Born & Built in Merrick
Reimagining a Long Island icon, one cup at a time
Born & Built in Merrick
Growing up on the South Shore, our family's daily drive to Garden City for work in our four-generation manufacturing business almost always began the same way: a quick stop at the Dairy Barn on Merrick Road.
It wasn't only about milk or eggs. It was about familiarity, community, and seeing the same faces behind the counter. A simple routine that quietly became part of our everyday life.
As the years went by, those morning stops turned into passing by a vacant dairy barn.
After retiring from our family business, Robert and Christine Abatemarco saw something special in that same building: the charm of a historic Long Island landmark, paired with the opportunity to create something new.
Reimagining a Long Island Icon
What began as the Dairy Barn is now Coffee Barn—the first former Dairy Barn on Long Island to be reimagined into a specialty coffee destination.
Our goal was simple:
To honor what made the original Dairy Barn so loved, while building a new kind of experience for today.
Coffee now takes center stage, alongside ice cream, sodas, milkshakes, and fresh baked goods—blending modern flavors with the old-school familiarity people remember, without losing the grab-and-go convenience that made the Dairy Barn a staple.
Rooted in Local
We work closely with local businesses and bakers to bring together the best of Long Island in one place, including:
For Five Coffee Roasters
Uncle Joey's Famous Rainbow Cookies
Sweet & Salty Ride Bakery
Schmackary's Long Island
Dolce Bella
Jericho Cider Mill
And more local partners we're proud to support
Built the Hard Way
From day one, our family took a leap—purchasing two locations at once. High costs and a broken model forced us to let go of one, but we never stopped believing in the rebrand vision. Giving up was never an option.
In February 2025, a single social media video of our s'mores latte unexpectedly went viral, bringing renewed attention to our historic drive-thru. What followed were seasonal menu launches, long lines, and visitors from all over Long Island—and even from other states and countries—something we never could have imagined when we first started.
And we didn't do it alone. We were proud to welcome back original Barn team members, including longtime general manager Mike Silverman, who helped shape the Merrick location into what it is today. Original Dairy Barn employee Kevin Lavender, along with other former Barn employees who have become baristas, helps make this flagship location so special.
We are endlessly grateful for the overwhelming love and support from the Long Island community and from everyone who has believed in us since day one. To our customers, our staff, and everyone who has supported this journey—thank you. We look forward to serving you at our Merrick flagship for many years to come.
We are also excited to be expanding to Albertson, NY to serve the North Shore of Nassau County.
Experience the Difference
Visit us in Merrick or Albertson and taste what makes Coffee Barn special
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