Abate’s Apizza Opening New Location In North Haven

NORTH HAVEN, CT — Popular Wooster Street eatery Abate’s Apizza & Restaurant, which was significantly damaged in a two-alarm fire in May, is relocating to North Haven, according to officials.

North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda announced Wednesday that Abate’s is opening at 61 State Street. Freda said in a post on Facebook that he is anticipating an opening date of mid-September for the restaurant.

Abate’s has been closed since the fire ripped through the restaurant, which opened more than three decades ago.

The New Haven Independent reported at the time, that according to Louis Abate, who has run the restaurant for 31 years, "the flue pipe to the oven overheated, and the oven caught fire." There were no reported injuries, and the damage to the interior was "extensive."

Abate told WTNH News-8 at the time that the fire was "total devastation." The only thing he's thinking right now is: “Where can I go? What can I do? How fast can I reopen?"

The Abate Family provided an update on the restaurant’s Facebook page on Tuesday, saying “big things are in the works.”

“We will be relocating for the time being to formerly River Tavern,” the post reads. “Located @ 61 State St, North Haven, CT! We are working daily to open up! So sit tight, We will be back shortly! We thank you all again for your love and patience we look forward to cooking lunch and dinner for you soon!”

The family confirmed in the comments under the post that they will eventually reopen in New Haven and will ultimately have both locations. They said the rebuild in New Haven will take about six months to a year to complete, and North Haven will be less than a month.

“We’ve been working hard every day,” the family wrote in the comments. “Plumbers, electricians, painters and even our own pizza guys moving equipment and setting up. The phone crew all working on different aspects of third party companies. We are very grateful to all of those who have stuck by us for many years prior to the fire and since. This team is like family. We may drive each other nuts at times but there is a whole lot of love going into all of this hard work. We can speak volumes on the loyalty of this crew. It’s a humbling experience when people pull together this way.”

A GoFundMe was created for the restaurant by Harry Eisengrein, who hoped to "raise money for whatever the Abates might need help with during this trying time." Abate is described as generous.

"If you've had pizza in downtown New Haven, more than likely you've had pizza there. And if you had the pleasure of meeting the owner, then you know what kind of man runs this place. If you haven't met Louis Abate, let me give you just one example of this man's generosity," the post on GoFundMe reads. "Back in 2021 when the pandemic was in full swing, he was sending free pizzas to the local hospital, even though his own business was taking a hit. The man has a big heart, and it shows."

The GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $7,900 as of Wednesday evening.

For more information, visit the GoFundMe page here, and Abate Apizza & Seafood Restaurant on Facebook here.