Restaurateur Seeks To Expand Empty Building In Mystic

A Mystic man has applied for a special permit to expand an empty building on Water Street, nearly triple its size and create a sit-down restaurant with patios. 

Greg Fedus, of Fedus Engineering LLC, filed an application Feb. 1 for a special permit from the Groton Zoning Commission to build additions on both sides of 13 Water St.

The store's existing two-story building is 27-by-20-feet. The additions would be 22-by-19-feet and 30-by-19-feet, respectively. The project would also install two brick patios, but the restaurant is not intended to be seasonal.

"It will also serve the area residents on a year-round basis," the application said. The business would be called the "85th Day Restaurant" and would rely on off-street parking, the validation program and a leased, 40-space lot. 

"It would be excellent for business. There's no two ways about it," said Cindy Cobb, manager of The Emporium next door. "We're alone down here now."

Cobb said the last business to occupy the spot, Parisian Pomme Frites Cafe, was just getting established when it closed. The cafe sold double fried potato wedges with  toppings.

Stephanie Thorp, who has lived in Mystic 35 years and walks in the area, said she's seen possibly 20 businesses in the building, including an ice cream shop, jewelry and craft store and a shop that sold lawn ornaments.

Barry Thorp said businesses on Water Street aren't as visible as those on Main Street, so they struggle if they rely solely on foot traffic.

"Whether a place here would be successful I think has got a lot to do with how much advertising they do," he said. "People aren't going to walk by it, unless they just happened to be walking like we are."