Our Story

Step Back in Time for a Great Experience in this 140 Year Old Historic Hotel with Original Wainscot Interior.

Ricks Club American was originally built in the late 1800’s by a group of German immigrants and was called The Paradise Inn. It served as a summer resort and fishing retreat. The hotel rented boats and sold bait for fishing across the street at Congers Lake, then famous for largemouth bass.

When Freddie Caramatti bought the hotel in 1948 it became The Congers Hotel. In 1958, when the New City Reservoir was being built, the hotel housed sixty Native American Cherokee workers primarily from Georgia. It was said at the time more spirits were sold in the hotel tavern than anywhere else in Rockland County.

The Colett family bought the hotel in 1980. Extensive renovations took over one year including sandblasting the wainscot walls to remove the 10 plus coats of paint, leaving the beautiful yellow pine you see today. The back bar was painted brown including the mirrors! Amazingly it was a free promotional piece from the once Rupperts Beer Company. The front-bar is from the Old Homestead Restaurant in N.Y.C. Surviving a fire there, it was stripped, sanded and bleached to its present condition.

Ricks Club American, named from the movie Casablanca, opened to the public in 1981 looking much as it does today. In 1986 a portion of the restaurant was lost to a fire and the smaller back room was added in 1987. The Jungle Room and new entrance were added in 1993. A great deal of attention was devoted to maintaining the same feel that exists in the main room, going so far as to custom mill, from oak the original wainscot.

In early 2020, after 40 years of owning Ricks, the Colett family sold the restaurant to three long time customers.  Nick Rosa, Peter Ianniello and Anthony Ferrante are proud to be part of the long time history of the local staple in Congers.  It is our intention to maintain the charm and atmosphere that Rick’s is known for, while enhancing customer service and providing all Rick’s favorite entrees and offering some new exciting options.

We always saw Ricks as our local “Cheers” and want you to enjoy Ricks as much as we do, so eat and be filled with the rich history and fine food of this special restaurant.

We look forward to seeing you soon,

Nick, Peter and Anthony