Popular CT Pizza Spot Faces Possible Eviction In Stamford: Lawsuit

STAMFORD, CT — Riko's Pizza, the popular pizza joint known for its hot oil and thin crust pies with three locations in Connecticut and more on the way, is facing possible eviction at its 886 Hope St., location in the Springdale section of Stamford after a lawsuit was filed in Connecticut Superior Court earlier this month that claimed nonpayment of "additional rent."

TPW Partners, LLC, the landlord for the Hope Street business, claims in the lawsuit filed Jan. 6, 2023, that as of Oct. 25, 2022, Riko's owed $39,926 in additional rent plus interest and late fees per the terms of the lease agreement, which was originally entered into in February 2016 with an expiration date of Jan. 31, 2022.

Additional rent is any monetary obligations that a tenant is responsible for in addition to the base rent or the minimum monthly rent.

As part of the initial lease agreement, Riko's had an option to extend the lease for five years if they provided written notice at least six months before the end of the current term, and if they followed the terms of the agreement.

The lawsuit claims Riko's forfeited any right to exercise the five-year lease extension because of the nonpayment.

On Nov. 7, 2022, TPW issued a notice to Riko's to vacate the property on or before Dec. 1, 2022.

Riko's is still occupying the space and refuses to vacate, the lawsuit claims.

In a Facebook comment under a post on its page, Riko's said it has no plans to close at 886 Hope St.

TPW claims judgment "for immediate possession" of the premises with costs.

In a filing last week, John Cassone, attorney for Riko's, asked TPW to fully detail and itemize the amount of additional rent claimed as due so his client could adequately answer and reply to the nonpayment allegation.

"This is a dispute stemming from the landlord's accounting of, or lack of accounting, I should say, of any additional rent due and owing in the form of water and sewer charges," Cassone said in a statement to Patch on behalf of Riko's Newfield, LLC, which includes owners Rico Imbrogno and Luigi Cardillo.

"All base rent, which makes up the majority of the rent, has been paid in full, timely throughout the entire lease term," Cassone added. "Riko's Hope Street location is doing amazing and he has a tremendous following. The landlord is merely trying to renegotiate the original lease agreement, which was renewed by Riko's in accordance with the terms of the original lease."

According to leasing documents included in the lawsuit, Riko's base rent from Feb. 1, 2021, to Jan. 31, 2022, was $6,753 per month.

Riko's moved its original location from 170 Selleck St., to 2010 W. Main St., near the Old Greenwich border last year. The Hope Street location opened in October 2016. There is also a Riko's Pizza on Connecticut Avenue in Norwalk.

Franchising has taken off in recent years for Imbrogno and Cardillo.

Two more locations in Connecticut are planned in the future for Darien on the Post Road, and Fairfield on Black Rock Turnpike, according to the Riko's website.

There are also plans to open a second Riko's on Long Island, and a second spot in Florida.

Riko's says on its website it's now offering franchise opportunities in the communities of Boston, Albany, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., as well as territories in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Texas.

Menu items at Riko's include salads, salad pizzas, oven-baked wings, and of course, signature thin crust pies with various toppings or specialties, including the popular hot oil pizza: homemade hot oil with a batch of stinger peppers on top. Hot oil can be added to any pie.