Greater Long Island: Wild Fork Foods opens in Lake Grove

Grill lovers are sure to be fired up with the news that Wild Fork Foods has at last opened its first Long Island store.

Just in time for a long July 4 weekend, the specialty meat and seafood butcher shop chain swung open the doors at its Lake Grove location. Customers flooded into the 4,500-square-foot store in Smith Haven Plaza, 2075 Moriches Road.

Founded about five years ago, Wild Fork counts 40-plus locations in the United States, including stores in Florida, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, California, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The company specializes in frozen meat and seafood staples, as well as exotic meats, fruits, vegetables and prepared foods.

Wild Fork’s 450-plus meat and seafood items include the likes of ground elk and kangaroo, ostrich fillets, alligator tenderloins and bison hot dogs, in addition to a wide array of more traditional American diet meat varieties. For its big grand opening event last weekend, the Lake Grove location teamed with chef Melech Castillo.

More Long Island Wild Fork locations are in the works. The chain has leased space from Breslin Realty in shopping centers in Plainview and West Hempstead.

The retailer sources meat and seafood from farms across the country, blast freezing the items to maintain freshness. Online ordering for delivery or pickup is available.