undefined

Cartoon Universe, Dongan Hills

Cartoon Universe was a kid-friendly, animated and toon-themed restaurant in the middle of Dongan Hills on Hylan Boulevard. However, it came and went quickly, opening in 1999 and closing just two years later. As part of this Throwback Thursday, we're digging into the archives to check out this long-gone eatery.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Ownership's high hopes

February 2, 1999: Christopher Merz and Ray V. Noble, Cartoon Universe's co-owners, are photographed outside the former restaurant site, seen here under construction. The duo had lofty expectations, telling the Advance in 1999 they hoped this theme restaurant is only the first in a line of many. "The idea is to see how well this does before we move on," Noble said. They venue cost $3 million to construct, according to our archives.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Restaurant or fun house?

Cartoon Universe, formerly located at 1540 Hylan Blvd. in Dongan Hills, was in business from 1999 to 2001. The cartoon-themed restaurant catered to youngsters, served a variety of food ranging from Chinese and Tex-Mex, to traditional American and Italian.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

The big green head of Hylan

Ron Malanga of RGM Signs, pictured here in 1999, holds a giant cartoon head in place over the doors to the new Cartoon Universe restaurant in Dongan Hills. Lester the Dragon, designed by Eric Iovino of Great Kills, served as the entrance to the restaurant, according to Advance archives.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Animated on the inside

The themed eatery on Hylan Boulevard featured a number of elements -- muraled walls, costumed characters and an eclectic menu -- all designed to appeal to the 10-and-under set.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Long lines at grand opening

September 1999: Jacqueline Medina, 5, of Grasmere, Angelique Gomez, 7, of Midland Beach, Jessica Battaglia, 5, of Midland Beach, and Samantha Farrell, 5, of Midland Beach wait on line to get their face painted during Cartoon Universe grand opening celebrations. The restaurant gave customers a heads up regarding wait times. As the Advance wrote in December that year, "The menu urged us to 'Stay tooned,' promising that 'You will dine in a delightful atmosphere while you are entertained by the magical world we've created for you.'"

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Many rooms, many options

The venue also included different themed rooms, such as The Dyno Den, a cartoon gag room called Animation Alley, an open bar and food area called Cosmic Corner, and the Acma Game Room, an arcade for children.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Acme Warehouse

This themed room went heavy on the cartoon animations: The area was full of cartoon gags, complete with fake Acme arms hanging from the ceiling, an anvil, and weights attached to big arm being dropped from the sky.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Universe implodes in less than two years

Pictured here in 2001, workers remove goods from the venue. They were purchased in an auction. The site never lived up to the hype and closed in under two years. An Advance review of the food months after it opened hinted that the the key draw (dining) was not impressive: "... while youngsters may enjoy visiting this rather unusual restaurant, it's not something that adults are going to find habit-forming."

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

That's all, folks!

Workers dismantle the interior of Cartoon Universe, a Dongan Hills venue that lasted less than two years.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Recalling the end

In August 2001, the Advance wrote about Cartoon Universe's demise: "The dinosaur's head was carried out a side door, not through the main entrance, which is an 18-foot-wide dragon's mouth. The ray gun was carefully taken down from the ceiling and the mechanical hammer, which pounded an always-red sore thumb, was cut down and handed over to a new owner."

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Bye, dinosaur :(

The workers part of the auction also commented on the restaurant's unusual design and props: "... it's not like a restaurant auction where five people might need a bar sink and 10 people need seating,' he said. 'How many people really need a dinosaur?'"

The dinosaur was headed to an amusement center known as Black Beard's Cave in Bayville, N.J., the paper wrote in 2001.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

The Ale House

The Staten Island Ale House opened in Cartoon Universe's place, but that didn't last long, either. It closed after about a year, but for reasons much different than the ones that plagued the previous eatery.

Don't Edit

Staten Island Advance

Closed due to many violations

The Staten Island Ale House shut its doors for good in February 2003, just over a year after it opened for business, and a week before a judge was to determine if the Dongan Hills bar and restaurant should be padlocked because of multiple violations.

Fifty employees were put out of work.

When the Ale House opened in November 2001, neighborhood residents have been calling for its shutdown, citing allegations of underage drinking and disorderly conduct by patrons.

Don't Edit

Google maps image

And now it's a bank

Today, the former Cartoon Universe site is now a TD Bank. It previously operated as Commerce Bank prior to TD Bank Group's acquisition of Commerce in 2008.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Why Cartoon Universe? Who cares?

Cartoon Universe popped up on our radar after we recently browsed the Staten Island subreddit. Thank you for bringing up the restaurant that briefly caught everyones' attention on Hylan Boulevard.

Recall a venue that's been gone for at least 10 or 15 years that other Staten Islanders would love to revisit or learn about? Tell us below.