Hildebrandt's ice cream shop seeks landmark status to stay open

The Acosta family have taken to social media asking for help to contact Town Hall and demand that "Our Hildebrandt's" be named a historic site.

News 12 Staff

Feb 4, 2022, 9:26 PM

Updated 973 days ago

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Hildebrandt's has been a part of Williston Park for nearly 100 years, but it now needs the community's help to stay open.
Those associated with the ice cream shop says the new landlord who bought the building wants around $6,700 a month, which is too much for the small business to pay.
"What we're trying to do is at least make this place a landmark so no matter who owns it or what happens, it'll always be Hildebrandt's for generations to come," says Hunter Acosta.
Acosta's family has owned Hildebrandt's for 48 years.
He says the new landlord plans to gut their business and turn it into a coffee or ice cream shop with a new look and a different name.
They have taken to social media asking for help to contact Town Hall and demand that "Our Hildebrandt's" be named a historic site.
Hundreds of postings have been put up in support of saving Hildebrandt's.
"It would be like taking the Empire State Building out of New York City if you let Hildebrandt's go," Glen Head resident John Henry says.
If Hildebrandt's achieves landmark status with the National Register of Historic Places, the business's facade and name would be preserved.
Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar says a public hearing has to take place before the board decides on landmark status.
"I can't take a public stance on this matter because it's going to a hearing" Ehrbar says.
Acosta says he is grateful for the outpouring of public support and hopes it means that the Hildebrandt's name could stay.
"It's very meaningful to us. For it to close would be really heartbreaking, so we don't really want to see that happen," Acosta says.
see that happen," Acosta says.