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.
OMG–I normally don’t make comments but this article has one lie after another and I just couldn’t sit back without commenting. The Staffieri’s state that the “business dispute is the deal killer…” Really??? Wouldn’t the deal killer be when the STAFFIERI”S illegally changed the locks to the business and then refused to give Hughes the key? OR when the STAFFIERI’S illegally removed Hughes from the LLC without him knowing it?? Why wouldn’t Hughes file a lawsuit? Did the STAFFIERI’S expect him to just sit back so they could walk all over him? Did the STAFFIERI’S think they could get away with it just because their father is Mayor? I would think the STAFFIERI’S should be phyically and emotionally exhausted–Hughes isn’t there to run the place OR maybe they aren’t sleeping at night worrying about how they could cover up the mess they made?? The STAFFIERI’S had a five year plan???? Seriously, do you think the public is that stupid? Don’t the STAFFIERI’s realize that once you start lying you can’t stop? Boys–you dug a HUGE hole for yourself–you might be able to get away with things now ONLY because you are the Mayor’s sons but a word of advice–stop the lies now–they will eventually catch up with you.
Damn it.
“Sick of Lies” wrote a “Bitter Oats” assessment, like this person has an ax to grind, with the Staffieri family, or may have some other personal anymosity, connected with the closing.
In reality, if you don’t have anything good to say, perhaps it would behoove rhis writer, to say nothing, about the coming loss of a Derby landmark.
Connie’s will be missed as a great family restaurant, that put Derby of the map!
The closing, is a tough loss to Derby and the valley area.
I liked the “old” Connies much better, even though it was dated, the dining room was much quieter than the new place. A bunch of us went to go in one night in December after touring the Osborne homestead and it was turned into a sports bar type place. We all just looked at each other and said this isn’t the type of place we were looking to enjoy a nice meal. It’s really a shame too because they had very good pizza, especially the margharita pizza coming out of that brick oven. Honestly, I thnk something else is going on here too and sooner or later they cat will come out of the bag!
“sick of lies”
First of all if you would like anyone to take your comment seriously i advise you don’t start it with “OMG”…what are you 12?
Second of all, being that i am very close to the situation at Connies, i am a loyal customer and a friend or paul, anthony and jeff’s, there are always to sides to the story. yet i agree with you what the staffieri’s did was bone headed but there side of the story which will come out when the dust settles and all parties are in court will shock you. It is not my right to air out dirt laundry here on this format, but before you go writing in capitals and putting extra question marks for no reason get all the facts the make your own judgment. It sounds like your on the hughe’s band wagon. the bottom line its not about buisness partners arguing and things going sour its about a loss of a valley land mark and the loss of 20 jobs. i know most of the employees are part time, but the amount of money you make working 2 nights a week bartending when its busy is the same amount some people make in a 40 hour work week. For some people this helped pay bills and is much needed income. This is a place i have had alot of memories in the last few years and it will be missed.
To Voiceofreason–“OMG” is to get your attention and extra question marks and
capital letters are used for emphesis when one wants to make a statement.
Got your attention didn’t it??
Ummmmmmmm I just want to know were the hell I’m gonna go for porchetta dinner and $1 beers!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS SUCKS.