Gregory's Coffee Opens Its Doors In Darien

DARIEN, CT — Darien residents now have a new option in town to get their coffee fix.

Gregory's Coffee, a New York City-based chain that offers freshly brewed coffees and teas, freshly-baked pastries made in-house, and plenty of vegan options, officially opened on Oct. 13 at Darien Commons, 102 Heights Road.

The location represents the brand's second Connecticut location, with the other in Greenwich which opened nearly two years ago. The Darien Commons outpost is the company's first standalone location.

Owner Gregory Zamfotis said there was a little bit of a delay in getting the space ready, but he believes it was worth the wait.

"Folks who either live in the Commons or in the area generally seem to be really excited to have us here as part of the community," Zamfotis told Patch. "We're past the construction phase and now we're into serving great coffee every day."

There are 36 Gregory's Coffee locations throughout the Northeast in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, Washington D.C., and Long Island.

Zamfotis began the business in Manhattan with his father, George, in 2006.

"Our tagline is, 'See coffee differently.' To me, that means that we're taking a unique approach to specialty coffee. There are a lot of stereotypes when people think about what it takes to get a great cup of coffee, and we try to really buck all of those trends," Zamfotis said. "We want to serve amazingly, high-quality coffee and couple it with a great customer service experience and a warm and welcoming environment."

Customers can find all their favorite hot and cold coffee drinks, teas, and even smoothies or healthy juice shots. There are a variety of pastries like muffins, cookies, croissants, and breakfast sandwiches.

"We bake on-site here, and we have robust plant-based offerings for those looking for vegan or healthier options. We really cater to folks who often have a hard time finding great options in that regard," said Zamfotis, whose father is "the brains" behind the food program at Gregory's Coffee.

Zamfotis moved to Westchester County in 2018 and began to frequent Connecticut more.

He opened the first CT location on Greenwich Avenue about two years ago and always felt like Darien was the next logical stop. Zamfotis felt a need to bring great coffee to town, especially in the Noroton area.

"When Darien Commons was presented to us, we were just so excited with what this opportunity was," Zamfotis said, noting the close proximity to the train station. "People were really looking for a great coffee operator on this side of Darien."

Gregory's Coffee joins other businesses at Darien Commons that have opened recently: Seamore's, Naya Middle Eastern Counter & Grill and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.

Chip City is also planning to open at Darien Commons.

Zamfotis called the Darien location "probably the most beautiful store" the brand has built.

The standalone building offers 360 degrees of glass. The side of the building has two, roll-up garage doors which can be opened during nice weather to create an open-air flow. There are about 25 seats inside, and another dozen seats or so in a nearby outdoor area.

"We just tried to keep it really clean and simple, but we like to toe the line between being elegant and comfortable. It feels really nice with pretty finishes, but it's a place you can sit and plug in, connect to our WiFi and do your work if you need to, or just have a quick cup of coffee and a nice pastry and get going," Zamfotis said.

"We really wanted to make it feel nice and premium for Darien Commons, sort of being the first thing you see when you pull in. We wanted to make sure we gave it justice with a nice build-out."

The reaction on opening day Friday was very positive, Zamfotis said.

"We're really excited to be here. I can't say enough about the people we've met. They've been just so welcoming to us, and we're excited to be a part of the community," Zamfotis added. "I'm just really proud of our team for building a great store, and now serving the community with some great coffee and great vibes."

Gregory's Coffee will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. For those looking to catch a train early in the morning or skip the line and go in and out, Gregory's Coffee offers mobile ordering through their app, which also has a rewards program.

Delivery is also available through the app or any of the traditional delivery platforms.

For more on Gregory's Coffee, check out their website or follow them on Instagram.