Sheri DeAngelis and Aurora Rosa own Lanza Restaurant and Capri Lounge, which opened Monday, Oct. 5 at 270 E Main St.
It took over the space that formerly housed Snooker’s, a billiards bar.
Rosa owns two other restaurants, Hot Shots in Newtown and Machiavelli in Southington.
However, this is DeAngelis’ first restaurant.
DeAngelis worked as a bartender at Brookside in Oxford before taking a six-year break from work to stay home with her children, age seven and four.
She’s back in the bar, but now she’s calling the shots instead of serving them.
Valley Independent Sentinel: Why have you crossed over to the dark side of owning the business?
Sheri DeAngelis: Adventure after staying home for six years with children and raising them.
VIS: Were you a soccer mom?
SD : No, I’m more of a horseback-riding mom.
VIS: How’d you meet your business partner?
SD: I was working at the Brookside in Oxford. We stayed friends after I left.
VIS: How’d you get around to doing business together?
SD: Aurora’s husband knows about investments and told us about this available place. We fell in love with it and its character.
VIS: So, this is a women-owned lounge?
SD: Sure is.
VIS: What can you bring to a lounge if it’s women owned?
SD: Women have come a long way. Look what Crave did. She owns her business. For years restaurants and bars have been a men’s world. But, with my background and years as a waitress and bartender, I have done every thing and I can cover all aspects of the business. There’s nothing I will ask staff to do that I haven’t done.
VIS: Let’s talk food. What kind of food are you going to serve here at Lanza?
SD: Italian food. My chef, Jason Marek, worked at the Mayflower in Washington, Conn. Great cook. He won second place at Mohegan Sun for an Iron Chef contest.
VIS: There’s a giant crest on the bar mirror. Is it your family crest?
SD: No. It’s from Tony’s mother’s maiden name. Tony is Aurora’s husband.
VIS: What’s up with the VIP room on the second floor?
SD: We wanted a place where people can relax and kick back while listening to music in the background. We came up with the idea after Aurora and I put our heads together.
An official grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 15. For more information, call (203) 736‑3599.
