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August 21, 2020

Newly renovated city staple Claire's Corner Copia reopens

PHOTO | New Haven BIZ
By Michelle Tuccitto Sullo

Following a five month closure, the popular downtown eatery Claire’s Corner Copia reopened Friday. 

Hungry diners can once again enjoy vegetarian offerings such as Claire’s falafel pita pocket, eggplant grinder, grilled cheese florentine, tofu scramble, quiches, cakes, cupcakes and cookies.

Owner Claire Criscuolo, who has run the restaurant since 1975, decided to close in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, even before Gov. Ned Lamont ordered restaurants to do so.

On Friday morning, Criscuolo and her staff were busily preparing for the restaurant’s official noon reopening.

“We are so happy and grateful to be back,” Criscuolo said. 

Customers will notice big differences when they return, as Criscuolo had previously planned to remodel her business, and she completed the project during the closure.

The restaurant has been expanded to its original footprint, which includes the corner of College and Chapel streets. It has a larger dining area, new kitchen, quartz countertops and new floors throughout. The business also has new HEPA filtered air purifiers and an upgraded air conditioning system. 

Criscuolo thanked the community for its support during the crisis, which included “countless heartfelt messages” and gift card purchases.

“People have been calling and texting and saying how they’ve missed us,” Criscuolo said. “It is incredible.”

She credited her landlord, Yale University Properties, for its support and assistance as she faced the pandemic and remodel. 

“Without Yale, our reopening would not have been possible,”  she said.

The restaurant, at 1000 Chapel St., is open for indoor and outdoor dining, takeout and curbside delivery Wednesdays through Mondays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is temporarily closed on Tuesdays.

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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