Dairy Barns are quickly disappearing from the Long Island landscape, and the reasons for the loss are not completely clear. There are now only twelve left, and in all likelihood those will be gone within a year as well. Employees are losing their jobs, stores are being sold off, and Long Island is losing a tradition.
Most of what I know is from John Abbate’s blog post of about a year ago in which he gives some explanation, but it does not seem complete. Abbate interviews a former Dairy Barn executive who attributed the downturn on such factors as the growth of Walmarts, the recent recession, and the fact that gas stations now sell groceries. It all makes for a lot to contend with, but as for an explanation of why Dairy Barns are being sold off, I am not sure it completely explains it. Many of these same conditions have existed for some time. I posted a response to Abbate to try to get more information a few days ago, but I have not heard back.
The Oak Tree Dairy is the parent company of Dairy Barn located in Elwood, Long Island. It was the Oak Tree Dairy that, under the leadership of Deiter Cosman, launched the Dairy Barn stores in 1961. Today Oak Tree Dairy is in talks with The Engel Burman Group to sell its Elwood location to be converted to an age-restricted condominium community. Relations between the dairy and the surrounding community aren’t all milk and cookies. There is no mention of Oak Tree in Abbate’s post. Oak Tree is now threatening to increase production in its facility if it is not sold. This appears to be a tactic to irritate neighbors and make them more amenable to the sale of the property.
We are now seeing a continuous turnover of Dairy Barn Stores to a new chain, simply called The Barn. While Abbatte does talk about these new “Barn” stores, he implies that The Barn bought the Dairy Barn franchise in 2010, but did not acquire the naming rights to Dairy Barn. Is this possible? Can you buy a store but not get the right to use its name?
The Barn is a non-union shop, while Dairy Barns are union. Presumably, employees of The Barn are getting paid less and have less benefits than the disappearing Dairy Barn staff. Two of the still-standing Dairy Barns can trace their existence back to the original early 1960’s locations, the South Farmingdale and Melville stores. Consider this is a photographers alert to anyone who wants a photo of an original still standing Dairy Barn; this is probably your last chance to get a shot.
The Dairy Barn demise is a relatively recent development. In 2005, The New York Times was praising the Dairy Barn success story and quoted CFO Charlene Cosman (who I am only guessing is the daughter of founder Deiter Cosman’s) as saying, “We’re the ultimate definition of a convenience store.” There were 51 Dairy Barns at the time of the story, in 2010 there were still 44.
Only on Long Island is a procedure usually reserved for banking and car washes also provided for groceries. Deanna Verbouwents writes in her blog, “The thought of going into a supermarket with two children is so overwhelming, and time-consuming, the mere thought of going into a supermarket makes me cry. But wait, there’s Dairy Barn!” She is expressing a thought many islanders share. The tradition may continue on the island, but not for much longer at Dairy Barn locations. For reasons that have not been completely made clear to us, the stores we have become accustomed to driving through for emergency sustenance will no longer be quite the same.
kimmi lee
/ March 12, 2013hi todd—
isn’t there a dairy barn at hillside avenue @ new hyde park road???
Liz
/ September 29, 2014Well there was until it closed this weekend. Sooo sad! I don’t get it :(
Russell Martilla
/ March 13, 2013There is still a Dairy Barn on rte 110 in Melville… Still looks authentic…
John Palazzolo
/ August 6, 2016Its being rebuilt now.
Joe Schramm
/ April 1, 2013When you referred to the acquisition of the Dairy Barn chain and the need to re-name it as The Barn, you raised the question of whether someone might buy a company but not be able to retain its name. That can happen and in fact, one of the most notable of these is AT&T, the former long-distance telephony company that had acquired the cable TV company called TCI. The entire enterprise basically evaporated. Southwestern Bell acquired the brand, but could not continue to use the name in its original capitalized setting. Subtle? YES. Similar to Dairy Barn becoming The Barn? YES. It happens a lot more often than we think.
latterlifemidwife
/ April 1, 2013I have fond memories of the Bethpage Dairy Barn during the 1970’s when I was having my three babies. It was a parents’ dream. Moving to Delaware in 1980 meant dragging sleeping toddlers out of their car seats and into grocery stores, or just waiting for nighttime to get milk, bread, and eggs, etc. Sorry to hear they’re disappearing.
Barney
/ June 7, 2013It’s the unions that made it hard for Dairy Barn to compete and expand. Dairy Barns should have caught on throughout the country at some point.
Former AM Store Manager
/ September 24, 2013It was my understanding by my Supervisors, Dairy Barn was always for Sale. The descendant’s of the Founder wanted out, this was in the Early 90’s as it was conveyed to me. Their wish was to see the whole kit and caboodle, Dairy, Wholesale Operation, Trucking, and Retail Store Chain as one package to another Company. Obvious it didn’t work out that way.
Former employee
/ December 17, 2014I worked there for about 5 years starting in 06. Moved up quickly, filling in for supervisors. Was a great job, damn shame the family sold us out. I used to blame the union, but looking back reading all these articles it is clear the family had no interest in it anymore. I’m glad they didn’t get their real estate deal. So sad for the people who had made a career out of it and then had nothing.
peggy
/ October 2, 2020hi is the one in patchogue – rte 112 ? for sale or tent?
peggy
/ October 2, 2020hi is the one in patchogue – rte 112 ? for sale or tent?
no i first wrote this – no dupmicate
Roberto
/ March 15, 2021Does anyone know who purchased the and The Barn?
Roberto
/ March 15, 2021That did not grammatically go well. What i meant to ask is “does anyone know who it was that purchased many go the Dairy Barns (which later re-branded to The Barn).
Barbara
/ March 19, 2021Can you walk up to the store ? Live just around the corner !