HOLIDAYS ON THE

Magical Mile
Highlights of the Wolcott St./Lakewood Rd. Business Association and and its Holiday Festivities

Thursday, November 19, 2009

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE
RepublicanAmerican
2 HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009
 WELCOME

Holiday Shopping on the Magical Mile!

by Jay Sargent - Regional Manager, TC Pawn Company Jewelry and Electronics & Chair of the Wolcott Street/Lakewood Road Business Association
Welcome to the Magical Mile’s
Sixth Annual Magical Mile Holiday
section of the Republican American.
This year we are celebrating an ex-
citing 11 years of the Magical Mile –
one of Naugatuck Valley’s oldest
shopping areas and home to some of
Waterbury’s best-loved businesses.
The Magical Mile was founded by
the Wolcott Street/Lakewood Road
Business Association, a division of
the Waterbury Regional Chamber,
as a way to revitalize the area, share
in marketing efforts and bring large
corporate and privately owned
Jay Sargent, Regional Manager, TC
Pawn Company Jewelry and Electronics smaller businesses together as neigh-
& Chair of the Wolcott Street/Lakewood bors. It is a collection of like-minded
Road Business Association businesses that work hard to give
their customers the very best dollar
value and shopping or service experience Waterbury has to offer. Our
members offer a difference from the congested shopping malls. Magical
tail stores alike have located in an area of great economic growth and are
welcomed by the Association and the citizens of the Waterbury area.
In recent months we have seen our goal of an enhanced image for the
Magical Mile come to life. Working together with the Waterbury Regional
Chamber, The City of Waterbury and the Waterbury Police Department,
we are witnessing a “clean up” on the Magical Mile. The roadway and
properties along the mile are being better maintained and we will soon be
looking at the removal of an abandoned building on Lakewood Road that
has been an eyesore for many years.
The Magical Mile will continue to expand and develop the area’s retail
and service offerings toward success in the competitive economic land-
scape of the Naugatuck Valley. We remain committed to the community
as a destination for commerce in the City.
Please have a Happy, Healthy and Safe Holiday Season. We all hope to
see you on the Magical Mile!

Rosa
Mile members provide easy parking and shopping, value, and a personal
touch, many times absent elsewhere.
Chiropractic
It has been a very difficult year for many of our friends and neighbors
throughout the Waterbury area during this troubling economic period. As
Center
small business owners we have also felt the pressures of a slowed econo- Motor Vehicle Accidents | Worker’s Comp HOTTEST RESTAURANT IN TOWN!
Slip and Fall Injuries 643 Lakewood Road, Waterbury 06705
my. With the support of our loyal and dedicated customers and the deter-
mination of many hard working local citizens, we will get through these  Herniated 203-754-BBQ1
difficult times and prosper. It is important that we continue to strive to- discs in Watch for our NEW
ward the expanded vision we have for the Magical Mile and the incredible neck and
sense of “spirit” for our community. lower back Dollar “$omething” Menu
 Neck Pain • Hamburger • Fish Sandwich
Over the past year we have seen a few businesses close their doors, just COMING • Chicken Nuggets
as many have across the country. Yet, we have also seen a number open
 Back pain SOON! • Fries • Onion Rings
 Headaches • Buffalo Chicken Wrap
their doors for the first time on the Magical Mile! New restaurants and re-

50
Steven C. Rosa, D.C., CCRD
 Arm & Leg Don’t Forget Our
Pain
Chiropractic Physician

WILD ¢
Happy Holidays!  Cervical and lumbar
disc decompression
WINGS
EVERY SUN. & WED. (30 limit on
ea.
throughout the Football Season Take-Out)
 WALK-INS WELCOME  Buy Your $5.00 Stimulus
 FREE TRANSPORTATION  Card For Repeat Savings
Serving Greater Waterbury For 22 Years Makes a Great Gift! Good for 1 year.
Ask at counter.

On the Magical Mile since 1993!

WATCH FOR OUR NEW
715 Lakewood Road “EXPRESS BREAKFAST”
Waterbury, CT 06704
EDWARD BUSHKA & SON Tel. 203.573.0011 Fax: 203.597.1809 ( November 23rd (
Starting Monday,
625 Wolcott Street, WTBY 203 753-3352 RosaChiro@aol.com
Located Directly Across From Big Lots www.rosachiropractic.com OPEN SUN.-THU. 11-9, FRI. & SAT. 11-10
www.bigfranksbbq.com

HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009 3

 CHAMBER LETTER
Complete Auto Center # Domestic & Foreign

Your Retail Shopping Destination # For All Your Car Care Needs #

OIL CHANGE
$
24 99
One of the most popular shopping destinations in Waterbury is the your business needs for insur- UP TO
“Magical Retail Mile.” The Mile continues to be a shopping hub, where ance, banking or supplies – 5 QUARTS
small, individually owned and operat- today’s Magical Mile has some- FOR CARS
ed businesses, large chain stores and thing to offer everyone. TRUCKS
popular restaurants line Wolcott Street EXTRA

and Lakewood Road. The Waterbury Regional Buy a $ 5 Stimulus

Lynn Ward is the President & CEO of
the Waterbury Regional Chamber
Gary O’Connor, Esq., Pepe & Hazard,
LLC, serves as Chairman of the Wa-
terbury Regional Chamber’s Board
of Directors.
Chamber is proud to support the “Waterbury Value Card”
Founded over ten years ago by our volunteers and business mem-
& Instantly SAVE
Waterbury Regional Chamber, the Wol- bers working hard to achieve
$
cott Street/Lakewood Road Business
Association (WSLRBA) was developed
success on the Mile. Special
recognition goes to Jay Sargent,
5 OFF
as a result of the decline of the area General Manager of TC’S Pawn any OIL CHANGE
No expiration.
with the closing of the Naugatuck Val- Company Jewelry & Electronics CARD GOOD AT
ley Mall. The WSLRBA has made sub- Exchange for acting as chairman 9 OTHER
PARTICIPATING The
stantial contributions to the of the Wolcott Street/Lakewood Value Card
MEMBERS. Makes a GREAT
revitalization of the shopping district Road Business Association and stocking
over the past several years by under- to the many volunteers who stuffer!
taking a variety of marketing and devel- work diligently to promote this Emission
Test www.atlct.com
opment initiatives. Dubbing the area area of the bustling Waterbury
“The Magical Mile” as part of an image community.
Repairs 203.573.5400
enhancement project, the Magical Mile 628 Lakewood Rd • Waterbury
has since thrived. It encompasses the
Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-4
stretch of road that begins on Wolcott
Road near the Manor Avenue intersec-
tion, up to the Waterbury/Wolcott line,
as well as northeast up Lakewood Road.
With a strong infrastructure in place the
area began to rebuild itself and with the
success of the Naugatuck Valley Shop-
ping Center there was a resurgence that
inspired others in the community. Cov-
ering the mile-long stretch is a wide va-
riety of retail, service-oriented
businesses and restaurants. Whether
you’re shopping for electronics, enjoy-
ing a delicious meal or handling

3
$ 00
od!
‘ c u z it ’ s g o
OFF
Serving Greater Waterbury Since 1982
Any Cake With coupon.
Higher price prevails.
Cannot be combined.
Expires 12/31/09.

y’s Open All Winter

Dipp D
AR
GIFT C Open Thanksgiving Day
• Customized Photo Cakes
Put any photo on your next cake
• Gourmet Ice Cream With coupon.
Made on the premises Higher price prevails. Cannot be combined. Expires 12/31/09.

663 Lakewood Road, Waterbury 203-574-1809

4 HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

HISTORY

Our Magical Beginnings

Wolcott Street/Lakewood Road Business Association
In the fall of 1998 the new Brass Mill Center opened its doors on the
site of the former Scovill Manufacturing Plant. As a result, the Nau-
gatuck Valley Mall located on Wolcott Street since 1969 closed its doors,
leaving the area without a major retailer. Likewise, the key tenants of the
Naugatuck Valley Mall moved to the Brass Mill Center, and perception
was that this once thriving retail area was no more.
build a positive image for the area. By joining together we have created
job growth, welcomed activity and entertainment options, and improved
the quality of life for the residents of Greater Waterbury. The area is now
bustling with major retail players, big box type stores, grocery chains and
new and exciting dining opportunities. From Manor Avenue to the Wolcott
border, millions of private dollars have been invested in the community
and a strong retail base is proudly demonstrated in the many shopping
choices offered by "The Magical Retail Mile."

But wait! Here is where the story gets good. Local merchants, with the
help of the Greater Waterbury Chamber of Commerce (now the Water- DEI 4100
HF Plus Technology
SALE
bury Regional Chamber), came together and created the Wolcott
 1 Remote

149
Street/Lakewood Road Business Association. Rob Kane, owner of

ly$$ 99
 2 Year Warranty
KarTele Cellular Phones, was chosen to chair the organization and meet-
95  Up to 400 feet of Range

On
ings that had begun at the former Scoreboard Restaurant. Perception is
not always reality, and these businesses proved that although they were Most Cars  Parking Light Output
REG. 199
$

