I'm sad to see another Greenwich store (since 1969! HealthMart) go, but if it has to, this could be interesting. Many were very upset when Subway came onto the avenue years ago, but it does extremely well. Yes, people need reasonably priced places for lunch!
Hope the pizza is good!
SkinnyPizza is nearing the opening of its first New England location in Greenwich, with the New York City-based franchisor promising flavor-packed, thin-crust pies that are lower in calories than many competitors.
The restaurant will be located at 30 Greenwich Ave., listed on the National Register of Historic Places and having a long prior history as the home of HealthMart, whose founders in 1969 opened a store that would evolve into a lunch cafe focused on organic, vegan and gluten-free offerings. In 2015 after more than 45 years in business, HealthMart’s owners elected to retire at the expiration of the store’s lease.
Enter SkinnyPizza, which likewise plays up its all-natural ingredients. Slices ranging from 184 calories for its cheese, margherita and mushroom pizzas; to topping 300 calories for its Italian and Greek options, with assorted offerings in between like arugula and buffalo. The menu also includes made-to-order pasta, salads, soups and piadas, flatbread wraps stuffed with ingredients.
A limited liability company established last August lists as local franchisees Dr. Denis Bouboulis and his spouse Helen, who live in Greenwich. On its website, SkinnyPizza stated that Bouboulis was the first to secure a franchisee deal, with Bouboulis running Advanced Allergy Immunology & Asthma in Darien. A message left for him there was not returned immediately Wednesday.
SkinnyPizza has yet to list an opening date on its website for the Greenwich location, with the company currently operating a restaurant in New York City, two more on Long Island, and four more on the way — including one in Saudi Arabia. On its website, SkinnyPizza indicates a restaurant requires an initial investment between $375,000 and $700,000, most of it for real estate costs.
SkinnyPizza will become only the latest pizza joint to open in Greenwich, on the heels of the August 2016 arrival of Fairfield Pizza which slotted into Cos Cob quarters that had housed the upscale Gravina.
— Includes prior reporting by Macaela J. Bennett and Maggie Gordon.
