Prominent Upscale Southington Restaurant's Expansion Approved

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A prominent local restaurant is expanding after the town's zoning board recently granted approval to add a permanent building to replace a temporary one erected during the pandemic.

The Southington Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7-0 April 18 to allow the owners of the building housing the Cava Restaurant, 1615 West St., to put in a 3,104-square-foot addition.

The site plan approved by the PZC allows for construction of a permanent structure to replace a temporary metal building that went up during the Covid-19 pandemic.

State officials and Gov. Ned Lamont allowed for such features to be built quickly to help restaurants survive the economic challenges brought on by the pandemic.

That temporary approval, however, expired Sunday, April 30.

The new, yet-to-be-built permanent addition would allow Cava to comfortably serve 100 extra patrons, as well as provide permanent storage space in its basement. The temporary building did just that.

The 2.13-acre site and the building there is owned by Eleni Real Estate LLC, which made the formal site plan application with the town.

Eleni was represented April 18 by Bristol attorney James Ziogas Jr., who pitched the plans to the PZC.

Ziogas said the new addition's façade will match the current façade and it will blend in seamlessly with the existing structure.

Ziogas said the new building would, essentially, allow for the restaurant to operate as it did during the pandemic, adding the temporary building utilized is no longer allowed.

"That building is no longer valid. It has to be replaced," he told the PZC.

Zoning board members had a few minor questions associated with the project, but it approved the site plan easily, 7-0.

Cava is an upscale restaurant specializing in fine Italian dining and atmosphere, with notable displays within the facility during the holidays.

It is also a prominent banquet and events destination, with corporate engagements, wedding receptions and private social functions a regular occurrence there.

For the minutes of the April 18 Southington Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.

For all documents related to the application at 1615 West St., Southington, click on this link.

For more information on the Cava Restaurant, click on this link.