Owners Selling Popular Norwalk Restaurant After Nearly 40 Years

NORWALK, CT — The owners of Partner's Cafe & Pizzeria in East Norwalk announced Monday they will be selling the restaurant after nearly 40 years in business.

In a Facebook post, the Spinola family said they plan to sell the popular neighborhood eatery, located on the corner of First Street and Cove Avenue.

"We’ve spent the last four decades building a business we are proud of by doing what we love most, making others happy," the post reads. "The decision to sell did not come lightly and weighed heavy on our hearts. We are honored to have been part of the Norwalk community and the rich history of East Norwalk for so long. For this we have no one to thank other than our loyal customers who have become family over many years of service."

The family also announced they are selling the restaurant to the owners of BJ Ryan's, another long-standing local restaurant located on Main Street with a separate seafood eatery, BJ Ryan's Banc House, located on River Street.

According to the family, BJ and Marissa Lawless and Keith Torpey will "proudly be continuing the neighborhood hometown tradition" from their new third location in Norwalk.

Partner's Cafe's final day will be Dec. 22, and the restaurant will be open every day until then starting Wednesday.

"We hope you cherish all of the amazing past memories that have been created inside our establishment as much as our family will," the post reads.

Established in 1983, Partner's Cafe is a family-owned and operated restaurant specializing in thin crust pizza. Located next to the Norwalk Harbor, the local favorite boasts menu items such as nachos, wings, soups, salads, sandwiches and pasta specialties among many other items.

In 2019, Mayor Harry Rilling and the Norwalk Health Department presented Partner's with a Top Lighthouse Rating certificate, which is given to establishments that receive consecutive excellent inspection grades in the previous year.

See also: Iconic Norwalk Cafe Receives Top Lighthouse Rating

"I'm no stranger to Partner's," Rilling said during the presentation in January 2019. "I liken Partner's to Norwalk's version of Cheers. The ambiance is wonderful, the people that come here are all friendly and cheerful and have a good time...the food is good and inexpensive, and it's just a really fun place to come to."

Patch has reached out to BJ Ryan's and the mayor's office for further information.