Popular Seasonal Food Stand Reopening In Norwalk After 2-Year Closure

NORWALK, CT — Nik's Place, a popular seasonal food stand that has long been a summer staple in East Norwalk, will reopen next month after closing down for two years, according to the owner.

Steve Kydes confirmed Tuesday to Patch he plans to reopen Nik's Place at 86 Gregory Boulevard in early May.

Kydes, who has operated the popular food stand for over 25 years, said he decided to reopen Nik's Place after he had difficulties selling the business during the two-year closure.

"It bothered me that it was closed for as long as it was," Kydes said to Patch. "I didn't expect that."

Kydes said he has been continuously asked by customers when the business would reopen since it closed down.

"I live in the neighborhood," Kydes said, "so I saw people frequently, and they were always asking [about it]."

Located close to Calf Pasture and Shady Beach, Nik's Place offers an extensive menu of warm weather favorites such as specialty burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and fried seafood, as well as salads, various appetizers and dessert items such as ice cream sundaes, floats and funnel cakes.

"All the favorites are going to be here," Kydes said. "There's a couple of new things, but I've always been kind of open with my menu where every year I like to try something new, see if it hits. If it doesn't hit, I get rid of it and try something else, but all the classics that everybody remembers are still going to be here."

When it opens in May, Nik's Place will be operate from 11 a.m. until about 8 p.m. seven days a week, Kydes said.

Though the restaurant typically shut down in the fall and reopened in the spring in years past, Kydes said he plans to stay open longer this year, about mid-December, and will offer soups and other cold weather items during that time.

"Our menu is going to change when the season changes in late September or late October," Kydes said, "maybe our hours too, we'll be open a little bit earlier and close a little bit earlier."

Kydes emphasized that these plans are fluid, and details such as hours during the fall and winter or on rainy days could change throughout the year.

He also noted he was excited to open back up as soon as possible for the customers in Norwalk who have long supported his business.

"It's kind of a generational place," Kydes said. "There's grandparents that used to come here when they were single and young, they brought their kids here and now they're bringing their grandkids here. It's that kind of place."

According to Kydes, at least three generations of customers have memories of coming to Nik's Place in the summer.

"It has a different meaning to everybody," Kydes said.