Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Sabatiello's is Closed: What Should Replace It?

I heard from Streets of Stamford that Sabatiello's looked closed, and an article in the Stamford Advocate today confirms that and adds some juicy details, like that the rent of the property is $100,000 a year. Someone commented that a Sabatiello's Pizza just opened in Riverside, and Lunch Break Chronicles has the photo that confirms it. On Kitchen Nightmares, Sammy said he was a million dollars in debt. I wonder how he got the money to open the new pizza place so quickly. So, who's going to be the first to try the pizza?

Back in Stamford, looking forward, the bigger question is: what do we need next in Sabatiello's old spot?

One commmenter on the Advocate Topix site mentioned a sports bar. I sort of agree, because I don't find Bradford's, a few doors down, very cozy. But we already have Bobby V's, a classic sports bar, and Black Bear, both a few blocks away on Columbus Park and both with great booths.

Maybe Mexican? Even with yummy Spanish tapas resto Barcelona coming to Summer St., we could still use an affordable (but nice!) Mexican place in Stamford. Ole Mole on High Ridge is too tiny to eat in comfortably, plus, I'm not wild for their food. Boxcar Cantina in Greenwich is a hike, and the tacos are like 16 dollars. That's insane. I can't picture a Mexican place in the old Sabatiello's spot, though. A Mexican eatery in the upstairs of a tremendously expensive property?

Dunn's Loft, with its great steak and fun pool table, couldn't survive the high rents on Summer, so I even doubt a nice steak place would work in that building.

What kind of place could survive in that spot? I'm at a loss, but I'm pretty eager to see what comes in there.

I'm also super-eager for Barcelona to open, because while their food has struck me as odd both times I've eaten there, the sangria is magnifico!

30 comments:

Melina said...

its probably gonna be another starbucks...;-0

Anonymous said...

A comment from the Streets of Stamford blog suggested it was being filled by a Spanish restaurant. See http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/577491#4221830

Unknown said...

I personally think that no restaurant will work at this time, too much competition, too much money to upgrade the restaurant equipment and not a good spot. I do not think there is enough room for what might work, another night club. Yes I said that. When I was involved at Twenty, that was a primary emphasis with the Greeks pushing the food program to barely edible. It is a stunning success, making more than it ever did as a restaurant. So a Starbuck, DD are all I see in the future.

Anonymous said...

Brazilian would be nice. I would also be happy with a good old fashioned steak and seafood place.

Anonymous said...

Need a good bakery + desert place..

Streets of Stamford said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Streets of Stamford said...

A Brazilian churrascaria place would ROCK!! I also agree about a good bakery/dessert place...maybe even a nice independent coffee shop like Caffeine in SoNo. I can see it now...downstairs is your typical coffee joint while upstairs is a quiet lounge where they hold poetry readings, open mic nights, etc.

All that said, $100K a month is ridiculous, so who the hell can afford to take over the space? Another freakin' CVS or bank branch??

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure what the going rate for restaurants is, but $100k/yr for that space seems reasonable enough. My vote is for Mexican, a sports bar, or a wing place. Either Archie Moore's or Hooters would be fine with me.

Unknown said...

100 K a year???? I doubt it would be so little and the start-up costs will be prohibitive. try 300 to 500 K, trust me on this one - not another restaurant.
But I would like to see a Brazilian place somewhere in Stamford!

Anonymous said...

A really good Mexican place would be great. No need for Spanish since Barcelona will be here soon. But it would be great to have a good, solid Mexican place in Stamford.

I have to confess, I'm not usually ever a fan of chain restaurants, but I really wish we had a Chili's somewhere in southern FC. I love that joint. :-) But the Sabatiello's space would be too small, and I don't think that corner is the best location.

God, no need for another damn Starbucks in Stamford, please. And I think a coffee/poetry kinda joint wouldn't generate the kind of revenue they'd need to pay that rent.

