Harendra Singh’s former Bethpage restaurant, H.R. Singletons, has basement fire, official says

H.R. Singletons in Bethpage on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. A small fire Monday night did minor damage, and the restaurant expects to reopen this week. Credit: Barry Sloan
A small fire in the basement of H.R. Singletons restaurant in Bethpage was extinguished Monday afternoon without causing structural damage or injuries, according to the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s office.
James Hickman, a division supervisor at the Fire Marshal’s office, said the fire, which involved some greasy rags in the basement, was accidental and was “mostly extinguished by the time the fire department got there.”
The Bethpage fire department responded to the call at 4:20 p.m. Monday, Hickman said. The restaurant was ordered to address some “housekeeping issues” but they would not prevent them from reopening, Hickman said.
The restaurant was the flagship of indicted restaurateur Harendra Singh, but ownership was recently taken over by his mother, Rajeshwari Singh, according to the restaurant manager, who gave his name as Frank.
He said a new company called Bethpage Bistro & Catering, LLC has taken over ownership of the restaurant. State records show the company was registered at the restaurant’s address on Jan. 8. The property has long been owned by Harendra Singh’s parents.
The restaurant is expected to reopen Tuesday night or Wednesday, the manager said.
Harendra Singh is awaiting trial on 13 federal charges that include bribing an Oyster Bay official in order to obtain $20 million loan guarantees.

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