Manhattan Caliber Bistro In Elm City

Business Overview:

It was found it tucked between a row of brick storefronts, a place that, from the moment the door swung open, felt less like downtown New Haven and more like a slice of Manhattan dropped into Elm City. Sunlight pooled on a modern, geometric tile floor; laughter rose from a long, show stopping bar where 15 patrons nursed cocktails that tasted like summer. The space breathed—2,800 sq ft spread over two floors, high ceilings, a small patio for people watching, and a rhythm that had kept it busy for 10 bustling years. On the first floor, forty diners settled into intimate tables while the bar hummed with conversation. Upstairs, a second level of 50 seats waited like a secret room made for celebrations—Yale parties, rehearsal dinners, late night gatherings—each night folding into the next with ease. Before the world changed, the place pulled in $1.5M a year, a testament to a menu and atmosphere that kept locals and students coming back. The lease reads like a rare find: long term, with rent at $7,200/month, a number that turns heads when you imagine the foot traffic and event demand outside the door. The hours are straightforward—open seven days, the money-making window from 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM—but the real opportunity lives in the margins: owner-operator efficiencies, expanded private events, late-night service, and catering for the university’s endless calendar. Walking through the kitchen, an aspiring owner could already see the possibilities: a few tweaks to the menu, a sharper social calendar, a hands on operator who knows how to read a room. The fixtures, the lease, and the loyal clientele are in place. What’s left is the next chapter: someone takes the keys and turns a beloved neighborhood bistro into their signature success. This is more than a listing; it’s a story waiting for its new owner

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Property Features and Assets:

chic 2,800 sq ft over two floors / 40 money making seats 1st; 50 2nd floor / incredible show stopping full service bar seating ~15 / inviting patio for watching steady local of foot traffic / Fully state of he art equipped open kitchen / High ceilings / Long term lease; $7,200 below market rent / Open 7 bustling days; peak service 11:30 AM–9:30 PM; + Yale demand / Financials (pre change): Historically $1.5M annual gross / Upside: Private events, late night service

Market Competition and Expansion:

Competition: High foot traffic corridor —downtown visibility and walk-by exposure / Strong beverage potential Showstopping bar and patio boost income / Seasonal and tourism upside — Proximity to campus events / Proven demand history / Two-floor flexibility

Growth & Expansion: Add late night service and weekend brunch / Expand private events, market the second floor 50 seat / Stronger digital marketing use targeted social, student ambassadors/owner operator efficiencies, reduce labor and food costs / Partnerships with Yale, secure preferred vendor status for campus events,

Reason for Selling:

other business interests. Kindly ask the seller for more information.

Additional Details:

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