MERRICK, N.Y. — A familiar South Shore restaurant space is getting a fresh start this summer.

Betty’s Burgers & Ice Cream Bar is preparing to open at 1960 Bayberry Avenue in Merrick, taking over the former home of The Rabbit Hole Bar & Grill. Before Rabbit Hole, the address was known to many local diners as the longtime home of Anchor Down Bar & Grill.

The new concept is aiming for something casual, fun, and coastal: burgers, smashburgers, comfort food, ice cream-style desserts, a full bar, and indoor-outdoor seating near the water.

A new chapter for a well-known Merrick address

The Bayberry Avenue location has been through a few different identities in recent years. Anchor Down had a long run there before the space was reimagined as The Rabbit Hole Bar & Grill, which opened in 2023 and later closed in 2024.

Now, Betty’s is looking to give the property a more relaxed, summer-friendly feel — one that fits the surrounding South Shore atmosphere.

According to Greater Long Island, co-owner John Breeze said the team felt Merrick could use a place like Betty’s, especially with the location being so close to the water. The idea is to create a spot that works for families, casual nights out, burger lovers, and people looking for a laid-back meal without making it a full formal dinner.

What Betty’s plans to serve

The menu will be built around burgers, including hamburgers made with a proprietary beef blend and smashburgers.

But Betty’s is not stopping at burgers. The restaurant is also expected to serve comfort-food favorites like:

• Philly cheesesteaks

• Wings

• Foot-long hot dogs

• Bar-style bites

• Ice cream-inspired desserts

• Oversized sweets

• Drinks from a full bar

The dessert side sounds like it will be a major part of the identity. Betty’s is expected to lean into big, indulgent sweets inspired by classic over-the-top dessert destinations, giving the restaurant a second hook beyond the burger menu.

That matters because a place like this can work for multiple occasions: lunch, dinner, drinks, dessert, after-beach stops, family meals, and casual date nights.

Why the name “Betty”?

The name is part of the vibe.

Breeze told Greater Long Island that “Betty” connects to surfer culture — another word for a female surfer — which fits the restaurant’s relaxed, beachy, South Shore energy.

That branding makes sense for the location. Merrick is not a boardwalk town in the traditional sense, but the South Shore lifestyle is still very real: boats, water, summer nights, casual dining, and people looking for easy places to meet up.

Betty’s seems designed to sit right in that lane.

Why this could work in Merrick

Merrick has no shortage of restaurants, but a burger-and-ice-cream bar with a full bar and coastal theme fills a specific need.

It is casual enough for families, flexible enough for groups, and simple enough for anyone who just wants a good burger and a drink. Add indoor-outdoor seating and a dessert program, and the concept becomes more than another burger spot.

It becomes a place that can pull in:

• Families looking for an easy dinner

• Friends grabbing drinks and food

• Boaters and South Shore locals

• Date-night crowds looking for something casual

• Dessert runs after dinner elsewhere

• Burger fans looking for a new option

That mix is important. Restaurants that survive on Long Island usually need to work for more than one audience.

The burger boom keeps going

Betty’s also arrives at a time when burgers are having a moment across Long Island and New York.

Smashburgers, nostalgic burger counters, upscale burger bars, and casual comfort-food concepts have all grown in popularity. Part of the appeal is simplicity: people know what they’re ordering, the food works for almost every age group, and the price point can sit below more formal sit-down dining.

For Merrick, Betty’s could become a neighborhood stop if it gets the basics right: good burgers, consistent service, strong drinks, and a room that feels fun without trying too hard.

WLIT.FM takeaway

Betty’s Burgers & Ice Cream Bar has the ingredients of a smart South Shore concept: a known Merrick location, a casual coastal theme, burgers, smashburgers, comfort food, big desserts, a full bar, and indoor-outdoor seating.

The former Rabbit Hole space has been waiting for the right reset. If Betty’s delivers on the laid-back burger-and-dessert idea, this could become a fun new stop for Merrick locals and anyone looking for a casual summer bite near the water.

WLIT.FM will keep an eye out for opening updates, menu drops, and first-look photos once Betty’s gets closer to launch.