For decades, the 56th Fighter Group Restaurant stood as one of the most unique and nostalgic dining spots on Long Island. Located on the grounds of Republic Airport in East Farmingdale—once a hub for WWII aircraft production—it offered more than just food. It was a fully immersive tribute to the warbirds and pilots of the Greatest Generation. Though it closed back in 2012, the restaurant lived on in memory until 2023, when the long-abandoned building was finally demolished. Today, its legend still lingers like the echo of propellers overhead.
For over 30 years, it was the kind of place where you could have a steak under a propeller, get lost in Big Band music, and soak up some serious Long Island history.
Even after the building sat abandoned for more than a decade, it wasn’t until 2023 that the final chapter came. The restaurant was demolished for safety reasons, marking the official end of a much-loved, deeply nostalgic landmark. But the full story is worth retelling.
Born From a Legendary Fighter Group
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The restaurant was named after the Army Air Forces’ 56th Fighter Group, one of the highest-scoring air combat units of World War II.
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The 56th flew P-47 Thunderbolts—built just yards away at Republic Aviation, right on the same grounds where the restaurant stood.
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This wasn’t a themed restaurant in name only; it had deep, local, and historic roots in American aviation.
The Pilot Who Made It All Happen
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The restaurant was part of Specialty Restaurants Corp., founded by David C. Tallichet Jr., a WWII B-17 bomber pilot who flew more than 20 missions over Europe.
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After the war, David Tallichet became one of the country’s foremost collectors and restorers of WWII warplanes.
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When he passed away in 2007, aviation experts called him the person most singularly responsible for preserving historic aircraft for future generations.
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His restaurants weren’t just businesses—they were tributes. The 56th Fighter Group in Farmingdale was part of a nationwide network that included the 100th Bomb Group in Cleveland and the 94th Aero Squadron in Miami.
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By 2012, the company was being run by his son, John D. Tallichet, who confirmed the Farmingdale location would close and expressed hope they could relocate nearby—though those plans never came to pass.
Dining in a WWII Command Post—Literally
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The building was designed to resemble a 1917 French-style Allied farmhouse headquarters.
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It was filled with authentic WWII memorabilia: helmets, maps, plaques, vintage aviation photos, and even salvaged aircraft parts.
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The location on the former Republic Aviation grounds made it more than thematic—it was historically resonant.
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Regulars included veterans, pilots, aviation buffs, and families celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and retirements.
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Sunday brunches, Big Band nights, and Happy Hours were staples of the restaurant’s reputation.
And Then There Was the Beer Cheese Soup
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For many locals, the beer cheese soup was the real star of the menu.
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To this day, social media threads light up with nostalgia and recipe requests for the rich, creamy dish that became its own form of comfort food legend.
Why It Closed in 2012
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By the summer of 2012, the restaurant had fallen into serious financial trouble.
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It officially closed on August 12, 2012, after:
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Accruing over $160,000 in unpaid PILOT (payments in lieu of taxes) fees to the Town of Babylon.
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Falling behind on $12,500 per month in rent to Republic Airport.
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There were once plans to move the restaurant next to the nearby American Airpower Museum, but the move never materialized.
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High taxes and the complexity of dealing with multiple agencies grounded the idea.
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“We love the area and hope to get re-established somewhere nearby,” said John D. Tallichet at the time. The restaurant never reopened.
📷 Ken Neubeck, Republic Airport Historical Society
Demolished in 2023—After a Decade of Silence
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Though the restaurant closed in 2012, the building stood abandoned for more than ten years.
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In August 2023, the New York State Department of Transportation ordered it demolished, citing safety concerns.
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The East Farmingdale Fire Department had evaluated the structure and deemed it unsafe.
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Demolition plans had quietly circulated since at least 2017, but it wasn’t until 2023 that work crews moved in.
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As of 2025, the future use of the site remains unconfirmed, though speculation includes additional airport parking or aircraft hangars.
What Happened to the Memorabilia
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Much of the memorabilia was removed and preserved after the 2012 closure.
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The Republic Airport Historical Society salvaged menus and photographs and is still working to identify individuals in old images to reconnect them with families.
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While the building is gone, its historical contents were not lost to time.
The Memories Live On
When the demolition news broke in 2023, nostalgic Long Islanders flocked to Facebook groups and comment threads to share their memories:
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“That’s where my parents celebrated their 40th anniversary.”
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“I proposed to my wife there.”
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“Nothing has ever topped their beer cheese soup.”
Even those who didn’t realize the building was still standing felt a wave of unexpected grief. The restaurant had quietly become a part of Long Island’s living history—an intersection of local pride, military heritage, and community celebration.
Over a decade after its last meal was served, and two years after the wrecking ball came through, the 56th Fighter Group still flies high in Long Island memory.
Not bad for a place that started as a tribute and became a legend.
📷 56th Fighter Group Restaurant Facebook pages.
