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What Should Take the Place of Bossa Nova?

The Brazilian steakhouse recently shuttered its operation. What would you like to see move in?

There's at least one restaurateur interested in the building formerly occupied by Bossa Nova Churrascaria, which, according to workers at the adjacent marina, closed because of financial reasons.

That businessman was visiting the waterfront property last week when the photos in the gallery were taken.

He asked this reporter what people would be interested in seeing at the location. I said I'll ask them.

So what type of restaurant or business do you think best suits the spot on the Housatonic River? There's an outdoor bar and porch that can be utilized, as well as traffic from boaters.

Patricia Cordone Morrisroe May 24, 2012 at 11:26 am
Seafood, hot dogs, hamburgers, steak sandwiches and ice cream. Old fashioned family fare on the water! Quick service as well as sit down.
CuriousOrange May 24, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Bossa Nova would have made it if it had deserved and received good reviews. High prices, mediocre product and service won't make money, even on the waterfront.
Donna Rae Henault Caporaso May 24, 2012 at 12:42 pm
Nothing stays in there. I have a gift card for them. Guess I need to call the State and see how to contact them to make good on it.
David Kennedy May 24, 2012 at 01:07 pm
Would love to see Chowder Pot open a restaurant there. Years ago there were rumors they were interested in the location. Would be a great year round fit for Stratford and be a draw from other towns. Who could reach out to them?
Jim Ravis May 24, 2012 at 01:16 pm
Nothing until the construction finishes over there. No one wants to eat there with that noise/dirt, etc going on.
Patricia Pell May 24, 2012 at 02:01 pm
I agree with Jim, with all the noise it is hard to get excited, Every restaurant that has been there had done poorly. Wait until construction is done. But if that is not possible, then I would like to see a family friendly, affordable place. The place has it's perks...loads of parking, outdoor deck, lots of people out shopping. Come on all you need is a good idea. Everything else is already there.
Jacque Convertito May 24, 2012 at 03:06 pm
I agree with David. I think a Chowder Pot would have no problem surviving in that area.
Kevin Weiss May 24, 2012 at 04:14 pm
I'd like to see a SBC Brewing Company Restaurant.
Mark Hannon Art Direction & Design May 24, 2012 at 04:41 pm
Ever since Allen's East closed in Lordship, there is no place in Stratford to have a lobster dinner on the water. I agree with Patricia Cordone Morrisroe that a basic surf & turf restaurant on the water would be great. But they also need to maintain their quality. That's what sank Assaggio.
Baseball Mom May 24, 2012 at 05:00 pm
A cross between Jimmies of Savin Rock and Captain's Cove. You could actually take your food to the park and eat at the picnic table or you could eat in.
W May 24, 2012 at 06:14 pm
Ruthschris for us wealthy boat owners as we put into our dock'..... Keep the poor scum bags away'.'should be just for us
Mr Attila Lengyel May 24, 2012 at 06:54 pm
I never had the urge to try the place. That being said, I believe some spots are just cursed as far as a particular type of buis is concerned.There's a spot on Barnum ave that's 3 or 4 restaurants since I moved to Stratford 24 years ago, and they've all gone by the way side. P.S. to W ,really?
Jaclyn Rothenberg May 24, 2012 at 08:49 pm
Mar Bella restaurant in Lordship (right next door to where Allen's used to be) offers a wonderful lobster dinner. They have utside dining, great service, nice place for seafood dishes.
concerned May 25, 2012 at 01:01 am
Put in another strip joint. Rumors seems to be one of the oldest and most profitable places in Stratford. How much in taxes has that place paid over the years? I'm sure it's more than Fagans, Harborside, Bossa No-more, Margharitas, Savin Rock....
Rumors still goin strong...
Shirley B. Backus May 25, 2012 at 03:07 am
An ice cream, and/or fast food place is about the only type of restaurant that will have a chance in that spot. With the water, the path along the water, and the picnic benches already in place, hot dogs, hamburgers, ice cream, and other simple fast foods would be very nice. The only place to get food to enjoy this area now is the Subway, but it's a rather long walk across a hot parking lot to get to the water.
We used to enjoy topping off a meal at Marnick's with an ice cream cone that we could walk along the sea wall with.