User Friendly
New
down, they were not out. Through image enhancement, collaborative
marketing and a lot of hard work, the association now proudly boasts Remote
*Sale ends December 24, 2009 *$35 additional for Keyless Entry *Must be installed by January 31, 2010 Some cars may require anti-theft bypass
what has been termed, "The Magical Retail Mile." Receiving national
recognition in the New York Times, the group fought through a dilemma CELLULAR
that plagues many regions throughout the U.S. - older, worn out shopping
malls being replaced by multi-level new ones.
PHONES
www.KarTele.com 511 Wolcott Street, Waterbury 203 755-6969
The mission, begun by the Wolcott
Street/Lakewood Road Business As-
Bumper Bowling
LIFESTYLES
sociation, called for the marketing
and development of the Wolcott
Street retail, service and restaurant BIRTHDAY
district through image enhancement,
beautification, collaborative market- PARTIES at HAS MOVED
ing efforts and business recruitment
efforts. The group took the loss of the
TO A LARGER LOCATION
Naugatuck Waterbury community. Come in & LIFESTYLESS COUPON
say “Hi!”
GIFT CERTIFICATES
Earth Day cleanups were per- ALWAYS AVIALABLE To
o Celebrate
formed and networking meetings
 Wtby’s DETOX Authority
O u r N e w S t o re !
hosted. Our efforts were noticed on a
city-wide level with the participation  Largest selection of Bodyy Piercingg Jewelry
of the former Waterbury Spirit Pro- INCENSE & OILS in
fessional baseball team. Today, the
original 50-foot flag pole that once
stood on the Naugatuck Valley Mall
• 2 Hour
Bowling Party
• Pizza & Soda
the area.
 See our NEW T-SHIRT
selection. with Any y Bodyy Piercing
FREE
site is flying old glory once again. And
for several years it served as the • Music Video  As always, GOOD THRU 12-15-09
foundation for the 1000-light Christ- • Galaxy Lights awesome One offer per transaction.
mas tree the group dedicated as a WHY DIRTY YOUR HOME? TOBACCO SMOKING Cannot be combined
symbol of the shopping district’s ded- WE SET UP & CLEAN UP! ACCESSORIES with any other offer.
 100% Wool Knitted
ication to standing tall in the face of
SUNDAY SPECIAL
1
strong adversity. HATS-GLOVES-MITTENS-LEG WARMERS-SCARVES
The members of the Wolcott
$ 99 7:00 PM to
MUCKLUCKS/SLIPPER SOCKS (Asst. Colors & Sizes)
Open: Mon-Sat 10am-8pm • Sunday Noon-6pm
Street/Lakewood Road Business As- MIDNIGHT
694 Lakewood Road, Waterbury
sociation are hard working, self-driv-
en entrepreneurs who try to make a 203 574.5131 858 Lakewood Rd (Next to Auto Zone)
difference in the community and Visit www.lakewoodlanes.net Specials Online Waterbury 203.757.6196
HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009 5
 COMMUNITY

Demolition of Strip Mall to Create a Bright Spot on the Mile

by Trish Donohue - Communications Coordinator at the Waterbury Regional Chamber
Vacated for the past five years, what remains of the fire-ravished Im-
bimbo strip mall at 524 Lakewood Road will soon become one less blight
on the Magical Mile. A request to award a contract up to $124,000 for its
demolition has been approved by the Board of Alderman, confirms Mike
Gilmore, Fair Housing-Neighborhood Reinvestment Manager of the Wa-
terbury Development Corporation. The building is scheduled to be de-
molished in November.
The Waterbury Regional Chamber has been at the forefront of the
State’s brownfield initiative. Three of the eleven members of the State
Brownfields Task Force have been either officers or directors of the
Chamber. In addition, the Chamber has worked with Representative Jeff
Berger and other members of the legislative delegation in passing legisla-
tion, which makes it easier to remediate brownfield sites.
The Imbimbo property was first determined to be a “brownfield” after
environmental assessments were conducted at the site. These assess-
ments were paid for by EPA grants, according to Arthur Bogen, an envi-
ronmental services consultant with Down to Earth Consulting, the firm
working with WDC on brownfields cleanups.

Cost of the cleanup and a schedule for remediation won’t be determined

until the soil sampling is completed in late December. At that point, WDC
will have a better understanding of the type and concentration of the Con-
taminant's in the soil.

