My Cousin's, the Mahopac restaurant that owner David Gallo opened in 2021 as a tribute to his late cousin, will close at the end of June after five years in business. The Route 6 spot built a loyal following for its elevated American plates and welcoming dining room, and Gallo called the decision to shut down a difficult one as he thanked the community in a farewell message.
Gallo broke the news in a social media post, writing that "after five incredible years, My Cousin's will be closing its doors at the end of June," according to WhatNow. In that message, he urged regulars to stop in over the next two months and to bring "friends or cousins" for dinner, brunch, or cocktails. WhatNow notes that Gallo has called opening the restaurant "the best thing I have ever done" and described serving Mahopac as "an absolute honor."
Owner's Tribute and Origins
Gallo launched My Cousin's in 2021 as a personal project dedicated to Jason G. Shenkman, known as Jay, and he shaped the restaurant around the hospitable spirit his cousin was known for at work and in life, according to My Cousin's. The site describes the concept as a place to "fill your stomach and raise your spirits," reflecting Jay's approach to hospitality that became central to the restaurant's identity from opening night.
The Story Behind the Name
Shenkman died in a 2017 single-car crash on the Taconic State Parkway, and he was remembered as a popular bartender at The Chophouse on Route 6, according to Patch, which reported that he was 32 and was pronounced dead after being transported to a hospital. That loss helped prompt Gallo to turn a family memory into a neighborhood restaurant.
Gallo's hospitality background includes helping open The Chophouse Grille in Mahopac in 2012 and later working front of house at Del Posto in Manhattan, experience that the restaurant's site credits with shaping its service and menus. Those restaurant and fine-dining influences showed up on the menu and in weekend crowds, and the My Cousin's website highlights that blend of polish and approachability as a guiding principle.
Locals responded. Review listings and diners' comments feature strong four and five star write-ups praising the food, cocktails, and service, underscoring the place the restaurant carved out in Putnam County's dining scene. TripAdvisor's Mahopac listing includes several recent positive reviews that point to a steady base of regulars and solid weekend business. For many in the area, the closure announcement landed as a surprise and prompted a wave of thank yous and regrets online.
Gallo has asked customers to use any outstanding gift cards and to stop in before the final service, and WhatNow reports that the final dinner is slated for the end of June. The owner did not share lease or staffing details in the public post. My Cousin's will serve through May and June, giving locals a short window to raise one more glass before the lights go out.
