Ginger Man to close for renovations while SoNo Pearl built

Hour photo / Erik Trautmann The Gingerman restaurant on Washington St is planning to close for renovations later this month and will re-open in September. The renovations include a brand new patio that will be paid for by F.D. Rich who is the developer of the SoNo Pearl which is being built next door. less Hour photo / Erik Trautmann The Gingerman restaurant on Washington St is planning to close for renovations later this month and will re-open in September. The renovations include a brand new patio that will be ... more Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Ginger Man to close for renovations while SoNo Pearl built 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

NORWALK — With construction on Washington Street’s latest development under way, one of SoNo’s long standing watering-holes is set to temporarily close for renovations.

Christian Burns, owner of The Ginger Man, said Thursday the craft beer haven will close for renovations July 9 and reopen in September with a new patio, possible new kitchen and overall new look.

“We’ve been wanting to do this for a while and it’s a good time for us to shut with everyone away at the moment and not having our patio,” Burns said.

In June, F.D. Rich Co. broke ground on The SONO Pearl Apartments, 66 large luxury apartments and 154 public and private parking spaces at 99 Washington St.

The Ginger Man is a neighbor to The Pearl and when construction started the bar’s patio closed.

Burns said the renovation plan includes the developer footing the bill for the patio, which will be bigger than before, but without the “open air feel.”

Burns, who also owns three other bars/restaurants in Stamford, Greenwich and New Haven, said a new menu is part of the plan as well — indicating the bar is looking into taking advantage of one of the state’s new liquor laws.

“We will be selling growlers at our other locations starting over the next few weeks (with the) Stamford Cask Republic (starting) on Monday,” he said.

Burns added he wants to see where the trend goes before selling the 64 oz. sealable containers of beer in Norwalk.

“We are taking the opportunity to see what direction the new trend takes before making any investments in sophisticated equipment to do so in Norwalk,” Burns said.

While he did say closing is a risk, he thinks the bar is well established and is excited about what The Pearl will bring to SoNo insofar as parking.

“When the parking lot went away, people were upset because they said there was no parking,” Burns said. “I think it (The Pearl) is going to be helpful to all of us down there.”

Tom Rich, who is the principal of F.D. Rich Co. and The Ginger Man’s landlord, could not be reached for comment.

The Ginger Man is not the only entity impacted by work on The SONO Pearl Apartments.

The site has been the scene of major construction activity as evidenced by the presence of a large crane in June. At times, Washington Street has been closed in one direction to accommodate the construction work.

The Norwalk Department of Public Works has been in communication with F.D. Rich Co. concerning the repaving of Washington Street as well.

“They aim to finish (street encroachment) by September,” said city Senior Civil Engineer Drew Berndlmaier of the F.D. Rich project. “But even if they finish Sept. 1, we might leave (Washington Street) until early October because of the festivals.”

The 2015 SoNo Arts Festival is scheduled for Aug. 15 and Aug. 16. The Norwalk Seaport Association's 38th Annual Oyster Festival, which also impacts SoNo, is set for Sept. 11 through Sept. 13.

Hour Staff Writer Robert Koch contributed to this report.