A fight among its owners is forcing Connie’s Restaurant, a business that has been in the Staffieri family for decades, to close its doors for good on Derby Day, June 26.
“We’re just exhausted physically and mentally,” said Paul Staffieri, 29, who owns the Elizabeth Street business with his brother, Anthony.
Their father is Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri, who previously owned the business.
Paul Staffieri said business isn’t bad.
He said it is closing due to an ownership dispute with the third owner, Jeffrey Hughes.
Hughes has filed a lawsuit against the Staffieri brothers and the mayor, alleging he was illegally knocked out of the business.
Paul Staffieri denied Hughes’ accusations Thursday.
The matter is now in the hands of the courts, as the restaurant was served with Hughes’ lawsuit Monday.
Click here and here for our previous stories on the dispute.
Staffieri said the business dispute is the deal killer.
“We’re looking to dissolve the LLC (limited liability company) and move on,” Paul Staffieri said. “It’s basically a partnership that’s gone sour.”
“We’ve been having our issues since the beginning of March. It’s only getting uglier. Anthony and I, we’re just physically and mentally exhausted. We’re just looking to dissolve the LLC (limited liability company) and go our own way.”
The building and restaurant are for sale, Staffieri said. He said he and his brother do not have plans to re-open under a new limited liability company.
“We’re just looking to get out of the restaurant business all together. We’ve been running the place for four years now and we’re just tired,” he said.
Connie’s is a local landmark — and the second Derby restaurant to close in less than two months. Tailgators, on Route 34, closed May 1.
Staffieri said he and his brother were raised in Connie’s.
“We took over from my father and my two uncles, who had been in this location since 1985. Before that they had a diner on Main Street. Anthony and I grew up in this place. This was our day care,” Staffieri said.
After purchasing the building and business from the mayor in the summer of 2006, the Staffieri brothers and Hughes remodeled the interior and expanded the bar area.
It held onto lunch crowds and became a popular night spot, attracting a younger demographic.
Business since the recession hit hasn’t been necessarily booming, Staffieri said, but they’ve been holding their own.
“After the renovation, business picked up big time,” he said. “We created a new identity for ourselves under the same name.”
Staffieri said the restaurant would have remained open had it not been for the recent trouble — but there was always a plan to sell.
There are two separate LLCs at Connie’s — one for the business, one for the building. Staffieri said they may sell both — or stay on as landlords for a new business owner.
“When we took over back in 2006, we had a five year plan. This wasn’t something we wanted to make careers out of. We knew we wanted to open, establish a new clientele and then sell it off in about five years. It’s happening a little bit earlier than we planned.”
Connie’s employs between 15 to 20 people. Most workers are part-time. The Staffieri brothers broke the news to the staff Monday night.
He’s hoping a new owner will come forth and keep the workers employed.
Connie’s last day is June 26, Derby Day, when the restaurant usually gets a line a block long for people wanting porchetta sandwiches.
“Derby Day is a good day to say goodbye to everyone. Hopefully it’s a nice busy day. We’re looking forward to seeing our loyal customers and to work one last day with the staff,” Staffieri said.
