The Nardelli family today announced that the newest Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppe is scheduled to open in early March at 380 Washington Street, Middletown, Connecticut, the site of a former Dunkin Donuts. The restaurant, which is expected to create 10 new jobs will be owned by Steve Katz, who has worked in the Nardelli stores for more than 10 years.
The restaurant will be the sixth Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppe, and the fourth to be franchised. “We are growing quickly, having opened our new Southbury and Danbury locations in the past year,†said Tony Nardelli. “The immediate success of those stores gives us the confidence that we will also do very well in Middletown.†The company is owned by second generation matriarch Rina Nardelli and third generation siblings Anthony Nardelli, Diana Nardelli-Troiano, and Marco Nardelli. There are currently Nardelli’s Grinder Shoppes in two locations in Waterbury, one in Naugatuck, one in Southbury, and one in Danbury. Soon after the Middletown opening, the Nardellis will begin construction of another grinder shop, in Oxford.
Nardelli went on the say, “We are proud that our franchisees continue to be long-time associates of ours. Stewart Rosen, the owner of our Watertown Avenue, Waterbury store and our first franchisee, was a loyal Nardelli’s customer for many years. The Flick family are residents and the owners of our Southbury location, and like Stewart, were loyal Nardelli’s fans before deciding to join our family. The Ly-Benitez family were employees for two years, and decided to open their own store in Danbury. Now Steve joins the ranks of our franchise holders.â€