Ice cream, burgers and soon - movies at Amenia Four Brothers

AMENIA — For the past four years, John and Paul Stefanopoulos have watched as their brainchild, the Four Brothers Ice Cream Drive-In, has grown from a little operation to a summer business that’s now more than carrying its own weight.

Cousins John, 22, and Paul, 20, represent the second generation of the Greek Stefanopoulos family, who own and operate nine Four Brothers Pizza branches in the Tri-state area.

“The building was empty,� John explained, referring to the 11-foot by 14-foot shack that has since been transformed into this quite successful side business for Four Brothers, “and we wanted to do a business venture on our own.�

John and Paul, under the umbrella of the Four Brothers business, operate the drive-in as if it were a 10th branch. It’s a separate entity from the Amenia restaurant, despite being located 20 feet from the building and sharing outdoor seating.

The drive-in, as it’s called (although there aren’t carhops), has a separate menu from the Four Brothers restaurants, offering everything from freshly squeezed lemonade to several kinds of ice cream to salmon burgers, with plenty of other choices in between.

“There are a lot of Greek ingredients,� John explained, although, he added, “We’re trying to go off on some different paths.�

The seasonal business has attracted a wide variety of customers, including many who weren’t familiar with Four Brothers.

“We’ve had people that have asked if [the adjacent Amenia restaurant building] is a hotel or a retail space,� John said, laughing.

“Growth has been exponential,� Paul said. “Last year, some people from New York City said they’d taken the train up from the city just for our ice cream.�

The outdoor offerings will expand next summer, when the Stefanopouloses say they plan to install a drive-in movie theater in the lot behind the restaurant.

For now, the two cousins are busy trying out new ideas, bringing in new menu items and finding different ways to keep the operation fresh.

During the Amenia Firemen’s Parade last Friday, the business hosted live music (which the managers are trying to make a regular addition); and at the end of July there will be a foot-long hot-dog eating contest.

The Four Brothers Ice Cream Drive-In opened this year on the week before Memorial Day and will remain open until the weather becomes too wintry.  It is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and often later on weekends. Call 845-373-8178 for information and to make a request for a local delivery.