Port Jefferson Harborfront McDonald's Transforms Into Bait and Tackle Shop

The former McDonald's on East Main Street in Port Jefferson sat empty for a decade, its lease outlasting the restaurant itself after the chain abruptly pulled out in February 2016, unable to install the drive-through the location wouldn't permit. This spring, that 3,000-square-foot building next to Village Hall gets a second life as Port Tackle, a full-service bait and tackle shop founded by Justin Braun and Conor O'Keefe, with a soft opening targeted for as early as April 3, pending a certificate of occupancy from the village.

Braun and O'Keefe spent the past several months gutting the building's restaurant infrastructure, removing the dining room and kitchen equipment and redoing the floors. The location itself needs little explanation: it sits within walking distance of a boat ramp, a marina, and two party boat companies. "There are no tackle shops in that area, and that McDonald's has been empty for so long," O'Keefe said. "We thought it would be good to get something good in there for the community."

Braun, who serves as Old Field harbor commissioner, grew up in Stony Brook near the water and has fished since childhood. His wife Amy, whom he met at Monmouth University, recalled that even in college he was casting lines off the beach in New Jersey. When he proposed in 2010, he sold the boat he'd taken her out on during their early dates on the Sound to pay for her ring. Now that same pull toward the water is driving a business. "The way we're being embraced by the village and the fishing community is really exciting," Braun said.

Braun expects to hire around six employees. The property had been listed for sale at $1.55 million, though Braun declined to disclose the final sale price.

Barbara Ransome, director of operations for the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, called the conversion a natural fit. The new store "is a great use for this building," she said, adding that it "lends itself to our waterfront community" and the "fishing enthusiasts that come to the Village of Port Jefferson."

The reaction from neighboring shop owners was similarly enthusiastic. Amy Braun walked the block introducing herself when the partners moved in and found the welcome immediate. "They were just so happy the space was going to get fixed up," she said. Her own motivation extends beyond retail: "Not a lot of kids get to go fishing, and I feel like that's kind of dying out. We just want to keep that going."

A grand opening is set for April 25, with brand representatives from Shimano Fishing, Jigging World, and Costa Del Mar Sunglasses expected to attend, along with giveaways for customers.