Bianconeri1897 May 25, 2012 at 12:15 pm
How bout a Jenny Craig?
OldManTeenager May 25, 2012 at 12:22 pm
My dear friend RaGino Jugdish is interested in the property. He is looking into possibly adding a small clothing store which specializes in Men's "dad shirts" and partnering with Zumiez for footwear.
KP May 25, 2012 at 08:33 pm
Chowder pot GREAT idea...or something comparable to Jimmies in Savin Rock. Seafood all the way. Move the bar back to the window area for those of us who were regulars of Assagios....and spend money on food and drink nightly.
Bob E. Peel May 27, 2012 at 01:02 am
I'll agree with the folks that suggested The Chowder Pot. What better place for a seafood restaurant. Their reputation as a seafood destination and close proximity to I-95 on/off would make it a Fairfield county hit.
George E. Mulligan May 27, 2012 at 07:28 pm
Corporate entities do market research as to what should work
and what likely wouldn't work, per location. Early 2000s I spoke to Stew Leonard CFO about business. I raised the Stratford Town Fair property as near I-95 with plenty of parking and stand alone buildings, which are their preference. They owned property in Orange, already. Demographics showed that property to access the Greater New Haven to Bridgeport to inland for potential business. Demographics indicated a Stratford site, would take business away from their Norwalk store, When Moses Wheel Bridge is finished, AVCO is opened, and the SECRET PLANS and DEVELOPERS are revealed, I suspect the very deep pocketed property owners who bought the property, will have plans for their ROI. Some business look at a decade to develop a property, when circumstances maximizes their opportunities. Some in government look to delay a decade or decades to enable themselves to reap rewards they can delay / affect from government positions, and 1 year or more after retirement from government they can reap rewards. There are people who do business with government who can profit from delays and driving down property values, while driving up taxes. There are people in government who can benefit by playing ball, in general and none of the above necessarily does nor does not reflect on the location noted.
Ed Orris May 29, 2012 at 02:54 pm
The location will never support a restaurant long term. Everyone should stop kidding themselves. Rent is expensive and the location is a joke. Not only is the structure under a bridge and next to a private boat marina, its also buried in the back of parking lot next to a two story commercial building. A restaurant with a great location and lower expenses still has a 90% chance of failing in its 2nd year. The structure should become a private clubhouse for the slip owners of the marina. A place with bathrooms, kitchen and common area for parties.
carol sinnott June 3, 2012 at 03:40 am
lenny and Joe's Fishtales.Great food at really reasonable prices. Please no more Italian or pizza restaurants in Stratford ! We already have too many. Chowder Pot also a good idea. No good seafood restaurants in a coastal town like Stratford is a mystery.
Bob E. Peel June 3, 2012 at 09:21 pm
The Chowder Pot would also be a great replacement for the Savin Rock Smoke House. It's much larger than the Dock restaurant and would bring fine dining to the mouth of the Housatonic River. We should make an effort to attract this type of restaurant to Stratford as a destination venue.
Jennifer Reiley Young June 21, 2012 at 01:05 pm
The space is huge, and although I have no idea the rent per square foot, a restaurant would have to do a pretty brisk business I imagine. I don't think the last two businesses could draw like an Olive Garden or Chowder Pot would. I would love to see a good Connecticut chain like Barcelona or the fabulous Max group(Hartford county) come to Stratford and raise it up a notch. But this location?
...Chowder Pot.
Jennifer Reiley Young June 21, 2012 at 01:07 pm
This is a good idea
David Kennedy June 22, 2012 at 01:53 am
So how does the Town let Chowder Pot know that a number of folks are suggesting they look into the space?
Dolly October 15, 2012 at 03:50 pm
A Plan B Burger would be great and I think would actually stay in business.
Beetle Bailey November 22, 2012 at 01:47 am
I'm wondering if they are over extended. The recently opened SBC rest, in Hamden has closed.
Beetle Bailey November 22, 2012 at 01:51 am
The pot calling the kettle black.
Beetle Bailey November 22, 2012 at 01:58 am
Call Rich Connine. Look what he's done with Milford Center/Daniel St. area. If anyone can get something up and running with a future he can.

