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Food Network Reality Show Stakes Out Peekskill Restaurant

PEEKSKILL, N.Y. -- The Division Street Grill in Peekskill recently received the reality TV show treatment.

Arne Paglia, owner of Division Street Grill, saw his restaurant featured on the Food Network show, "Restaurant Stakeout".

Arne Paglia, owner of Division Street Grill, saw his restaurant featured on the Food Network show, "Restaurant Stakeout".

Photo Credit: Sam Barron

The Peekskill restaurant, owned by Arne Paglia, was featured on the Food Network Show "Restaurant Stakeout."

On the show, Willie Degel, a New York City restaurateur and his team install hidden cameras at restaurants to diagnose what is wrong and turn things around.

"Division Street Disaster" aired in December. According to the Food Network synopsis: "Paglia calls in Degel as a last-ditch effort to save his struggling business. Paglia was once a hands-on owner, but has recently lost his passion for the business, and his staff is following his lead. If Degel is unable to reinvigorate this rundown staff and its disimpassioned owner, Paglia will have to close the doors of his restaurant."

While Paglia was limited in what he could say because of a confidentiality agreement he signed with the Food Network, he said it was an interesting experience.

"We got a kick out of it," Paglia said. "We don't think we were cast in a particularly bad light."

Paglia said it was helpful to have someone who knows the business help analyze what his restaurant needed to do to be successful.

"It's all about customer service," Paglia said. "It's always good to have another set of eyes. We've been here 15 years. It's about good food and understanding the hospitality industry."

Paglia said he enjoyed working with Degel and that the crew was very professional.

"Degel has a lot of energy," Pagla said. "We were having fun. He's a decent guy."

In his 15 years in Peekskill, Paglia has seen the Peekskill restaurant scene blossom. Peekskill is now host to restaurants like 12 Grapes, Hugo's, Quiet Man Public House, Birdsall and Peekskill Brewery.

Paglia said all these new restaurants are a positive.

"It's good to have a restaurant where there's a lot of concentration rather than being the little house on the prairie," Paglia said. "As long as your customer is happy when they leave your place."

Division Street Grill offers contemporary American and international food, with live music every Friday and Saturday night. The restaurant will be participating in Peekskill Restaurant Week, offering $15 lunches and $25 dinners.

"Division Street Disaster" is available on Amazon.com and Youtube.com

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