By Dave Matlow
Jeff Aricola, owner of JR’s Deli & Grill, 265 Riverside Ave., said today he is turning the business over to new owners by the end of March.
Jeff Arciola and sister Pam at the restaurant today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
He said they are Lou Prumotl, the primary investor, and Eric Johnson, who will manage the eatery and the weenie mobile with Arciola’s help through May.
Prumonti is not new to the restaurant business, said Arciola. He said he currently owns three others—Sunrise Grill and Valentino in Norwalk, and a restaurant along the marina in New Rochelle.
Arciola, 44, assumed the ownership of JR’s Hot Dog Stand, as it was formerly known, in 2003 when he purchased it from his cousins Carolyn and Junior Bieling, who owned the iconic site since 1970.
Before taking over the restaurant, Arciola said he leased a restaurant at the Silvermine Golf Club in Norwalk and operated it for 11 years.
Arciola said he and his wife Kathi, have a long history. He graduated from Staples High School in 1987 and Kathi in 1990. He said Kathi will soon earn her nursing degree at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Bridgeport, after which they will move to North Carolina “and do something like this.”
“We wanted to move while the kids are young and the timing is right for us now,” he said. “Our daughter Brenna, 18, will soon go away to college and is basically not affected by the move while Jason, 5, and Caroline, 3, are young and do not exactly comprehend.”
Fighting back tears Arciola said, “my feelings (about leaving the restaurant and Westport) are bitter sweet. Now that it’s happening and settling in, I have happy days and sad days.”
“We amassed a lot of friends,” he added. “They’re family to us. They come in here and talk about the town. Our fathers and grandfathers knew each other. Many of us grew up together. The new owners will keep this place the same way. Everything will be the same.”
Arciola said his biggest seller was a meatball grinder on Friday, “It will still be the same.” He said.
One of the drop-in visitors today was Westport Police Capt. Sam Arciola who said, “Jeff’s father and my father were brothers. Jeff and I have always been very close. We’re only one year apart. We grew up together.”
