For the past 25 years, the Bathija family has brought plenty of business and positive vibes to the South Shore. This was never more clear than during the October 30th grand opening of its newest restaurant venture: a “Dairy Queen Grill & Chill” in Mastic-Shirley.
Free samples—miniaturized previews of the chicken strip basket and burger menu options—and “VIP” coupons to redeem discounted dessert items along with any meal orders over the next year were issued to the inaugural guests of the established chain’s Montauk Highway residence.
An outdoor DJ also slammed down summer beats on a surprisingly sun-bathed mid-fall Wednesday that Brookhaven Town Supervisor most appropriately called “a great day for a Blizzard.”
At around midday, an impressive collective of elected representatives convened to thank, congratulate and welcome reputable local businessmen Ben Bathija, his son Sonny, and their family.
“This family in particular has been great throughout the entire community. As I was telling Sonny earlier, we love that they do everything right,” New York State Senator Dean Murray, of East Patchogue, told The South Shore Press, fondly recalling the various Dunkin' Donuts storefronts the ownership group has franchised nearby.
“They do everything the right way. And when you do it the right way, they are proof that you can succeed. And when they succeed, they grow. They expand. They create more opportunities. They bring tax revenue for the community. It’s all a positive, and we’re hoping they will be here for years to come.”
The COVID pandemic, inflation and the tragic loss of one of their own, Tanya Bathija, 32, in a Dix Hills house fire in December of 2022, led to substantial delays in the opening of Dairy Queen’s Mastic-Shirley location, for which permits were first granted back in 2020.
Daughter of Ben and sister of Sonny, Tanya was an M.B.A.-certified rising entrepreneur who had opened five Dunkin' Donuts—in Center Moriches, Sayville, Lindenhurst, Blue Point and Bellport—on her family’s behalf.
Dunkin' of Bellport currently runs on Michigan Avenue, since renamed in Tanya’s memory in a May 23rd, 2024 ceremony. "Tanya is missed terribly, and her life is celebrated through the many businesses and ongoing foundation work that still carries on today,” Councilman Michael Loguercio said at the time.
As read on tibfoundationny.org, the Bathijas' non-profit created in Tanya’s honor strives to "continue Tanya's vision and commitment to ‘making a difference’ by supporting the underprivileged through charitable projects, raising awareness through educational programs, empowering women, and promoting cultural and social values.”
A member of the Bellport, Blue Point, Patchogue and Mastic-Shirley Chambers of Commerce, the Boys and Girls Club, and Long Island Head Start, Tanya was also the director of Sunrise Day Camp—bringing the simplest pleasures to children battling cancer.
Her early talents were exercised through Kathak classical Indian dance, Asami Hindu Temple, and beauty pageant competitions. The Bathija family says that through the latter, Tanya “showed young women and young girls that there is no perfect beauty, and that beauty comes within.”
Excitement filled the air outside and within what is fittingly marketed as “The Home of Happiness” on Wednesday, with many of the same local legislators who paid tribute to Tanya this Spring, Loguercio included, all gathered in attendance to commend the Bathija family for their latest endeavor.
“We know in the town of Brookhaven, if Ben gets an approval, whatever the town wants him to build, whatever the community wants him to build, he builds it beautifully, he gets it done fast, and he moves on to the next project,” said Supervisor Dan Panico. “He drives the economy. He employs people locally. And that’s important. Ben, we are here to celebrate you.”
Panico also noted that Ben is currently converting a blighted bank in Blue Point, while Ben himself revealed he was approved to open a Dairy Queen in Coram as well.
The last man on the mic before the highly anticipated ribbon cutting, Ben appeared over the moon that Sonny—who said he worked in the family’s Dunkin Donuts, Nathan’s, Baskin Robbins and Roy Rooster’s starting at age 15—has finally been brought into the family business fold in a managerial capacity.
On the day’s turnout, Sonny Bathija simply admitted, “I’m blown away” in conversation with the South Shore Press—which Sonny thanked as one the local organizations he is most appreciative of amid the opening of Dairy Queen’s Mastic-Shirley location.
“I’m excited, I’m happy, and I’m grateful for this community and the South Shore, especially the state of New York, its dignitaries and legislators and councilmen. I’m very appreciative for the opportunity to choose the path of an entrepreneur," he added.
Sarah Zepeda, of Huntington, a Legislative Aide for Trish Bergin (East Islip) out of the 10th District and Chairwoman of the “Suffolk Next Gen” Advisory Council—also singled out in Sonny’s speech—-was at the grand opening to show her support.
“He does a lot for us,” she said of Sonny. “He’s actually sponsoring our next meeting and providing food from here. He’s been really instrumental in helping us. He comes to all of the meetings. He provides wisdoms to everybody, so I wanted to make sure I helped him in return.”
As all on the scene would equally attest, Zepeda is incredibly confident the new Dairy Queen will flourish.
“Montauk Highway centers everything East and West. There are a lot of great places over here, but I think many DQs have recently closed down… so it’s great to see a new one pop up. The food is obviously great.”
Plus, at this one—by all accounts—so are the people.
“I’m particularly proud to be working with a family like this because they are a diamond in the rough,” said Councilwoman Karren Dunne Kesnig. “ It’s just wonderful to work with people who have the right permissions and who do the right thing for the community.”
“There aren't many Dairy Queens around... the one closest is the one in my town in Medford. And everybody keeps on asking, ‘When are they going to put up more of these?’ And I say, ‘I really don’t have the answer,’” Assemblyman Joe DiStefano would say—until meeting the determined and resilient Bathija’s.
“As the Supervisor said, Brookhaven Town is one of the most amicable places to open up a business,” the Assemblyman adds. “In the past, it’s been a little difficult. But we know how important small businesses are to our communities... that’s what runs our towns. Our county. Our state. And as Dean said, we are trying to make New York State a more business-friendly place to be.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony took a deftly assisting Supervisor Panico tapping in on giant scissor duty for Ben to “give it a bit of that ‘Brookhaven Snap,'" a quip which spawned raucous chuckles. Afterward, the Bathija’s invited the leaders on a tour of the kitchen, where obligatory drive-thru-side photo ops ensued.
On behalf of Legislator Jim Mazzarella, absent due to a conflict, Chief of Staff Tim Rothang, who grew up in Mastic and owns a house in Shirley, said businesses like the new Dairy Queen are “the cornerstones of our community.”
“We’re going to turn on the sewers here on this strip,” said Rothang. “It’s going to be a beautiful thing to see.”
Following in Tanya's footsteps, and how she led her short but quite impactful life, the Bathija's vow to continue to power forward; this is no easy hill to climb, of course, but neither is going all in, and full tilt on opening not just one business, but dozens.
“Her legacy,” says Sonny, “we will carry on.”
Meet you at DQ—where “Happy Tastes Good,” and on this occasion, just as bittersweet; for when togetherness is borne from devastation, it certainly can be a beautiful thing.