Opening Planned For New Garden Catering Location In Shelton

SHELTON, CT — Garden Catering, a local chain specializing in freshly made chicken nuggets and breakfast sandwiches, plans to open its newest location in Shelton next month.

COO Tina Carpenteri confirmed to Patch the Shelton restaurant, first announced back in April, is aiming to open its doors to customers at 702 Bridgeport Avenue in early November, although a firm date has not officially been set yet.

A grand opening celebration is currently planned to take place the week of Nov. 17, according to Carpenteri.

"We will be partnering with the Boys and Girls Club of [the Lower Naugatuck Valley] and will be donating a percentage of proceeds of sales during that time period," Carpenteri said to Patch. "We will have meet and greets lined up and an $8 special day, as well as other exciting activations."

Once open, the Garden Catering team will feature some brand new menu items in Shelton, as well as a new Darien location, prior to pushing them out to other Garden Catering restaurants, Carpenteri said.

Carpenteri also noted construction at the Shelton location "is moving along," and the whole team is excited to welcome Shelton customers inside soon.

"We have already received an outpouring of messages of excitement and support," Carpenteri said, "and we cannot wait to be a part of the Shelton community."

In celebration of the new restaurant's opening, Shelton customers can enter their email through the Garden Catering website for a chance to win free nuggets for a year.

Located in a former GameStop space in the Split Rock Development, the large space will span 2,000 square feet and seat up to 20 guests, according to additional press materials provided by Garden Catering earlier this year.

The new Shelton and Darien restaurants will expand Garden Catering's presence to 10 locations across Connecticut and New York.

"Shelton is a natural next step for Garden Catering," Carpenteri said to Patch earlier this year. "With a strong presence in communities like Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield and Norwalk, we've seen firsthand how well our hand-cut nuggets, crispy potato cones and the rest of our family-friendly menu resonates with busy suburban neighborhoods."

In addition to their beloved nuggets, cut daily in house, Garden Catering also famously serves up crispy potato cones, milkshakes and an all-day breakfast menu that includes "The Hotsy," a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich made with Hotsy's famous chili and potato cones.

Garden Catering first operated out of a converted train car in Old Greenwich in the late 1970's, serving up fried chicken and sides to hungry locals.

Frank Carpenteri Sr. re-launched the brand at the same location in 1991 with an emphasis on quality and friendly service.

Garden Catering remains family-owned and operated by siblings Frank Jr. and Tina Carpenteri, with additional locations in Stamford, Norwalk, Fairfield and Bridgeport, as well as Port Chester and Mamaroneck, N.Y.

The chain closed its New Haven location earlier this month, according to the Garden Catering website.