Prominent Waterbury-area real estate investor John Lombard has teamed up with automotive sales giant Frederick W. Blasius Jr. to acquire the former Nino’s Trattoria property in Waterbury.
Lombard paid $1.7 million for the 7,948-square-foot restaurant building on 1.1 acres at 91 Scott Road in a deal recorded April 22. The property was transferred to a limited liability company controlled by Lombard and Blasius in a separate quitclaim action recorded the same day.
Attempts to reach Lombard and Blasius were not immediately successful Thursday morning.
Waterbury Economic Development Director Joseph McGrath said Lombard and Blasius have indicated plans to find a tenant for the 1971-vintage restaurant building using Lombard’s contacts. The Nino’s property sits close to on- and off-ramps to Interstate 84 in an area of dense commercial and retail development.
The principals of the limited liability company that sold the Nino’s property include Anthony D’Elia, of Watertown and Michele Capobianco, of Middlebury. The two co-owned Nino’s and continue to co-own another popular Waterbury restaurant, San Marino Ristorante Italiano.
The Nino’s property had been eyed for demolition and redevelopment into a commercial plaza with a restaurant and 7-Eleven last year, but developers withdrew their application before a city land-use board.
