Ambitious, Unique Pizza Restaurant Still Planned In Milford

MILFORD, CT — Plans to repurpose the old Melba Street firehouse into an ambitious and unique pizza restaurant are taking a lot longer than expected, but the project is still very much alive, says Marty McCarthy, according to the Milford Mirror.

He bought the firehouse for $180,000 from the city in 2015 and his goal is to have the new eatery operational sometime in 2019.

Renovations are expected to cost up to $500,000, and McCarthy told the Mirror that much work has already occurred inside the old firehouse.

The new eatery will closely resemble McCarthy's other Fire Engine Pizza Co. restaurant, which is located in Black Rock.

According to its website, Fire Engine Pizza Co. is "Widely known for specialty pizzas served from the 1985 International Fire Engine that was stationed on Fairfield Avenue, Fire Engine Pizza Co. was reinvented to bring together classic combinations with a modern twist. The menu offers gluten free options, a homemade mozzarella wedge that's unlike any others around - oozing with fresh mozzarella cheese, roasted red peppers, basil, garlic, and spinach as well as entrees that have quickly become the talk of the town including Carmine's Eggplant, Rigatoni Tuscana, and Sunday at Carmela's just to name a few.

With reclaimed barn-wood, hickory floors, and endless artifacts donated from local Fire Departments, Fire Engine Pizza Co. exudes an early American ambiance with intricate detail from top to bottom. The rectangular bar is situated in the center of one half of the establishment, creating an inviting social environment that serves all the classics - plus seasonal cocktail specials throughout the year. The remaining half emanates a family- friendly atmosphere with a brick oven backdrop, creating a dining experience that is unmatched," the website states.

>>>Read the full Milford Mirror story here.