Village Tavern in Ridgefield is Back in Business

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Reports of the demise of The Village Tavern have been greatly exaggerated, according to the restaurant's social media.

The establishment's original partners, Chef Germano Minin and resident Joe Chelednik, took to Facebook late Tuesday afternoon to announce they have taken over the operation of Ramapoo Restaurant Corporation, which they say owns and operates the Village Tavern and Romolo Gastro Pizza, as of Jan. 29.

The restaurateurs say they arrived at the decision to take over the operation "after becoming aware of certain unethical business practices."

"Minin and Chelednik are looking forward to re-launching and re-opening The Village Tavern the last week of February or first week of March," the post reads, "and updates will be posted to social media as they become available."

Previous co-owner Bruno DiFabio, who also operated Pinocchio Pizza in New Canaan, Wilton and Pound Ridge NY; Amore Pizza in Scarsdale, NY; Amore Cucina and Bar in Stamford; and ReNapoli Pizza in Old Greenwich, pleaded guilty to tax evasion in October.

Minin and Chelednik apologized on Facebook "for any confusion caused by incorrect and misleading information that was circulated last week" and thanked their customers and the residents of the town of Ridgefield for all of their support over the past two years.