New eats on Center Street...

New eating places are sprouting up and down Center Street these days. Reet Says Eat aims to try them all.

Tonic out, Popular in

‘Popular’ spot will return to downtown by Harry Kyle, The Southington Citizen

Southington’s Renaissance project was developed to bring a rebirth to the downtown business district, and its redesigned walkways, outdoor dining areas and variety of new restaurants and shops have gone a long way toward fulfilling that goal. But, in a somewhat ironic twist, the newest piece of the revival puzzle has an old connection to the central business district as it existed almost 50 years ago.

The Popular Restaurant was once one of Southington’s favorite watering holes. Located at 71 Center Street, it was started as a nickel-a-beer tavern by Horace Secondo and his wife, Edna, in 1937, and quickly became the favorite gathering place in town. The next two generations of the Secondo family carried on the tradition until 1987, when the family sold the business. It continued in operation under the same name until it was destroyed by a fire in 1991. Now a new branch of the Secondo family has come back to town, and plans to combine the mystique and charm of the old night spot with some new amenities, in the hopes of making the Popular name popular once again. complete article

The Fire Place

We ordered a couple of pies at halftime of the Giants-Eagles game, made additionally difficult because they have no website and telephone number was not available from information. So we needed two trips - one to order, another to pickup. The verdict: crust, the most important element of the pie, was almost mushy; very disappointing. We will give them another shot, but the first impression was thumbs down. Too bad, the reataurant has been nicely renovated.

Fire Place heats up Center Street By Robert C. Pollack, Record-Journal staff

SOUTHINGTON — A new, upscale pizza restaurant called The Fire Place is coming to Center Street in May, if the Zoning Board of Appeals approves a pending application for a liquor license. Frank LaRosa and John Pucci, both of Southington, are spending $120,000 to renovate the storefront at 44 Center St. — former home of Apple Annie's — with an eye to opening the new restaurant in mid-May. LaRosa said the 2,400-square-foot restaurant, which will serve both lunch and dinner, will offer pizzas of every description, including shrimp and chicken. - complete article