Eleazer’s in North Bellport is the epitome of a mom-and-pop business. When I pulled into the parking lot, Jerome Eleazer’s uncle was outside sweeping the sidewalk. His sister was carrying a huge bag of uncooked pasta inside to get the Rasta Pasta ready for the lunch rush. Kimberly Jimenez, a close friend of the family and owner of Sweet Moments Baking, was behind the counter cleaning and organizing. Mixed in with the ingredients of friendly chatter and laughter, it feels like home.
Eleazer’s, which was formerly Weaver’s Deli under different ownership, is a staple in the North Bellport community. Every customer who walked in was greeted by their first name and most of their orders were already known by the server without having to say a word. This is Bellport’s soul food spot.
But this atmosphere and business success hasn’t necessarily come easily for Jerome and wife Oneka Eleazer of Bellport. Jerome began cooking when he was still in elementary school. He started out making breakfast for his siblings on Saturday mornings. His family, specifically his grandmother who also worked at Weaver’s Deli for over thirty years, started encouraging him to continue cooking. Jerome said his now late grandmother was a tremendous inspiration to him pursuing the trade and passion, which is now a full-out family business.
Jerome decided to take a huge personal and financial leap in taking over Weaver’s and turning it into Eleazer’s back in 2020. Unknown to him he would have to navigate a global pandemic as a new business owner with everything on the line.
“I put a huge piece of my savings into giving the place a fresh start and a new image. Within just months of doing that we had to close our doors,” said Jerome.
During the height of the pandemic, he took a job during the week driving an eighteen-wheeler tractor-trailer across state lines. He did this to not only feed his family, but to also keep Eleazer’s open. On the weekends, he came to Eleazer’s to cook and serve food with social distancing practices in place.
“I would pull up to the building to a line of familiar faces waiting for plates of soul food. I knew then, that despite the challenges, this is where I was meant to be.”
As COVID restrictions loosened, he got back into the kitchen and behind the grill full-time. He, along with Kimberly Jimenez, also made it a point to start reaching out to the community they both grew up in. They began actively giving back, supporting local sports teams, and are very involved with the many events of Bellport’s fire departments.
“This community has really come out to support us through some trials and tribulations. They have and continue to keep us open. We are simply reciprocating the love,” said Jimenez. They plan to do the same in the Mastic Beach, Mastic, and Shirley community.
The trials and tribulations certainly didn’t end with COVID though. Last August, the Eleazer’s staff was headed out to cook at an anti-gun violence basketball tournament in Riverhead held by a family member of the Eleazer’s. Kim was driving the pickup truck full of cooking equipment and the company cash box on the Long Island Expressway. A car pulled next to her yelling frantically for her to pull over. As she did so and quickly exited the truck, it went up in flames. Everything in and on the pickup was lost to fire; the equipment and thousands of dollars in cash were burnt to mere ashes. This was obviously another major loss and setback for Eleazer’s.
“I’m so proud of my friend and everything he’s overcome in just four years to keep this business open,” Jimenez said fighting back tears. “It hasn’t been easy, it feels like one challenge after another, but here we are still standing. Our Eleazer’s family and customers have been so supportive.”
Not only are they standing but they are currently growing, so much so that Eleazer’s announced last week on social media that they will soon be moving to 630 Mastic Road in Mastic, Suite 5, the storefront formerly known as RG’s Wings. The storefront holds a larger kitchen and space which they plan on cultivating into an inviting dining area with televisions. Jerome expressed that he’s looking to gain space and new customers, while also hoping that his faithful customers will follow him there.
“We have our local Bellport everyday customers and those that drive all the way out from as far as Amityville for their plate of food. I’m hoping to continue seeing everyone as we relocate to Mastic.”
A big part of their business is also catering large events and supplying Superbowl parties with food. Last year, they cooked over five thousand wings for Superbowl night alone. Along with the usual fried chicken, fish, ribs, macaroni and cheese, collards, green beans, and rasta pasta, they have a deli section for sandwiches and, of course, New York City’s favorite, chopped cheese sandwich.
Jerome insisted on sending me home with a bag full of food to try and it didn’t disappoint at all.
“I love to see people enjoying my food, it brings me a happiness that’s hard to explain.
I hope you enjoy it and hope to see you in Mastic.”
