Support East Coast Street Tacos on Long Island

Nassau County, NY – Feb 3, 2025 – A series of thefts involving equipment initially purchased by a Long Island taco business has led to a formal investigation, as nearly $100,000 worth of stolen restaurant equipment was discovered at a new business venture linked to the former tenant of the location. This comes at a time when East Coast Street Tacos has also been battling persistent delays in securing necessary permits, stalling its progress for nearly two years.

John Martini, Ruben Angarita, and Ivan Vichinsky, owners of East Coast Street Tacos, began leasing space at 347 Old Country Road in November 2022. During an initial site visit, Martini met with Auction Factory East Coast, who had been granted power of attorney to repossess equipment from Mohammed Assaedi, the former tenant of Tony Luke’s Long Island. Assaedi had forfeited the equipment to the bank and subsequently auctioned it off to Martini.

By December 2022, East Coast Street Tacos repurchased and retrieved the equipment from Auction Factory, which was then delivered back to the taco business in Carle Place. By February 2023, Auction Factory East Coast confirmed the equipment was securely returned to East Coast Street Tacos.

However, while the taco business faced an uphill battle with the building department of North Hempstead, which failed to issue the required permits for operations, suspicions about the equipment’s whereabouts grew. Despite waiting nearly two years, East Coast Street Tacos had yet to receive the necessary approval to open their business, and delays from the town’s building department only added to the financial and emotional strain.

Then, in the summer of 2024, Martini noticed a surge in utility usage at the 347 Old Country Road location, raising suspicions that something was amiss. On August 23rd, 2024, the owners of East Coast Street Tacos arrived at the premises to find the store locked, with no signs of forced entry. Upon entry, they discovered that almost all of the equipment—cooking tools, refrigeration, tables, shelves, cameras, and networking devices—were missing. They compiled a list of stolen items, including serial numbers for future reference.

The investigation then took an unexpected turn. On August 24th, Nassau County Detectives contacted Assaedi, who claimed that he had not been at the property in years and had no interest in the food business. However, an East Coast Street Tacos contractor informed the team that Assaedi had recently contacted his company about installing a hood and Ansul system for a fryer and grill that matched the description of the stolen items.

Assaedi, after being contacted by detectives, did not respond to the contractor regarding the installation. This led Martini to delve further into Assaedi’s activities, which revealed even more concerning information. In December 2024, Martini discovered Assaedi’s LinkedIn profile, which showed that he was opening a new business called Posh Deli in Wantagh. Research confirmed the location, and on December 19th, Martini visited the site, spotting a Kia Optima with Pennsylvania tags registered to Assaedi.

On January 28th, 2025, Martini returned to Posh Deli and found the door open and two construction workers inside. Upon investigation, he discovered equipment that matched the stolen goods from his taco business. He documented the serial numbers, taking photographs for evidence.

This discovery has prompted further investigation by the Nassau County Police Department. On February 3, 2025, Nassau County Police executed a search warrant for 3266 Merrick Rd. Wantagh NY. After confirming the matching serial numbers, police placed Assaedi under arrest. While charges are still pending, authorities are hopeful that more evidence will surface from camera footage.

East Coast Street Taco’s persistence in tracking the stolen items has proven critical, but the case also underscores the frustrating delays they faced in attempting to operate their business. Despite securing the right property and equipment, East Coast Street Tacos has been unable to open its doors due to bureaucratic setbacks, leaving Martini and his team in limbo for nearly two years.

As the investigation unfolds, authorities urge anyone with additional information to come forward. Meanwhile, Martini’s case highlights the challenges that small businesses face in not only navigating local government processes but also securing and protecting their assets.

The East Coast Street Tacos team remains hopeful that the stolen equipment will be returned to its rightful place and that they can finally open East Coast Street Tacos to the public—after nearly two years of waiting.