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Ashley Riera June 17, 2013 at 03:02 pm
To clarify, for those who are wondering why we can't just take the two cats up with us, we alreadyRead More have four cats, and a dog. We could only take two of the four cats with us, plus the dog (who is 14yrs. old.) The limit for the rental is three pets... this was a hard decision for us all. We would have taken them all if we could.
Bunny The Dog
Alyson Cahill June 13, 2013 at 07:01 am
Edit: Bunny was stolen WITH the truck. Suspect is Caucasian male in his 50s. Truck is red Dodge RamRead More with dent in rear passenger side cab. Please help! Call 203-257-3001 or 203-645-1282 with any information. No questions asked.
bpiretti June 13, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Found!! https://www.facebook.com/BringBunnyHome
Shirley B. Backus June 13, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Another example of why to never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle!
A photo of Sam (Credit: Contributed Photo)
Amy Taylor June 13, 2013 at 12:25 am
Thank you so much! You have no idea how grateful we are! You are very special people!!
Kathie June 13, 2013 at 03:58 am
Now that Sam has been found, the reason he ran off was due to the sound of gunfire at RooseveltRead More Forest in the early afternoon as his master was getting ready to take him out of his car. All had been quiet, the park was open, so the loud bangs were a surprise - both to Sam and his "Dad". To the best of my knowledge, when the shooting range is used by the Stratford PD, the park is closed to the public. It was that way always and I believe still is. But now, with non-Stratford police personnel using the range, obviously the Park is NOT closed as was observed/heard yesterday at 2 separate time periods of the day. The range is used by at least one other police department. Of course, there could be unauthorized people using the range too. I just don't know. But what I do know that yesterday (Wed), there was shooting early afternoon, and then again around 6PM. I observed at around 5:00PM, a little boy running up the dirt road that leads to the shooting range. The park remained opened all day! The shooting was NOT being done by the Stratford Police. People do not always stick to the trails, and as we all know, children can be quite curious. Who is to say a child and/or adult gets near the berm or behind it and someone shoots over the berm? What goes up, has to come down. I also was told that neighbors say there is shooting going on quite frequently, even on Sundays. I doubt that this is from Stratford PD, because outdoor shooting usually occurs for a week or so, twice a year. Tighter controls must be done! Surely, the parking area can be checked for vehicles... but I observed yesterday people entering the parking area (adjacent to the driveway leading up to the range) on foot, on bicycles, and motorcycles. So people could be in the park even when no vehicles are observed in the lot. Safety is key here! Procedures need to be put in place and perhaps limitations on when other police department(s) can use the range. It is not fair to the surrounding residents to have to hear the bang bang bang on Saturdays and Sundays. It scares some of them, and I know that one person who lives nearby says her dog gets scared right inside their house! What will it take? A child or an adult wandering near the range, thinking it is OK because the Forest is open... and then, all of a sudden, there is shooting and one gets shot, especially a child? This may sound extreme, but children can move quick and suddenly. I think of that little boy running up toward the range. He could have very well traveled through the woods. I can picture bullets being shot over the berm, not on purpose, but it can happen. Or shots go to the left or to the right; and people could be in the same general area - out of sight of the shooters. Bottom Line: The "public" can not be in the park while the range is "live", or in other words, when there is shooting taking place. As how to ensure that the public is not in the park, is not for me to determine. But the Town has to step up to the plate and address this very important issue.
bpiretti June 13, 2013 at 11:17 am
So happy to hear that your dog has been found! :)
ShirleyJ June 11, 2013 at 09:00 pm
Great shot! We were looking for the rainbow!!!
samgranata June 12, 2013 at 08:12 am
Great shot! One of my favorite places to take pictures of weather
Jaimie Cura (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 02:03 pm
That's beautiful Carol! I'm surrounded by land so this is so great to see!
re26 June 14, 2013 at 04:19 am
Reagan's quote is from the 1988 GOP convention that 'facts are stupid things'...John Adams made theRead More original quote.
Steve Raguskus June 15, 2013 at 10:20 am
I hope people note how these comments go. Anonymous right-wingers try to change the discussion,Read More prove a point that no one is arguing, and then declare victory. Both "Goodie Bassett" and "Reagan Night" say Ms. Daponte is lying because Tony Smith won't be removed from office. I just re-read Beth's piece to see where she made this claim, but she never said anything of the sort. What she did say was "Both Tony and Linda serve until January 1, 2016." So, where's the "half-truth"? The point of the post is that the new land use District II, comprised of the 3rd & 4th council districts, has no representation on any of these boards. Tony Smith will be the District II Zoning Commissioner, even though he doesn't live in that district. The extreme right can't defend this, so they try to change the subject.
richard brown June 15, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Isn't it odd that the half truths are written by people that won't sigh their real name but theRead More Democrats sign theirs. Huh, guess they don't want to be held accountable for their inuendo's and false acusations.
Robert Chambers June 10, 2013 at 04:15 pm
If the worst thing against Mayor Harkins is the lack of allowance of golf carts on the streets ofRead More Lordship then he's doing pretty well.
Mike Reynolds June 10, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Robert Chambers...a voice of reason in Lordship.
Truckie June 11, 2013 at 09:54 am
What a wonderful town we live in that the only problem we have worthwhile to discuss is golf cartsRead More driving down the street! WHO CARES? I have kids riding their go carts and mini bikes around our neighborhood. They learn how to fix them and have some fun which doen't include stealing or damaging my property. Actually I enjoy helping them and occasionally lend them a tool or two. The parents make them be considerate by not allowing them to ride around early morning or late evenings. SO WHO CARES! I guess you will want to stop all the people at Oronoque condos from driving across the road up there too? Hey..on the road is on the road. Again, WHO CARES? Get informed and worry about a real problem facing us here in town!