American Steakhouse closing Meriden location after 53 years

MERIDEN — After 53 years in business, the family-owned restaurant American Steakhouse is closing its Meriden location later this month.

The business, located at 1170 E. Main St., has been a staple in the community for decades.

Luis Dominguez, manager of the Meriden location, said the establishment is set to close April 21 around 6 p.m.

He started at the restaurant in 1994 as a dishwasher and says it’s unfortunate to see the restaurant close.

“I started in the kitchen washing dishes and then five years ago I took over as manager,” he said.

Dominguez replaced longtime manager David Tacinelli, who worked for the restaurant for 45 years. Tacinelli also started as a bus person at 16 years old, making his way to restaurant manager 13 years later.

Co-owner Isabel Tartaglia runs the business with her two siblings, Lorraine Tartaglia and Remo Tartaglia Jr.

She said that with the cost of utilities and food rising, the business has been going through difficulties for the last couple years.

Last year, the establishment was barely breaking even, but this year has been much more of a challenge.

It has been difficult managing the cost of maintaining the 7,600 square foot building while trying to keep prices reasonable for family dining.

The decision to close the restaurant was hard for her family. The business has been part of the community for years and is the legacy of her parents Remo and Nella Tartaglia who both have since passed away.

“The business was started by my mother and father,” she said. “They came to Middletown from Italy in the ’50s and met here.”

Tartaglia explained that in 1968, her parents moved to Norwalk and opened a Bonanza restaurant, which was part of a franchise.

In 1971, Remo Tartaglia purchased the land in Meriden for the steakhouse with his business partner Alphonse Silvestri, according to newspaper archives.

Then in 1983, Tartaglia decided to change the name to American Steakhouse and separate from Bonanza Inc. which was a “good decision,” according to Isabel.

“There is so much history that the steakhouse has with the community,” Isabel Tartaglia said. “We are sad to close this one down because we’ve built a deep connection with Meriden.”

Tartaglia said that there are families who visit two to three times a week, and who have been eating at the establishment for decades.

“We are on a first name basis with most of them,” she said. “We pride ourselves in creating that family environment.”

Despite the Meriden location closing, American Steakhouse locations in Bridgeport and Norwalk will remain open.