New Neighbors: La Fenice Caffé and Gelateria Opens on Main Street This Morning
Owner/Operators Simona Silvestri, Salvatore Scuro, and Ricardo Galati stand in front of the counter at La Fenice. After four months of renovations to the former Lucky Brand Jeans storefront, La Fenice celebrates their opening today as the 49 Main Street doors unlock at 8:00 AM - hot espresso, flaky pastries, and fresh gelato waiting beyond it.
La Fenice, Westport is the third storefront for Simona Silvestri, her husband Salvatore Scuro, and their son Ricardo Galati - a dream that’s been years in the making. “We tried to come to Westport seven years ago” sai Silvestri, “but it was too expensive, and there was no space.” After the Lucky Brand Jeans store closed last year, Silvestri stumbled upon the papered-up windows while out for a walk and realized “this was it.” They’ve run La Fenice is both the Greenwich and Rye, New York communities.
With a soft opening last night, crowds of Italians - friends and family of Silvestri - exploded through the front doors of the new downtown shoppe with flowers, exclamations of “Auguri!”, “congratulations”, and wide eyes while looking over the pastries and gelato.
Evident by the lively italian conversations buzzing around the room, everything is proudly imported from Italy. “Everything” Silvestri explained, “except the fruits - those are freshly grown in the United States.”
Coffee? Italian import. Cookies? Italian technique. Gelato? Secret Italian recipe. The freezer? Shipped directly from Italy. The owners? First generation Italian immigrants.
Silvestri and her family came to Connecticut from Lecce, Italy in the Puglia region, or the “heel” of Italy’s boot, with their culture and family traditions being carried through their work at La Fenice right here on Main Street.
The store will be mainly managed by Silvestri’s son Ricardo, a Wilton High School graduate and Quinnipiac University Senior. “I grew up helping with the business. Most of the people here tonight remember me as a ten year old working with my parents” he said as his parents looked on.
Galati said that the store will open today from 8:00 AM until 10:00 PM, adding “We’ll see what works, and we’ll look into staying open later if we see we need the flexibility“ he said.
La Fenice is located on the beginning of lower Main Street, at 49 Main Street, and serves savory breakfasts, pressed panini lunches, and sweet gelato desserts. Stop in to say “Ciao” to Westport’s newest neighbors.