It is hoped by making the property more attractive to developers, some

Contaminant's found inside the building, such as asbestos and lead, will
be removed as the development is torn down, but the demolition contract
will not address soil contamination caused by drycleaner solution and two
underground oil storage tanks. The contents of the storage tanks will,
however, be pumped out, says Kevin Taylor, Unit Manager of the Water-
bury Development Corporation, thus removing the threat of further con-
tamination.
According to the WDC there appears to be limited soil contamination.
“The cleanup plans will be formulated when the additional assessment is
completed,” says Taylor. Scheduled is the sampling of the concrete floors
once the debris is removed so it can be determined if there is contamina-
tion on the floors from cleaning compounds or other sources. “After dem-
olition, we also do bedrock well installation and sampling to determine if
there is contamination in the ground water,” he adds.
interest in purchasing it will be generated. In the meantime, aesthetics
and safety are primary concerns, says WDC’s Mike Gilmore. “The place
needs sprucing up. There’s no back to the building. People have to look at
that. Ultimately we’re trying to improve the quality of life and public
health safety in that area.”
"It’s great to see the undertaking of another enhancement on the Magi-
cal Mile and in our community,” remarks Jay Sargent, Chairman of the
Wolcott Street/Lakewood Road Business Association and owner of TC’s
Pawn Company Jewelry and Electronics Exchange. “The abandoned Im-
bimbo's building has been an eyesore for many years on Lakewood Road.
It has, over time, become a danger to the community as well, especially
after the fire many months ago. We are all looking forward to the day it
comes down and eventually something new takes its place."

The Lakewood Road cleanup is just one example of the many brown-
field remediation projects currently ongoing in Greater Waterbury. A
“brownfield” is defined as any abandoned or underutilized property
where redevelopment or reuse has not occurred due to the presence of
pollutants in the soil or groundwater. Gary O’Connor, Chairman of the
Waterbury Regional Chamber and Co-Chair of the State Brownfields
Task Force, commented that the future economic health of Waterbury is
tied to redevelopment of the City’s brownfields. “Waterbury is missing
job opportunities every day because it lacks available industrial and com-
mercial space. The remediation and development of these brownfield
sites will provide the necessary real estate inventory and create economic
activity in Waterbury.”

6 HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

HIGHLIGHTS
TREE LIGHTING -
DECEMBER 10, 2008
Right: Santa pays a visit dur-
ing the 2008 Tree Lighting.

Right: 2008 Tree Lighting hosted by TC's

Pawn Company Jewelry & Electronic Ex-
change

Left: PAL Choir performs at 2008 Tree

Lighting event

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1 The Ka-Ching! Savings Account program requires a Naugatuck Savings Bank personal checking account, a Naugatuck Savings Bank Visa® Check Card and online enrollment. Naugatuck Savings Bank deposited funds will be reported as income on IRS Form 1099 Misc. Existing Naugatuck
Savings Bank checking account customers can enroll online at www.naugatucksavingsbank.com/kaching. New checking accounts can be opened at any Naugatuck Savings Bank branch.
2 Check out our special Ka-Ching! Savings Account rate online or inquire at any branch. A minimum of one non-PIN transaction of more than $50.00 per statement cycle is required to be eligible for the Ka-Ching! Savings Account interest rate.

HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009 7

 Annual
Holiday Tree
Lighting DEC 8
Tuesday
th
Location: 4:30-6:00pm
TC’s Jewelry & Electronics Exchange
503 Lakewood Road • Waterbury
Sponsored by...

Magical
Music FREE Mile
Wolcott Street / Lakewood Road Business Association

& Fun Ref www.MagicalMile.com

reshm
e nts FREE
Raffle for A Division of...
Children

Hosted by...
For large groups,
please respond with
your attendance to
Jeff Rouleau

B ringg thee family... 203.757.0701

S antaa willl bee theree with Free Gifts for Children!

