After facing several setbacks, the former Easton Village Store is set to officially reopen on Tuesday, May 6, under its new name, Gourmet United.
Specializing exclusively in Mexican and Indian takeout cuisine, Gourmet United held a soft opening last week that was met with enthusiastic reviews.
The Easton Village Store closed in June 2022 after contaminated soil was found during the removal of three underground gas tanks. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection ordered the removal of the soil from the property and required remediation, which led to the store remaining closed.
In April 2023, property owner Marsel Huribal applied to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a special permit to allow for interior renovations, including kitchen reconfiguration and removal of the in-store dining area.
At that time, then-P&Z Chairman Ray Martin said the permit was granted because it was essentially a continuation of the property’s prior use—eat-in and takeout service.
During that time, Huribal was finishing the land remediation prompted by the discovery of the contaminated soil. But about a month after the commission granted the permit, Steven Montgomery, an adjacent property owner, filed an appeal of the permit approval, claiming that Huribal’s application was incomplete and didn’t conform to regulations.
The town’s land use consultant, Justin Giorlando, said the application was complete and conformed to the zoning regulations.
Montgomery also claimed that the project would negatively affect his property value and his ability to use and enjoy his property.
The two sides came to an agreement last week, just hours before the Zoning Board of Appeals was set to hear Montgomery’s appeal. That meeting was then canceled.
“I am pleased to report that the applicant and I have resolved our issues,” Montgomery said in a statement on April 29.
“With this settlement reached, please let this serve as formal notice of my withdrawal of the pending ZBA appeal,” Montgomery added.
The remediation of the property has been completed, though First Selectman David Bindelglass said he hasn’t yet received official confirmation from DEEP.
“I haven’t heard from DEEP for a while,” Bindelglass said. ‘I’m not sure of the outcome, but we never received a notice from DEEP that the case is closed.”
That won’t affect the new store’s opening day, he said. “They were granted by Planning and Zoning the ability to open as a takeout restaurant, and now they can.”
Chef Prasad Chirnomula is responsible for the gourmet-style meals, which include tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, burritos, samosas, kebabs, and lamb, chicken, seafood and vegetarian Indian entrees.
Chirnomula is a graduate of the Food Craft Institute in India, where he also studied hotel and restaurant management. He worked at the Ritz Hotel in Hyderabad, India, where he was the director of food and beverages.
Customers are already posting raves about the food on social media.
“Had a great lunch today at Gourmet United,” one Redding resident posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page Sunday. “All six of us enjoyed different menu items. Dessert was delicious. Looking forward to coming back soon!”
“Portions were significant, sauces were flavorful and the ingredients were very high quality,” said one customer from Easton.
The store, located at 440 Sport Hill Road, will be open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, call 203-220-5050.
