Gleason’s, a popular restaurant on 23 S. Division St., known for its flatbread pizzas and epicurean cocktails, will be closing its doors on Sunday, June 28, after more than 14 years serving the Peekskill community.
The announcement was made by Peekskill restaurateur John Sharp, who said he notified employees of the closing this past weekend and shared the following statement with the Peekskill Herald…
“To Our Friends, Neighbors, Staff, and Loyal Guests,
“After 14 incredible years, we have made the difficult decision to close Gleason’s, with our final day of service being June 28th.
“First and foremost, we want to thank you.
“What began as a small dream grew into something far greater than we could have ever imagined because of the people who walked through our doors. For fourteen years, you chose to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, first dates, promotions, family gatherings, and countless ordinary evenings with us. You made Gleason’s more than a restaurant — you made it a gathering place, a community, and a home.
“We have had the privilege of serving generations of families. We have watched children grow up and return as adults. We have celebrated milestones alongside you and shared in moments of joy, laughter, and connection that we will never forget.
“To every employee, past and present, thank you. Your hard work, dedication, and passion helped create the experience that our guests came to know and love. The relationships built within these walls have left a lasting impact on all of us.
“To the Peekskill community and everyone who supported us from near and far, thank you for embracing us and allowing us to be part of your lives. Your loyalty carried us through good times, challenging times, and everything in between.
“While it is difficult to say goodbye, we do so with immense gratitude and pride. Fourteen years is an achievement made possible only through the support of an incredible community, and for that we will always be thankful.
We invite you to join us during our final weeks as we celebrate the memories, friendships, and experiences that have made Gleason’s so special.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for allowing us to be part of your story.
“With gratitude,
The Gleason’s Team”
Gleason’s is co-owned by several partners, including John Sharp of Cortlandt and Tim Reinke of Beacon. Sharp and Reinke also co-own Birdsall House, of which Gleason’s was an offshoot.
Sharp declined to comment at this time on what led to the decision to close Gleason’s, but said he would be open to talk about it further sometime after the restaurant’s closure on June 28. Asked if efforts were being made to get employees hired at other restaurants, Sharp said, “Yes.”
“We had so many people come through the doors that we cherish and made lasting memories,” Sharp told the Herald in a phone call. “I feel confident that Gleason’s will be missed. For those that joined us many years ago, to people that are just discovering us, it’s not an easy decision, because, based on the climate as of now, it’s hard to remember all the great things right now when we’re going through such a hard time, but we’ve been here for lasting memories for a lot of people and we’ll always be proud of that.”
Gleason’s, formerly at 911 South St., had its grand opening on Aug. 31, 2012. The restaurant and bar was named in tribute to actor Jackie Gleason, who, according to The New York Times, in the late 1950s and early 1960s lived nearby in Cortlandt Manor, in a modern glass house shaped like a spaceship.
More than ten years after opening on South Street, the restaurant moved into a bigger space 240 feet away, the spot that was formerly Rocco’s, on South Division St. The South Street location sat 45 people, while the 5,000-square-foot South Division space seats 200. The upsizing also doubled the number of staff needed.
The new space reprised a performance stage that was a centerpiece of Rocco’s predecessor, the Hudson Room, serving as a platform for cover bands, comedy, musical theater and other entertainment. River Journal reported in September 2023 that Gleason’s owners painted every wall, changed all the décor and made a movie poster wall showcasing the mid-20th century era of Jackie Gleason.
The restaurant will be remembered for “taking pizza to another level,” as Sharp puts it, with dough being made from a Belgian beer yeast that the restaurant cultivated itself and kept alive for 14 years. While the menus changed over the years, Sharp said it was always based on creativity and craft. He added it was named best cocktail bar by Westchester Magazine for many years in a row .
Sharp said there will be a closing party on June 28.
“With this announcement, I’m hoping that it can be a long goodbye, and we can do a bunch of stuff and welcome everybody in to say goodbye, and get that last pizza, get that last cocktail, see that last band, all those kinds of things,” Sharp said.
