A once popular Connecticut restaurant that had fallen into disrepair and filth has been reborn.
And now the pizza and wings restaurant is also becoming a hub of community events in Greater Hartford.
“Our intention is to bring unity and community together. People are loving it completely,” said investor and real estate professional, Timur Rakhimov, one of the new owners along with Rauf Majidian, and Milan Shrestha.
The restaurant, a favorite among the bar crowd because of its 3 a.m. closing time was Sisson Avenue Pizza and Wings, and is now Sisson Sports & Pizza.
Rakhimov said the kitchen “was overrun by rats, mice and roaches that were cleared by a pest control company. He said in the food industry, customers don’t see what goes on in the kitchen.
They cleaned, painted, got new flooring, tables, bathrooms and employees.
“We completely refreshed the place,” he said. “Now it’s a beautiful atmosphere.”
Rakhimov said they looked into buying the restaurant when they noticed the reviews were getting bad.
They sell thin-crust New Haven-style pizza, wings and other classics through the large menu.
“The quality completely changed,” he said.
They also installed televisions to watch sports.
The biggest hits have been the community events drawing crowds from Hartford and surrounding communities. The restaurant is on the city’s west end near West Hartford, where many customers are from, he said. Many customers are from area universities.
One of the most popular events has been the Wednesday kids pizza night, every Wednesday between 4 and 7 p.m.
The “Little chefs” event allows kids to make their own personal pizza with toppings.
“A perfect family activity filled with laughter, creativity, and delicious bites!” the promo reads.
Although they never closed in the transition, work is now completed on the restaurant at 495 Sisson Avenue and on Wednesday a special celebration will be held at 3 p.m. with Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam, a Hartford Chamber of Commerce representative, and the West End Civic Association.
A statement on the celebration states the new owners bring experience in small business, real estate, hospitality, and community development.
“Their story reflects the American Dream, three immigrant entrepreneurs revitalizing a once-neglected storefront and investing in a corridor that has long awaited new energy and support,” a spokesperson for the developers said.