Former Finance Board Chair Focusing on Family

Former Trumbull Board of Finance member Ken Martin Jr. closed out 2011 with at least three things for which he is thankful.

His business, the Colony Grill in Fairfield, has survived the turbulent economy; his wife is pregnant with their fifth child; and he departed the Board of Finance with the praises of his colleagues.

He's always been conservative and wanted to be an entrepreneur, two things he said have helped him toward his current job.

"I probably couldn't tell you the name but I thought I would own and operate a business one day," he said recently, seated in his restaurant on the Post Road in Fairfield, which he's part-owned for a year and a half. 

Martin, a republican who grew up in Trumbull and whose father serves on the Park and Recreation Commission, started the Colony Grill with three friends from his Trumbull Little League days: retired NHL player Chris Drury; Paul Coniglio, of IBM; and Cody Lee. Their team won the 1989 International Little League World Series.

Martin is the managing partner. "We've always been close," Martin said of his partners. "I couldn't ask for a better partnership."

"That was a great summer for a 12-year-old. All we did was play baseball and travel," Martin said.

After graduating from and then college, he ran the New York Times online sports page, did interviews for the Olympics and planned events for two restaurants. He was in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, and married his girlfriend, another St. Joseph alum, afterward. They had their first child in 2003. Now they have four, from ages 8 to 1.

In 2006, Martin decided he wanted more challenges. "I said, 'Why don't I try to volunteer?'"

He quickly ascended to chairman and oversaw several tough budgets in a row in the midst of a serious recession.

"I enjoyed it. It was an education. I learned how things work," Martin said.

His business experience helped him with the job. "I think there are a lot of similarities. You need to cover your expenses. You can spend as much as you have. I tried to bring an everyday sensibility to the job," he said.

For now Martin is focusing on family. "I would definitely like to do something for the town again. I think we just have to get through this next childbirth. I'd like to grow the business," he added.

The grill serves pizza and refreshments. "We're on the low end [of prices]. I think we've increased sales because of that. I think pizza, beer and soda are something people are not going to stop eating," Martin said. 

He also credits the business' success to hiring. "Our philosophy is to go for good people," he said.

The restaurant is based on the restaurant in Stamford, and has photos of U.S. servicemen and women hanging on the walls. "There are stories for all those pictures," according to Martin.

And late last year, the restaurant helped sponsor a 5K run, the first of what Martin hopes will become many.

His goal is to serve the community at the restaurant, as he served the town on the Board of Finance.

His colleagues and First Selectman Tim Herbst wished the restauranteur well. "Ken, thank you for your years of service," he said. 

"Everyone should volunteer," Martin said.