8 HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009
MEMBERS
Wolcott Street/Lakewood Road 10 Hot Items for the
Business Association
American Millwork & Lumber, LLC..................................................... 625 Wolcott Street
Holiday Season
by Jeffrey Rouleau- Economic Development and Public Policy Manager,
American Steakhouse......................................................................... 1011 Wolcott Street Waterbury Regional Chamber
Angel's Tailor Shop............................................................................... 663 Lakewood Road With the holiday season right
around the corner many may be
Bernie's Audio, TV & Appliances, Inc................................................. 855 Lakewood Road feeling that old familiar pressure
to find the perfect gift for friends
Big Franks BBQ...................................................................................... 643 Lakewood Road and loved ones. The Wolcott
Street/Lakewood Road Business
Drubner Commercial........................................................................... 500 Chase Parkway Association is here to help. A divi-
sion of the Waterbury Regional
G. S. Regan Associates, Inc.................................................................. 447 Wolcott Street Chamber, the association dubbed
this area "The Magical Mile" be-
KarTele Cellular Phones....................................................................... 511 Wolcott Street cause one could find just about
anything on it: from grocers to
Lakewood Lanes................................................................................... 694 Lakewood Road great restaurants, a variety of
trendy retail stores, banking insti-
Naugatuck Savings Bank.................................................................... 565 Straits Turnpike tutions and even superior health-
OptiCare Eyehealth and Vision Center............................................. 604 Lakewood Road care facilities. So if you're looking
for an area where you can get your
Panera, LLC............................................................................................. 920 Wolcott Street holiday shopping done easily,
quickly and with great personal
Party Plus................................................................................................ 95 Wolcott Road service, visit the Magical Mile.
You won't be disappointed.
People's United Bank........................................................................... 920 Wolcott Rd
Here are ten hot gift ideas found
Quick Falafel........................................................................................... 1051 Wolcott Street on the Magical Mile:
Republican-American......................................................................... 389 Meadow Street 1. For the special
lady (or man):
Sandy's TV & Appliances..................................................................... 590 Wolcott Road Diamonds and
Jewelry (Prices
Savings Bank of Danbury.................................................................... 650 Wolcott Street vary) - TC's Pawn
Company Jewelry & Electronics
Sullivan Brothers Kitchen & Bath...................................................... 1 Wolcott Road Exchange
TC's Pawn Company Jewelry & Electronics Exchange.................. 503 Lakewood Road
TD Bank................................................................................................... 835 Wolcott Street
Tequilas Mexican Restaurant............................................................. 733 Lakewood Road
Value Store It......................................................................................... 433 Lakewood Road
Wachovia Bank..................................................................................... 43 East Main Street 2. For the guy in your life:
32" LG LCD (model # 32LH20
Wal-Mart................................................................................................. 910 Wolcott Street at a sale price of $459.99) -
Sandy's TV & Appliance
Webster Bank........................................................................................ 725 Wolcott Street
3. For the movie lover:
Whooster Pizza & Pasta...................................................................... 715 Lakewood Road Panasonic Blu-ray Disc player
with 1080p Upconversion
Wireless Zone of Waterbury, A Division of Kess Corp.................. 1051 Wolcott Street ($159.62) - Bernie’s Audio, TV
& Appliances
HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009
4. For the car enthusiat: Viper
car alarm and remote starter
(model#5501 with IPhone Ap-
plication capabilities - http://di-
rected.com/. (Ask for special
pricing) – KarTele Cellular
Phones
5. For the gadget lover:
The Motorola Droid Smart
Phone ($199.99 after Rebate
with 2 year
contract) -
Wireless
Zone of Wa-
terbury
6. For the sunworshipper:
Coach Rowan Sunglasses
($179.99) - OptiCare Eyehealth
and Vision Center
7. For that aspiring DJ:
DJ Hero (For
X-Box, PS3
and Wii-
$119.82) -
Wal-Mart
8. For all around family fun:
A Bowling Family Value Pack –
Two hours of bowling (includes
shoes, pizza and soda for a max-
imum of 6 people -$50.00) –
Lakewood Lanes
9. For that “someone” who
has everything:
Gift Certificate - Tequilas
Mexican Restaurant
10. For Stocking Stuffers:
Receive a free 1Gig flash drive
when you open
a checking ac-
count with on-
line banking -
Savings Bank
of Danbury
9
HIGHLIGHTS

Flag Raising – June 12, 2009

Above: Attendees of the flag raising included local veterans.

Out For Business – August 19, 2009 Above: Bag pipe performance, courtesy
of TC's Pawn Company Jewelry & Elec-
tronic Exchange

Left: Annual Flag Raising Ceremony

with assistance from Waterbury Veter-
ans.

Open Everyday For Lunch & Dinner

...Including ALL HOLIDAYS
The only Japanese French Style
Restaurant in the Area!
780 Lakewood Road
Japanesee Cuisinee Waterbury
203.753.8889
Cuisine
Japanese

HAPPY HOUR: 4:30-7:00PM

New $
2 BEER ,$3 WINE ,$4 COCKTAIL
Taking Holiday Party Reservations
Above: Sullivan Brothers Kitchen & WEEKLY SPECIALS, SUSHI BAR
Bath host an Out For Business at their
Wolcott Street store. Plus... FULL BAR, JAPANESE SAKE
Hot or Cold, and SAKE BOMBS!
Right: James Sullivan of Sullivan
Brothers Kitchen & Bath

VISIT
Make your Thanksgiving OUR
OYSTER
feast more festive!
Apple
Blossom™

Delicious Party™
with Dipped
BAR!
Daisies® Place your Thanksgiving
orders early!
♦ Live Oysters, Clams, Scallops,
Tonkin’s Wigs Lobsters ♦ Alaskan King Crab

