The commercial real estate listing sent shock waves through Westport.
“Exceptional 2,516 square foot downtown property now available for sale!” it read. “New to market, for sale at only $1,425,000.
“Significant potential for many other retail oriented uses. Long-term first floor commercial tenant and second floor, income-producing apartment. Call to inquire now before it’s too late!”
The address is 143 Post Road East.
But you know it better as Westport Pizzeria.
143 Post Road East, Westport.
The beloved institution — which celebrated its 50th anniversary last October — moved from Main Street to the former S&M/Joe’s Pizza location in 2014.
Founder and owner Mel Mioli had bought the Post Road location a couple of years earlier. It was a fortuitous hedge against a non-renewal notice from his Main Street landlord.
But don’t worry.
Mioli says he’s just testing the market. And even if he sells, he’s keeping the pizzeria.
Grazie!
(Interested in the property? Call Tommy Febbraio at 203-247-3516, or email Tommy@CBCFG.com. Hat tip: Sal Liccione.)
Interesting info., but one thing I’m curious about. Did Mioli buy this building solely as a “fortuitous hedge”, or also partly so that he could become Joe’s landlord on the Post Road and therefore not renew Joe’s lease in an attempt to curb the competition?
can you please elaborate? joe’s is in a different building owned by someone else, right? how would he have any ability to not renew?
As noted in the story above, the current Westport Pizzeria location was formerly the site of Joe’s, until it moved around the corner to Main Street.