Seriously, though, Bedford street is getting killed by out-of-control rents. All the nice little joints on the west side of Bedford are gone now because the Lodatos demand such ridiculously high rents. Somebody needs to pressure them to get tenants in there. It's ruining the street.

Strictly Stamford said...

Sorry, but I'll be another dissenter. I don't think Stamford needs anymore restaurants. It would be nice if the area could be more eclectic and more shopper friendly. This is cause I do not like the mall here.

Anonymous said...

Morrocan, Thai, Etherlopian, so many choices....

But please,not another bad pub grub place. None of them have good food, we dont need one more.

Chris Preovolos said...

When are we getting a real coffee shop/cafe/roaster?

gms said...

Nice space, and $100k per annum seems pretty reasonable for what it is.

Ixnay on the ooterhay suggestion, though, please.

When you figure that total monthly expenses would be something like $60k, probably the only thing that could make it fly is some cheesy formula place like that, or a TGIF, god forbid.

Anonymous said...

I think I read somewhere that Barcelona may be delayed in Stamford, if not cancelled? Darn, I wish I had saved the link.

I'd LOVE a good churrascaria place.

If not, even though it probably wouldn't make any money how about if Blue Note were to open a branch there? Wasn't jazz played at that location occasionally before it was Sabatiello's?

Or, if they could expand just a little, a nice divey bar with a stage like Toad's in New Haven. Not so much for the bar but I'd love a venue that would fit a couple hundred people in Stamford that could attract name bands.

Streets of Stamford said...

OK, my revised top choices are:
Churrascaria
Hip coffee joint
Something exotic, which this town sorely needs, e.g.: Moroccan, Ethiopian, Turkish!

Anonymous said...

I would rather see a bakery with the retail part downstairs and a tea/coffee house upstairs where you can get to taste what they sell on the retail level. Something along the lines of blues/comedy club might be interesting also.

If it has to be yet another restaurant though, they need to rethink the whole cold-air-coming-in-when-the-door-opens issue. The downstairs could be the bar area (where the bar patrons would not necessarily mind the cold after a few drinks)and have dining in the warm and cozy upstairs.

Anonymous said...

Bakery + Deserts + Tea House - Competion + Foot Traffic = Success.

Anonymous said...

My vote is for a bakery/cafe.

Also I just tried Houlihan's - which FINALLY is open. Great burger and drinks. I'll be back.

Is Barcelona going to open? I hope so, as I am craving some tapas.

Julie said...

My vote (and Kevin's) is churrascuria....YUM. A la Midwest Grille in Cambridge - that is our favorite and there are already two locations I think.

Manager Mom said...

We desperately need a good Vietnamese place.

Anonymous said...

I really don't think another restaurant will work...especially in this economy. The Houlihan's just opened underneath Target and that's going to really draw a lot of crowds. What Stamford really needs are some cute boutique stores to draw some foot traffic downtown. I hate the mall!

Anonymous said...

something barbecue...or a southern food place.
even a wine bar that sells a few tapas items?

Anonymous said...

Oh, sweet heavens. If the Houlihans really draws big crowds over some of the good independent restaurants in Stamford, I will have to think about moving.

Anonymous said...

Totally agree on Stamford needing a real independent coffee shop, an actual roaster. I am shocked how barren the independent coffee shop business is in FC. Non-existent.

that being said, downtown does need real shops, not empty storefronts. even when the economy was good there were many empty shops.

Anonymous said...

ooo..ok...indie coffee shop with roasting done on premises + bakery + teahouse + upstairs pour machine wine bar..one of those automatic ones..they're great

Anonymous said...

with tapas upstairs and deserts downstairs..heaven

Anonymous said...

How about a REALLY big burger shakes and fries.

Anonymous said...

How about a downtown Sierra Grill?!

Anonymous said...

A sierra grill would be nice - a place where we can sit outside and have a beer or affordable wine and a little snack while watching folks walk around - - a Friendlys with a liquor license would be fine