Hartford's Russian Lady is about to gain a sibling. Owner Jerry Fornarelli confirmed his team is opening a second club in New Haven, due this fall.
The second Russian Lady is moving into the space formerly occupied by Wicked Wolf (and before that, The Playwright) at 144 Temple Street. Fornarelli said he's hoping for a mid- to late October opening, shortly after the Hartford location at 191 Ann Uccello Street celebrates its first anniversary.
Fornarelli says the space has the same capabilities in Hartford: a pub setting on the first floor, a vodka room serving dozens of varieties and infusions, a billiards room and a party area with a dance floor.
"The space really, really fit to what we're doing. It's absolutely beautiful in there," he added. "The shoe fits perfectly; that's why I did it." (Building designer Rick Donohue, who completed the first Russian Lady, is back to design the New Haven location.)
In New Haven, the building will have the benefit of a larger kitchen, and Fornarelli said the fare will subsequently be a "little more eclectic" than the Hartford counterpart, which serves.sandwiches, soups, salads and appetizers. He describes it as a "passport" menu, with dishes from several different countries.
Fornarelli also operates The Tavern Downtown, Up or On The Rocks and The Great Hall at Union Station. He has plans in the works for another new Hartford space, a country-western pub by the name of Rocking Horse Saloon, also set to open in the fall. He says he's excited to bring his brand to the new market.
"I really feel like New Haven needs it," he said. "There [are] a lot of colleges around, there's a lot of things going on. New Haven's a little more of a little city. I feel really positive about it; I think it's going to do very well."
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