Castello’s to focus on steaks at second Danbury restaurant
Family found location at the Summit
DANBURY — The Summit continues to grow and draw new retail businesses, with a steakhouse expected to open later this year as a new tenant at the development on Danbury’s west side.
Castello’s Italian Steakhouse at the 100 Reserve Road site will be an extension of the Castello’s Italian Restaurant and Bar, which opened in 2007 at 2 Padanaram Road. Deme Balidemaj and his sons, Zenel and Nori, have been looking for another location, with a change in focus on the menu.
“This is something we always wanted to do, to open a second restaurant that was something a little different,” Zenel Balidemaj said. “We’ve been waiting for when the time was right and when the right spot became available.
“The opportunity came up at the Summit, and with the retail growth and location, it’s a good move for us,” he said.
The new restaurant is in the beginning phase of its planning, with the Balidemaj family sitting with architects to design the venue. Construction is expected to start in late March or early April, with a goal of opening by the end of this year.
The Summit is a 1.2 million-square-foot, mixeduse building that was once the headquarters of Union Carbide.
It’s now the home to retailers such as The Booksmiths Shoppe, Libretto Lounge, BeYoga, Platinum Fitness, Superior Cleaners, Good Guys Barber, Kate’s Emile’s Hair Salon, and Cesarski Brothers Detailing.
Nuvance Health has the largest presence at the Summit, taking up about one-third of the commercial space in the sprawling building.
“Some of what we do at our current restaurant will be brought over to the new restaurant,” Zenel Balidemaj said. “But we will also offer new things with a focus on Italian steak dishes. We’ll provide traditional steaks, fish and pasta, but will also add an Italian flair to porterhouse and other steak specialties.”
The family is excited about its plans to open its second Danbury restaurant, Balidemaj said.
“When we first went there and looked at the spot that was available, we knew immediately it was a good spot for our restaurant,” he said. “It’s an exciting opportunity for us.”