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A vacant former bank will see new life, at least at night, as a club and special events space.

That’s after a potential commercial tenant of 45 Church St., the long-empty Classical Revival former bank building at Church and Crown Street, got approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) to operate a nightclub, cafe and bar in just under 5,000 square feet of the building’s first floor.

The board unanimously granted a special exception allowing that use in a street-level building during their latest meeting online Wednesday night. That approval comes less than two months after the City Plan Commission rejected a previous plan to turn that long-vacant downtown bank into a cannabis dispensary.

Wednesday’s vote means that zoning-relief applicant Alexandra Arpi, operating under the company Vault NH LLC, has the go ahead to serve drinks, dinners and dancing until 1 a.m. Thursdays and 2 a.m on Fridays and Saturdays starting this fall.

Arpi, who has long worked in the bar and restaurant industry around Connecticut, said the upcoming venue will be called ?“The Vault,” and focus on offering a ?“classy establishment” to serve students from nearby colleges and universities.

“They’re gonna have everything from security to help monitor the operations and policing for the patrons to make sure there’s not underage drinking or nefarious operations going on,” John Pollard, the real estate broker who represented the applicants at Wednesday’s BZA meeting, stated.

He said that any food served on the property will come from an ?“outside commissary” to accommodate pre-booked special events, such as graduation or birthday parties.

“I may have been in a club once or twice and noticed the kinds of uses in a club are not always conducive to keeping things nice — and this building seems to have some historic value,” BZA Commissioner Errol Saunders noted during the meeting.

“If anyone’s had a chance to be in the building, it’s got that big, vaulted ceiling, it’s a beautiful space,” Pollard said. The outside of the building will remain unchanged, he said, and the applicants are looking to rent out just 4,992 square feet of the two-story space’s first floor.

In the meantime, the building’s interior is plagued by spalling plaster for which repairs are underway. The tenants will likely seek to expand their operation within the space down the line, Pollard said, in which case they will have to submit to site plan review by the City Plan Commission.

The applicants did not respond to requests for comment by the Independent asking for more detail about their intentions for the site.

“We’ve owned the space for about seven years, I don’t know how long it was empty before,” said David Kuperberg, the landlord of the property. ?“It would be really, really nice to have an occupant… nobody wants a barren, empty city,” he told the Independent by phone following the meeting.

The City Plan Commission previously rejected a proposal to turn the building into a hybrid recreational and medical marijuana dispensary this summer. Read more about that here.

“I was disappointed that they turned it down,” Kuperberg said. ?“But I’m encouraged that we have someone else to rent the space,” he added, saying that he’s ready to sign a formal lease with the applicants now that they’ve received zoning relief. ?“It’s a good thing for the city, it’s a good thing for the immediate neighborhood, it’s a good thing for the economy… I think everyone wants the space occupied.”

Tags: 205 Church Street David Kuperberg Board of Zoning Appeals

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Now is the perfect time to introduce the new New Haven. Nicknamed the Elm City thanks to the stately trees that line its streets, this Long Island Sound–hugging spot is rich with history and character. Of course, Yale University has served as the city’s academic and cultural touchstone from its founding in 1701, thanks to its free museums and quintessentially New England campus perfect for strolls with coffee in-hand. Then there’s the many historic neighborhoods, including Wooster Square—overflowing with cherry trees, and its Little Italy eateries slinging perfect slices of pizzas —and oystermen houses along the waterfront area of the Hill neighborhood. Even with all that history, the last few years have seen a renaissance rollicking through the city.

With a veritable buffet of bold new restaurants—fare from Peru to Japan and back again—foodies are finding a new culinary capital within the city. And that’s not to detract from the mealtime mainstay of New Haven pizza, with a distinct, chewy crust that sets it apart from its New York-style neighbors. What’s more, a flurry of new design-forward hotels offer a chance to lay your head down in surroundings that combine couture and comfort. Much more than just a stopover on your way to well-loved Mystic, here are the best ways to enjoy a weekend in this haven by the water.

Getting to and around New Haven

Petite Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) is just a ten-minute drive from downtown New Haven. The only catch? HVN’s single carrier, Avelo Airlines, services only fourteen destinations, mostly down the east coast, along with Nashville and Chicago; about 90 minutes by train and bus in nearby Windsor Locks, all the major airlines fly through Bradley International Airport, or BDL. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in Queens is a three-hour Long Island Sound-skimming train ride away.

Once in New Haven, the city is imminently walkable; a compact downtown in close proximity to other neighborhoods means that many attractions are within a twenty-minute walk from each other. Multiple bus routes service the city seven days a week, and Uber and Lyft are available, too.

This New Haven oyster bar now has a Pearl. Fair Haven Oyster Co., which opened along the Quinnipiac River in the summer of 2022, recently launched a food truck in its marina area next to the Front Street restaurant.

The Pearl opened over Labor Day weekend, serving a streamlined menu of lobster rolls, hot dogs (including a frank topped with lobster) soft-serve ice cream and canned cocktails Friday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Chef-owner Emily Mingrone said she had hoped to launch the truck by Memorial Day to capture the entirety of the summer, but plans to maximize remaining weekends in September and October until the weather grows colder.

"I had the idea for a while," Mingrone said. She bought the truck from friend and Connecticut chef Dan Kardos, who had used it for his Oar & Oak Creamery ice cream business. Ed Jones, another chef friend who brings experience from Hartford's former Firebox, Heirloom Market in Old Wethersfield and the former Gargano Pasta in Old Saybrook, is heading up the truck operation.

