ceiling windows look out onto South Oyster Bay in this historic home, built in 1893 and rebuilt in 2017. The canal-front three-bedroom, 3½-bathroom elevated house on 1.8 acres has 200 feet of bulkhead and boat slips on three sides. Recessed lighting shines onto an open-floor plan that has both a dining area and a breakfast nook. Taxes are $17,571. Aaron J. Bates, Real Broker NY LLC, 516-528-4824.
$599,999
This $599,999 East Massapequa home is 1,030 square feet. Credit: eXp Realty
This 1,030-square-foot Cape built in 1940 sits on a 0.32-acre fenced lot. Three three-bedroom, two-bathroom abode has been modernized with Energy Star-qualified appliances and windows, plus a new roof, boiler, plumbing, electrical and siding. The open-plan kitchen has quartz/quartzite counters, and there is a detached single-car garage. Taxes are $8,221. Jennifer Nyx and Kathleen Castro, eXp Realty, 631-813-6100, 631-327-8017.
RECENTLY SOLD
$1.425 million
N. Elm Street
Style Split-level
Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 3
Built 2025
Lot size 0.18 acre
Taxes $TBD
+/- List price -$125,000
Days on market 308
$645,000
E. Hamilton Avenue
Style Exp Cape
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 2
Built 1926
Lot size 0.2 acre
Taxes $9,337.67
+/- List price +$20,000
Days on market 98
$618,000
Joyce Avenue
Style Ranch
Bedrooms 3
Bathrooms 2
Built 1956
Lot size 0.13 acre
Taxes $11,255.36
+/- List price -$50,000
Days on market 195
ON ONEKEY MLS
Number of listings 23
Price range $569,999 to $1.99 million
Tax range $8,221 to $21,206