& Millinery Now thru

To order, please call or visit Save $3* *Offer valid on select

products. Cannot be
On your order combined with any other
481 Wolcott St, Waterbury, CT Don’t Be Misled...All Japanese Cuisine Is Not Raw!
12/19/09

203-591-9463 when you offers. Offer code must be (203) 753-1355 75% Of Our Menu Items Are Cooked To Order
mention this ad used when placing the order. ♦ Family Friendly ♦ 100+ Seating Capacity
753 Wolcott Street, Offer expires 11-30-09. www.tonkinswigs.com
*Excluding Holidays Code RPAM1209 ♦ CATERING ♦ HOLIDAY PARTIES
Lauro Crest Plaza, Waterbury, CT
♦ SPECIAL GROUP MENUS
EdibleArrangements.com Visit KumoJapaneseCuisine.com

10 HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

 SPOTLIGHT

Bold, Contemporary Middle Eastern Flavors Make a

Healthy Statement at Quick Falafel
by Trish Donohue - Communications Coordinator at the Waterbury Regional Chamber Tony is also co-owner of The Falafel Inn in Norwalk, an "experimental"
venture he launched with a partner in 2006. Its success led to the Decem-
You may ask, what's a falafel? ber 1, 2008 opening of Quick Falafel on Wolcott Street, run by Sokni, three
full-time and two part-time employees.
Falafel (pronounced: fell-off-uhl or Arabic: falafil) is defined by Web-
ster as: "A small croquette or patty of ground chickpeas and other vegeta- As to why he thought
bles, seasoned with herbs and deep-fried in oil." the Mile a prime location
to open his business:
But the dictionary does not do the falafel justice. Quick Falafel, located "Waterbury is really
on 1051 Wolcott Street, does. like a small New York,"
observes Sokni. "The
At Quick Falafel a tantalizingly healthy combination of chick peas, pars-
population here is open
ley, cilantra and middle eastern herbs are the primary ingredients used in
and diverse." With his
the restaurant's highly
unique menu he's had lit-
acclaimed specialty
tle local competition. "We
dish. Restaurant own-
wanted to introduce
er Tony Sokni ex-
healthy vegetarian food to
plained that the chick
the area," says Sokni.
peas are first ground
Dedicated to "serving the Quick Falafel’s “Best of Greater Waterbury 2009”
together with the pars-
fresh, bold flavors of con- Award from The Waterbury Observer for Restaurant
ley and cilantra. The
temporary middle eastern with the Healthiest Menu.
herbs are then mixed
cuisine in a friendly atmosphere at reasonable prices" the restaurateur
in and the mixture is
appears to have already surpassed his goal. Indeed, Quick Falafel was
formed into patties.
voted as having the "Healthiest Menu" by the Waterbury Observer in
These are either deep
2009.
fried in canola oil or
baked, depending on "Everything is made fresh and on
Tony Sokni, Owner of Quick Falafel on 1051 Wolcott the customer's prefer- the premises," says Sokni.
Street, Waterbury, CT ence. The deep fried
falafel form a surpris- Prices range from a mere $1.99 for
ingly crunchy 'outside,' retaining none of the oil they were cooked in, dis- a platter of freshly prepared Falafel
pelling once and for all the myth about the process of deep frying. After Balls to $13.99 for a Mixed Kabob.
sampling several freshly made falafel balls (small, round versions of the Most items on the menu, however,
falfafel) co-worker Jeff Rouleau and myself at once happily attested to are under $8, while side orders such
their lightness and bold, delicious flavor. as Pita Bread and Stuffed
Grape Leaves range from
"They are dense, like a dough and cook quickly, explains Sokni. "They $1.99 to $3.99.
don't soak up the oil."
Their most popular offer-
ings are the Falafel
($4.29/pita; $5.99 wrap) and
Lamb Gyros ($6.99/pita;
$7.99 wrap). Top choices
for side orders are (1)
Falafel balls, (2) Tabullie,
(3) Hummus and (4) Yogurt
Cucumber Sauce.

Sokni recently intro- Popular items at Quick Falafel are the Falafel Wrap
duced a children's menu. and Pita Bread

Quick Falafel features a contemporary Middle Eastern cuisine in a friendly atmosphere

Continued on page 13
at reasonable prices.

HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009 11

 COMMUNITY

Business With Heart Knows How to Throw a Party

by Trish Donohue - Communications Coordinator at the Waterbury Regional Chamber
Thinking about hosting a party? Not quite sure what you’ll need or just
how to go about it? There’s one shopping experience on the Magical Mile
you’ll not want to miss. Upon entering Party Plus for the very first time
don’t be surprised if you find yourself momentarily transfixed as your
eyes take in a profusion of color dotting aisle after aisle. Give your eyes a
rub ..no, you're not dreaming .. there’s everything you could possibly need
to plan an event, and more!
Today Party Plus thrives under one roof, its most recent location on
Wolcott Road in Waterbury, “three times the size of our previous loca-
tions,” says co-owner Bill Maisto.
“The industry was growing,” says Maisto. Yet managing more than one
location became impractical. “It was out of control,” he recalls. The op-
portunity to “merge” the various businesses presented itself in 2001 when
their cousin, Bob Cappuccetti, owner of a Waterbury-based structural
steel business, offered to develop a parcel of land he owned on Wolcott
Street. Custom built to the brothers’ specifications, Party Plus is an im-
pressive store encompassing 10,000 square feet of showroom and ware-
house space.

No Child Forgotten
Recently the brothers launched a “Birthday Club” for Party Plus patrons,
a fun and clever initiative that should prove to be a winner from both the
customers’ and store owners’ perspective, says Maisto. Visitors to the
store are invited to fill out a form providing contact info and the child’s
birthdate, which is entered into a database by “Send Out Cards,” a firm
that specializes in sending cards for special occasions. Thirty days be-
fore the event a colorful card portraying a giraffe on the front is sent to
the child whose birthday is approaching. Inside the card, any number of
“specials” being offered by the store are featured, including discounts on
party supplies and rentals with some enticing “freebies.” A week before
the child’s birthday an actual birthday card addressed to the child is sent.
Party Plus is located at 95 Wolcott Road. Wolcott, CT

Specializing in supplying discount party goods and balloons for every

occasion - from intimate gatherings of 4 to big bashes of 500 - the store’s
Bounce For a Cure
On September 20th the party supply giant hosted “Bounce for a Cure
most popular items are its character-themed children’s party supplies Day” a huge undertaking by its owners to benefit the American Cancer
and complete line of rental items (tables, chairs, china, linens, tents, Society’s Relay for Life of Greater Waterbury. To get the word out Mais-
dance floors, bouncing inflatables, popcorn machines, frozen drink ma- to placed ads in the Republican-American and Waterbury Observer, did
chines and more). “The demand for rentals has expanded rapidly,” says a half-hour promo on Sky TV and sent flyers to the Board of Education
co-owner Bill Maisto of his flourishing business line. Staff at the store for distribution in Waterbury elementary schools. His efforts paid off.
ranges from 7 – 15 p/t employees and includes a crew responsible for the
daily maintenance and cleaning of rental equipment alone, an undertak-
ing that has given Party Plus a competitive edge in the rental business,
says Maisto.

A family-owned business man-

aged by brothers Bill and Mike
Maisto in partnership with their fa-
ther Bill, the budding entrepre-
neurs opened their first store in
Naugatuck in 1989, a conservative
1,100-square foot showroom that
would eventually expand to more
than twice its size. A second loca-
tion in Bristol boasting 4,500
square feet of floor space was es-
tablished in 1993 followed five
years later by the opening of a third
location, a 4,600 square-foot store Besides bouncing on an assortment of children’s party bounces, kids played carnival-
on Chase Avenue in Waterbury. type games, had their faces painted and enjoyed free popcorn, cotton candy and
Party Plus owners, brothers Mike and Bill Sluzheez.
Maisto

12 HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

 Bunker Hill Sports, the Waterbury Regional Chamber and Naugatuck
Savings Bank gave of their time, as well, notes Maisto. Also, a special
thanks to Signatures in Waterbury for the great deal on t-shirts that were
special ordered for the event and to Chubba’s Bagelry for their generous
discount on the spread provided volunteers.

Mark your calendar: Party Plus will be bouncing for a cure again on
September 19, 2010. Makes perfect sense, afterall, says Maisto ..

“What do we do best? Throw parties!”