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The Pearl's casual menu offers two types of lobster rolls: a classic hot buttered version with lemon and brown butter bread crumbs, and Fair Haven's cold lobster salad, featuring crème fraîche instead of mayonnaise and topped off with smoked trout roe and dill. Footlong Hummel hot dogs are served on Martin's potato rolls, including a classic with mustard, chopped onion and relish; a cheesy chili dog and a "New Haven" style with clam jam, bacon and red pepper relish. A "surf and turf" weenie is topped with the cold lobster salad and trout roe.

Sides include potato chips, potato salad, coleslaw and squid salad, and the Pearl also offers canned cocktails, beer and wine, including an Amaro Pop from Eda Rhyne Distillery and a canned gin and tonic from Greenhook Ginsmiths. Dessert is soft serve ice cream from Ronnybrook Farm Dairy in New York's Hudson Valley, with a choice of rainbow or chocolate sprinkles.

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Mingrone is planning to pack fall weekends with entertainment, including live music and an Oktoberfest on Oct. 8, with a polka band, burgers from her first New Haven restaurant Tavern on State, beer from New England Brewing and pretzels from East Rock Breads. She has musical acts booked through the end of October, she said.

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"I think I can make it a robust offering depending on what the weather does," she said. She said she may also consider using The Pearl as a to-go lobster roll spot for pickup or delivery, or as a catering vehicle for winter events.

WEST HAVEN, Conn. – Southern Connecticut football lost to University of New Haven, 34-7, in the Owls' Northeast-10 Conference opener at Ralph DellaCamera Field in West Haven, Conn. With the loss, the Owls dropped to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in the NE10 while New Haven improved to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

Tylon Papallo led the Owls' offense with eight catches for 88 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown. Luke Gadson had five catches for 56 yards. On defense, the Owls' linebacker corps led the way as Jahlil Watson, Bryan Barnes, Hasan Dominick, Jr. and Joe DiGello accounted for 32 of the Owls' 79 tackles in the game. Watson and Barnes had nine tackles each while Watson had 1.5 tackles for a loss.

Dominick and DiGello both had seven tackles, while DiGello recorded a sack and forced a fumble that was recovered by Sheldon Gargano. Dominick also had a pass breakup and led the Owls with two quarterback hurries.

Southern led early as they scored the game's first touchdown. With New Haven facing a 3^rd-and-13 late in the first quarter, DiGello chased down Chargers' quarterback Daelen Menard for the sack while Menard also coughed up the ball, which Gargano dove on. On the Owls' ensuing possession, Ridley found Gadson for nine yards before E'lijah Gray burst for an 11-yard run on 4^th-and-1. After another four-yard run from Gray, Ridley found Papallo in the back of the end zone to give Southern a 7-0 lead. New Haven scored, but missed the extra point, late in the second quarter to give Southern a 7-6 lead at the break.

New Haven opened the second half with a 14-play drive that resulted in another Chargers touchdown as they took a 13-7 lead. From there, New Haven scored three times in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Southern returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 23 when it hosts Bentley at Jess Dow Field at 12 p.m.

Gioia of New Haven, the upcoming multi-use space featuring an Italian restaurant, market and gelataria, plans an Oct. 19 opening on Wooster Street.

Restaurateurs Tim Cabral of Ordinary and Avi Szapiro of the former ROÌA, have partnered with Anthony and Gerard Bianco (A&G Contracting) to bring the concept to life. The new venue at 150 Wooster Street formerly housed Tony and Lucille's, which closed in 2019.

“We are ready to welcome the community to our fun and casual space, whether it's dining in our restaurant, grabbing a prepared meal or provisions from our market or enjoying a sweet treat from the gelateria window,” said Cabral in a statement. “We’ve leaned into our namesake of ‘Gioia,’ which means ‘joy!’ in Italian, in our food and beverage menu, décor and more, and we promise that this colorful, spirited environment will be one you want to visit time and time again.”

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The restaurant, on the first floor of the space, will feature a wood-fired grill and rotisserie, and a seasonal menu designed for sharing with salumi cheese boards, appetizers like eggplant parm bites, smoked carrots and arancini; and salads and pastas offered in sizes for individual or shareable portions. The menu also offers square pizzas, known as “Wooster Squares," with toppings like clam, potato and tomato.

The wood-fired grill will be used for dishes like whole local mushrooms, grilled chicken piccata and Italian sausage, and larger “for the table" entrees include rotisserie chicken and whole stuffed fish. Dessert choices include tiramisu, panna cotta, housemade gelato, coffee options and more, and Gioia will also offer a beverage program with a full wine list, beers and cocktails, featuring seasonal flavors and Italian influences.

“Our open kitchen will invite guests to feel like they are part of the magic, feeling more like they are dining in the comforts of an Italian home than in a restaurant,” Szapiro said “I am looking forward to celebrating the flavors of Italy while drawing inspiration from New England and its seasons to offer an accessible, shareable menu made for fun! With food including options for vegetarian, vegan and other special dietary needs, our doors will be welcome for all to enjoy a delicious, exciting and unique experience.”

Gioia's market concept, with its own dedicated entrance, will sell Italian provisions, housemade pasta and sauces to cook at home, prepared grab-and-go items and everyday items as a convenience for those living in the neighborhood. The market will also be available in the evening for special events, offering a private dining area with a communal table.

The gelateria streetside window, located on the corner of Brown and Wooster Streets, will offer a rotating selection of several housemade gelatos, with traditional flavors such as hazelnut, pistachio and chocolate and other seasonal options.

Gioia will open in phases, with a 1,900-square foot three-season rooftop coming later this year. The rooftop will have its own seasonal food and beverage menus.

Gioia will be open six days a week, offering dinner starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Saturday and Sunday brunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and a special late-night bites menu will be available Friday and Saturday nights. The market will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The gelateria will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Information: (475) 250-3451, gioianewhaven.com, and its social channels (@gioianhv).