from the 4/21/05 Fairfield Weekly
http://fairfieldweekly.com/gbase/Dining/content?oid=oid:108700 For pizza-lovers, there's even bigger news to report: Frank Pepe Development Company will open an outpost of its legendary New Haven pizzerias in Fairfield County, near the border of Black Rock and Fairfield.
While rumors had been flying around for weeks, the deal was finalized on April 14--the day before its famous namesake's birthday. "We're hoping he's smiling down on us--or up at us--wherever he might be," joked Gary Bumonte, who manages the crown jewel location on Wooster Street.
For readers who may be new to the area, Frank Pepe Pizzeria and Frank Pepe's The Spot (an alternate location right next door to the original) are the culinary institutions that have almost single-handedly made New Haven's Wooster Street synonomous with the best pizza on the planet. Ask anyone who's been. People line up around the block and wait for hours in the snow and rain and then subject themselves to surly service--all for the rare experience of eating a thin, charred-crust Pepe pizza (especially the fresh-shucked, whole clam version).
So, it's not surprising that Bumonte says they've been "getting a lot of positive feedback from people in Fairfield," even though the new location will not be open until this fall.
This year, Frank Pepe celebrates its 80th year in business with an anniversary celebration in the second week in June. Bumonte says the festivities are still in the planning stages, but that they hope to put something together with New Haven's Arts & Ideas Festival, and it may include a Pepe-inspired parade down Wooster Street.
Pie-o-philes from these parts may have to make the trip north just to slake their anticipation of having their very own Frank Pepe pizzeria come fall.
