Since 2007, the Kar family has operated the Jamesport Manor Inn, a property and building with historic roots on the North Fork. The Second Empire Victorian mansion at 370 Manor Lane was the home of the Dimon’s — generations of family who carved an American legacy out of the land for 200 years. On March 11, the property and restaurant will reopen as The Dimon Estate and plans to weave the rich and layered stories of this Jamesport family into the space.
From humble beginnings as famers and Revolutionary War minutemen, the Dimon’s became merchant mariners and builders of the fastest American clipper ships in the China Tea Trade. The Smith & Dimon shipyard was a pioneer in the early steamship industry and by the mid-nineteenth century, the Dimon’s were the wealthiest family in Jamesport.
“There are incredibly interesting stories to tell, and we have the perfect venue to do so. The first structure built in the space where the Manor is today dates to 1750 and Dimon’s lived here from that moment until the 1930s. John F. Dimon who built the manor as it appears today was a merchant mariner, he had access to ports, teas, spices, and goods that were atypical of the period. While we are making the main floor dining more casual and contemporary, we want to weave bits of these stories into everything from the decor to the cuisine. At the same time, the menu will embrace local, sustainable, and seasonal flavors because farm-to-table is a way of life that has always characterized the North Fork,” said Chirs Kar, co-owner and executive chef.
The rebranding of the Dimon property as an estate speaks to a multi-year plan to revamp the grounds and gardens. The overall vision includes the building of a practical kitchen garden for culinary herbs, spices and hyperlocal ingredients, the inclusion of more native plantings and pocket meadows around the orchard as well as ornamental gardens that speak to the Dimon family’s ties to Hong Kong and Peru.
“The Dimon family has so much rich connections — to the history of the North Fork, the clipper ship era, nineteenth century Peru and even architecture of Second Empire France — as well as its own stories of scandal and tragedy. It is great to have their home come to life as a destination restaurant and venue,” said Richard Wines, the chair of Riverhead Town Landmarks Preservation Commission and a local historian.
In 2004, the Kar family undertook the restoration of the manor which had sat empty and neglected for a time. During the renovation, the oldest section of the house dating to 1750 was revealed. In 2005 as the restoration was nearing completion, a devastating fire incinerated the building with the exception of a few salvageable beams and roof tiles. The Kar family rebuilt the mansion, sticking closely to the original design. The few surviving pieces of the original building will be prominently featured in the upstairs dining lounge.
“Jamesport if s special place — I’ve been in business here for 37 years, since before Chris was born. There’s nothing better than having my son come on with fresh ideas and help me take it to a new level. Local history is important to hold on to with so much changing around here, we want to be a part of that,” said co-owner Matt Kar.