Coral House catering hall changes hands

After 35 years, ownership of the Coral House in Baldwin, a favored Nassau Republican gathering spot that has also had its spats with Hempstead Town over zoning issues, has changed hands.

Entrpreneur Butch Yamali, who earlier this year bought The Sands Club in Lido Beach and has renovated the nearby Malibu Club into a day camp, earlier this week purchased the Coral House from William Ferguson, owner of the event space.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"I'm there for 35 years," Ferguson said. "It was time to move on."

Yamali said all wedding and other contracts will be carried out. He said 300 to 400 events are currently booked, and the staff of 70 will be kept on. "I want to keep it pretty similar to what it is," said Yamali, who began his business career two decades ago selling ice cream from a truck in Nassau County. Some upgrading will be done, he added.

Nassau Republicans have had numerous events at the Coral House. Vice President Dan Quayle, a Republican, lunched there early in 1990.

Ferguson said the zoning issues have been resolved.