The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Two Main Street eateries close
Both opened less than a year ago
TORRINGTON — Two restaurants on Main Street have closed in the last month — one citing renovations and the other a possible move.
The 829 Restaurant and Lounge at 49 Main St., which opened in August, has a sign posted in its window that notes it is undergoing renovations. At midday Thursday, the business was empty. .
The Bread From Heaven Bakery at 266 Main St. closed Jan. 31. An announcement posted on Facebook let customers know about the decision. “There is a possibility of relocation, but not for sure yet,” co-owner Ivetteliz Cotto wrote.
Manny Da Cruz, who owns the original Bread From Heaven Bakery in Waterbury, provided the bread for the separatelyowned Torrington store.
“I’ve had my own business all my life,” said Da Cruz, who began working in a bakery when he was 22. “People think its all fun and games, but it’s not.”
He thinks the Cotto family did the right thing in closing. “It’s a commitment, you have to put everything into it,” he said.
Da Cruz said the closing of the Torrington location may have an effect on his bakery. For instance, the business sign on the now-closed bakery has the same logo and design as his store, he said.
Erin Wilson, city director of economic development, could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The co-owners of 829 Restaurant worked in construction before deciding to rent two connecting retail locations downtown and completely redecorate the interior.
The building is owned by Torrington Downtown Partners. Asked whether the restaurant is permanently closed, Communications Director Sharon Waagner wrote in an email Thursday: “The last I heard they were undergoing some renovations.”
Jose Nunez and Elvin Martinez, brothers-in-law, said in a June interview that they had visited several restaurants in Torrington before deciding they would aim for bigger and better things in their establishment.
“We want to bring something different,” Nunez said, prior to opening. “It will be like South Beach (Miami), like the Caribbean.”
A person knowledgeable about the operations of the establishment, who asked not to be named, said a new manager had been brought in with the aim of increasing business.
But, about a month later, the restaurant was closed.
A person who answered the restaurant’s phone Thursday said he “was not in the mood” to talk about the closing.
A Facebook post by Nunez states that he started a new job on Jan. 6 at Majestic VIP Liquor store. The location of the store wasn’t listed.
Eddie Odimeh, the owner of the building who rented to the Cotto family, said Ivetteliz Cotto told him she and her husband, Juan, “wanted more family time.”
Odimeh said a lot of people came to the business and the customers were disappointed that the bakery was closing. “I knew (the Cottos) they are very nice,” he said.
“I have (business) experience,” and wanted to help them, Odimeh said. He added that the restaurant equipment in the nowclosed bakery is his.
“I have two or three parties interested in the building,” he added. “It will rent quickly.”