Celebration Planned For Westport Pizzeria, Closing After 51 Years

WESTPORT, CT — Westport Pizzeria, where locals have enjoyed great pizza for 51 years, is closing its doors on Jan. 11, and town and state officials are planning a celebration on Friday to honor the business and owner Carmelo "Mel" Mioli.

"Westport State Senator Tony Hwang and Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe joined by municipal and state leaders invite the Westport community to join in a special celebration and
recognition event on Friday, Jan 3rd at 1pm at Westport Pizzeria, 143 Post Road East, Westport, CT," Hwang announced.

Mioli, who turns 80 this spring, opened the popular restaurant in 1968 with his brother, former state Rep. Joe Mioli, on Main Street, writes WestportNow.com.

Joe sold his stake in the restaurant to Mel in 2004, according to the Connecticut Post, and Mel moved to the current location on the Post Road East in 2014 after the Main Street lease was not renewed.

Though members of the Mioli family all worked at the restaurant over the years, none decided to carry on the tradition. So Mel is closing it down, though he still owns the building where there eatery is located.

Westport Pizzeria is the second long-time Westport restaurant to announce its closure in the past two months. In November, Joey's By The Shore at Compo Beach closed after more than 30 years following a rent dispute with the town.