Historic buildings await transformation

— The city's Middletown central business corridor is undergoing extensive rehabilitation work to revitalize four historic buildings downtown into a development featuring restaurant spaces, some two-dozen housing units, an extensive wine bar, a rooftop patio with river views and much more.

In all, Durham developer Dominick DeMartino, who owns properties around the state, will be investing $15 million in these ambitious projects. He chose Middletown because he's “very connected” to the city and active in numerous area organizations.

“This is not a developer coming in and trying to make it quick, and run,” he said.

Construction is underway for 10 housing units in the top two stories of 418-22 Main St., where, on the ground floor, the original Amato's Toy & Hobby was located in the 1970s, as well as Vinnie's Jump & Jive dance hall, which closed in late July.

Signage has been removed from both storefronts, which are now covered in wood. These spaces haven't been fully used for decades, DeMartino explained.

At the rear, near the Melilli Plaza parking lot entrance to Sicily Coal Fired Pizza at 412 Main St., Fresh Cutz, a barbershop specializing in urban hairstyles with other locations in Hamden and Wallingford, will be moving in. Owner Javier Colon will have 15 chairs for stylists to rent, said DeMartino, who owns the Sicily building.

Colon also will offer barber license training for young men and women who want to get into the trade, he noted.

There will also be three retail spaces, including one selling gourmet cookies and ice cream, as well as the wine bar in association with Sicily restaurant in the building DeMartino also owns.

The wine bar will offer all of the Italian eatery's menu items, as well as a selection of 72 different wines by the glass. There will also be 3,000 bottles on display. “It will be extremely unique,” the developer said.

The raw bar will include clams, oysters, shrimp, as well as cheese, vegetable and dried meat charcuterie boards.

At the former Schlein's Furniture building at 584 Main St., between 5,500 and 6,000 square feet of retail space will be constructed, with a tapas / Latin eatery on the ground floor, although DeMartino hasn't yet identified tenants.

He has an application in to the city to build 12 market-rate apartments — six on each floor — geared toward young professionals, college students, medical workers and those “who live and play on Main Street,” the developer said.

In the old Woolworth's building at 428 Main St., most recently occupied by Irreplaceable Artifacts, there will be a restaurant located below a rooftop patio bar overlooking the Connecticut River.

DeMartino said several restaurateurs have contacted him about possibly securing a space in the buildings. “They're very interested in downtown Middletown as they've seen the success Sicily is having,” he said.

The roof area will be ADA-compliant with the addition of an elevator, so everyone has access to the upstairs, and can dine in full view of the water on summer days, DeMartino added.

The Woolworth's building is being used temporarily for a series of storefront displays as part of the Downtown Business District's plan to liven up the streetscape and fill vacant spaces.

Dominick, who doesn't charge for use of the ground floor by the organization, has been working with coordinator Sandra Russo-Driska on the project, he said.

As part of the initiative, in November 2021, Haiti native and local artist Pierre Sylvain created three vibrant paintings of Caribbean musicians and diners, which cover the bottom facade of the building.

Prior to that, Middletown resident and Hartford research scientist Kat Owens incorporated a full-size fabric replica of a sperm whale using plastic making its way into oceans and endangering marine animals.

Through next month, Haddam artist Ted Esselstyn, who runs City Bench, upended the furniture he has crafted from reclaimed city trees across the state. They stand among upright slabs of wood to create the effect of a “forest” of trees in the storefront.

“Dominick DeMartino's investments in downtown Middletown are really invigorating — not only the level of businesses he plans to bring here, but the [care] he takes in renovating the buildings,” said Russo-Driska, who called him a “phenomenal partner” with the DBD.

“We're truly excited to have him here, and we hope other investors do more in our downtown,” the coordinator added.