Quick Falafel - Continued from page 11

For $2.99 kids 9 and under can choose from a hot dog with fries, 6
piece chicken nuggets with fries or a cheese casadilla. Monthly
specials run the gamut: During October customers received 20% off
any item in celebration of "Tony's Birthday Month"; in December
Bounce for a Cure
patrons are being offered a free cup of his specialty tea (flavored
with honey, mint and lemon), and piece of homemade baklava just
More than 220 children came out to participate in the event, netting a
for stopping by.
$3,300 donation to the American Cancer Society.
For a minimum donation of $10 per child, children bounced in an as- A large portion of his business: 70 - 80% is take-out. While many
sortment of children’s party bounces, played carnival-type games while of his customers are regulars, every day there are typically 8 - 15
enjoying free popcorn, cotton candy and Sluzheez. Participants exceed- first-timers
ing $50 in donations became eligible to win an assortment of valuable who've never ex-
prizes. “We were able to give away a few bikes, a Game Stop gift certifi- perienced middle
cate, some watches and an X Box,” says Maisto. eastern cuisine,
says Sokni.
Proving to be a truly good sport, the Mayor of Wolcott, Thomas Dunn These he strong-
made an appearance, enduring an hour under the appropriately named, ly urges to try the
“Water Pitch Burst” where he proceeded to get soaked 14 times, laughs falafel.
Maisto.
Sokni's part-
Grateful to the many who turned out that day to volunteer, the Maisto ner, an experi-
family would like to acknowledge: ‘DJ for the day’ Ed Riley; Sue Thomas, e n c e d
the face painting clown; Chrissy Black for her donation of balloon deco- restaurateur,
rating (used her own product); and one Officer Chris Whibey, sent by the taught him the
Wolcott Police Department to keep a friendly eye on things. Folks from art of preparing
middle eastern
food, a skill he's
obviously come
to master. It's
difficult to pre-
pare, he says, as Owner Tony Sokni displays a Newspaper article pub-
many of the dish- lished by the Republican American when Quick Falafel
es, such as Tab- first opened in December of 2008. He also displays his
ullie, require the personal motto of “Life is Good.”
food be cut up in
tiny pieces, a time-consuming process. He often works late into the
evening and is in early every morning to prepare the day's dishes.

The atmosphere is casual and friendly; patrons can enjoy free in-
ternet WI-FI access and will soon have comfy sofas to relax on, says
the owner. Sokni is also planning to offer free delivery via the Inter-
net, a service geared more for entire offices as a minimum order of
$20 will be required. Initially, he says, he will lock the service in for
the Waterbury region, eventually expanding to all of Connecticut.

For now, reflects the restauranteur, "Business is good. Life is good."

Wolcott's Mayor, Thomas Dunn volunteers for an hour's worth of soaking at the “Water
Pitch Burst” during the event.

HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009 13

EVENTS

Lakewood Lanes Marks 50 Years of Pin Action

by Carrie MacMillian - Republican American
It was 1959 all over again at Lakewood Lanes Labor Day weekend.
In celebration of the Waterbury
bowling alley's 50th anniversary,
prices were rolled back. On Saturday,
Sunday and Monday, visitors paid 99
cents a game and 99 cents for ham-
burgers and hot dogs. There was a
free raffle offering a TV, stuffed ani-
mals and other prizes.
music videos and black lights that make the lanes glow," said Lanza,
chalking up the generational shift to increased options adults have for en-
tertainment, including casino trips. "In the '50s, '60s and '70s, you had
bowling and you had the movies."
Looking to the future, Lanza said he can't predict what bowling will be
like at his business in another 50 years, but he predicted that in 10 years
bowling alleys like his will
offer even more enter-
tainment options.

Charlie Lanza, owner of the 10-pin "I think it's going to be

Lakewood Lanes, said he grew up at
the bowling alley. In 1961, when he
was a boy, his parents rented out the
snack bar and he "never really left,"
eventually purchasing the business
from the original owners — business
partners from out of town — about 20
years ago. Today, there are 42 lanes
in the 42,000 squarefoot facility.
even more geared toward
kids with more videos and
a total recreation center
where you may have laser
tag and miniature golf and
batting cages — and bowl-
ing," he said.

Lanza marveled at how much has

changed technologically.

"Years ago, you kept score by pen or pencil and today you keep it with Bumper Bowling
automatic scoring with cameras. You just punch in your name and it's like
a video game," he said. BIRTHDAY
There have also been cultural shifts. PARTIES at
"Thanks to ESPN and its pro bowlers on TV and the equipment
changes, people are averaging 230 a game and it has become very strong
Largest Buffet
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competitively," Lanza said.
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14 HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

ADVERTISER
DIRECTORY
17
1
4 11
3
13
9
8 19

10

15

12

5
2 16
14

18
6

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2 AMERICAN MILL WORKS
3 BIG FRANK’S BBQ
4 DIPPY’S ICE CREAM & CAKES
5 EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS
6 G. S. REGAN ASSOCIATES
7 KARTELE CELLULAR PHONES
8 KUMO JAPANESE CUISINE
9 LAKEWOOD LANES
10 LIFESTYLES LLC
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12 NAUGATUCK SAVINGS BANK
13 OPTICARE EYE HEALTH & VISION CENTER
14 ROSA CHIROPRACTIC CENTER
15 ROYAL BUFFET & GRILL
16 SAVINGS BANK OF DANBURY
17 TC'S PAWN COMPANY JEWELRY
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HOLIDAYS ON THE MAGICAL MILE THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009 15

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