Twin brothers Frank and Teddy Harpolis, and their childhood friend, Dane DeSantis, are trying to create a nightlife in Marlboro with the opening of Brix Gastropub in October.

The three men met in first grade in their hometown of Marlboro, and have grown up together, eventually working in a restaurant together at the age of 14. All three started as dishwashers and now, only 12 years later, they are opening up their first restaurant together. In those 12 years they’ve branched out to different restaurants and have all taken on different jobs.

DeSantis has worked in different restaurants as a bartender and manager. Frank and Teddy have grown up in the restaurant business, with their parents owning different restaurants and diners. Frank worked as a dishwasher, busser, host, waiter, and manager before buying and opening his first bar at the age of 21. Now, he and Teddy have owned the Valley Diner in Marlboro for over four years.

The three made the decision to open a gastropub together based on their previous relationship working together, and the need for one in Marlboro.

“We’ve known each other for a very long time, and we actually were roommates for a couple years,” DeSantis said. “There’s just good trust between us.”

There’s also the benefit of everyone filling a different role in the restaurant world, Frank said. DeSantis has the most experience with drinks and bartending, Frank with managing, and Teddy with the food.

Every day of the week the restaurant will be open until midnight, with the possibility of staying open later on the weekends if there is live music playing. The trio feels the need for a late-night bar and restaurant in Marlboro, and hope that they can have offerings that will attract people from neighboring towns.

“There aren’t a lot of bars, and more-so they don’t really stay open past 10:30,” Frank said.

When it comes to the food, the vision is an American, Spanish, Asian fusion. There will be some staple American food options, like burgers and sandwiches, while other cuisines litter the menu with poke bowls, spring rolls, tortas, and poblanos.

As for the drinks, all of the bartenders hired have a lot of experience in creating their own speciality cocktails, which will come in handy for daily specials. The staple drink menu has specialty cocktails along with some frozen cocktails, which DeSantis says he doesn’t see enough of around town.

The restaurant has two floors to it, the first floor being the bar and main dining area, with the second floor having different sized rooms. The different rooms up top will be used for a secondary dining area, private parties, and meetings.

“We completely did a total makeover of the space, cosmetically speaking,” DeSantis said. “We designed everything ourselves, we put up new brick wall, changed the bar top, and added over 20 seats downstairs.”

The modern and rustic feel of the restaurant will help patrons feel more comfortable in the space, and the change of cuisine from nearby restaurants will draw people in, they said.

“We’re a completely different vibe,” DeSantis said. “We’ll be offering a little bit more of a casual atmosphere where you can come out and have cocktails and mingle with people and have good conversation.”

Brix Gastropub is located at at 1 King Street in Marlboro. Hours are: Monday – Friday, 3 p.m. – midnight, Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m. – midnight. Call (845) 236-9981 for reservations.