Stewart’s Opens First CT Restaurant In West Haven

WEST HAVEN, CT — The wait is over. West Haven and area residents have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Stewart’s All American Grill after the restaurant chain, which became famous for its sodas and root beer floats, announced last summer that it would be opening its first Connecticut location in West Haven. Stewart’s All American Grill officially celebrated its grand opening in West Haven with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday.

West Haven Mayor Nancy R. Rossi (pictured) cuts the ribbon 23 with Stewart’s All American President Jim LaGanke, third from right, to celebrate the ceremonial opening of Stewart’s All American Grill at 340 Sawmill Road. Joining them are, from front left, Ben LeFebvre, Stewart’s manager of technological operations; property owner Lorraine Tartaglia of Tartaglia Commercial Properties; state Rep. Charles J. Ferraro, R-West Haven; city Planning and Development Commissioner Fred A. Messore; property owner Isabel Tartaglia of Tartaglia Commercial Properties; Bill Rose, Stewart’s director of business development; Councilwoman Tracy A. Morrissey, D-8; and Gerry Pelissier, Stewart’s vice president of franchise development and marketing.

The ribbon-cutting was also attended by state Rep. Dorinda Borer, D-West Haven, and City Council Minority Leader Richard DePalma, R-at large. The new restaurant, the company’s first full-service eatery in Connecticut, officially opened its doors April 20 in the former site of Friendly’s restaurant and, most recently, A-1 Diner.

Stewart’s, which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., is decorated with black-and-white photos of old Savin Rock amusement park, which were donated by notable local historian and photographer Dan Shine.

Related: Stewart's To Open First Connecticut Restaurant In West Haven

Stewart’s founder Frank Stewart opened his first namesake restaurant in Mansfield, Ohio, in 1924.

Now a popular restaurant chain with dozens of locations primarily in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the company, based in Rutherford, N.J., is known for serving up old-fashioned milkshakes and ice-cream sodas, including its signature root beer floats, along with scrumptious burgers, hot dogs and fries.

The West Haven location, just off Exit 42 of Interstate 95, is next to a newer plaza of businesses on the former site of American Steakhouse that include a Starbucks, an Aspen Dental and a Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The plaza, at 354 Sawmill Road, is also owned by Tartaglia Commercial Properties, a company owned and operated by the Tartaglia family, which had owned the steakhouse.

(City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)