Bobby Van opened his first restaurant in Bridgehampton, New York, in the summer of 1969, where he tended bar and played piano. The restaurant quickly became famous with local musicians, writers, poets, and artists. Bobby Van’s legacy of quality food, service, and atmosphere quickly grew into a thriving year round restaurant in the Hamptons. Eventually after 20 years, Bobby would lose interest in running a restaurant and he sold his business to four Manhattan restaurateurs; Joseph Smith, Joe Phair, Rick Passarelli, and Joe Hickey. The new operators soon opened a second location in the Helmsley building on Park Avenue. Considered by many the “Original” because it was the first official steakhouse of the Bobby Van’s group, the Park Avenue Bobby Van’s is unmatched for location, food, and service among steakhouses in New York.