Wilton may have just celebrated its first restaurant week, but one eatery in town has closed for good rather than continue serving customers. The owners of Steve's Bagels have decided to shut down the Old Ridgefield Road store.
"The people who did come loved us, but it's expensive here in Wilton. Rents are expensive, so we had to make a decision. We decided it wasn't worth it, unfortunately," owner Toni Piazza explained.
Signs posted on both doors of the location read, "Store Closed--We truly appreciate your patronage, Thank you! Please visit us in Ridgefield." Store fixtures, including the counter, tables and chairs, bagel bins and refrigerated food cases were completely cleared out of the space.
The sudden appearance of the signs on the doors and the store's empty space surprised residents, given that Steve's was open for business over the weekend and then suddenly closed on Monday. A call to Steve's Ridgefield location found employees there surprised as well.
"I just found out myself. I drove by this morning and that's when I found out," said Jonathan Pierce, a Steve's Bagel shift supervisor in Ridgefield.
Piazza called it an unfortunate, but necessary, business decision, adding that they will remain open in Ridgefield.
"I want to say thank you to the Wilton people who did come and frequent us, we appreciate that very much, and we hope they come see us sometime in Ridgefield." She added that anyone holding gift cards can still redeem them at the Ridgefield location.
