Mamoun’s Falafel is a New Haven staple that offers Middle Eastern dishes such as falafel sandwiches, shawarma plates ​​and baklava. Established in New Haven in 1977, Mamoun’s Falafel is owned by Suleiman Chater, whose dedication to the restaurant reveals itself in an unwavering love for the community he feeds. 

“It’s about serving quality stuff, being consistent while doing it and always making sure the customer is happy,” Chater said. “I really like my customers. They’re totally awesome … and they treat us like family. It’s really an honor.”

But the complete history of the family-owned restaurant dates back to 1971 when Mamoun Chater, Suleiman’s uncle, founded the first store in New York as an immigrant while he was trying to support his parents. 

Encouraged by the support of a loyal customer base in New York City, Mamoun opened a second location in Connecticut six years later, now celebrating nearly five decades of service in the Elm City.

“We had a bunch of customers in the 70s go to our location in New York,” he said. “They would literally bring 200 or 300 sandwiches at a time back [to New Haven].”

Mamoun’s now has locations in New York, New Haven, Atlanta and several other cities along the East Coast. 

Since 1971, Mamoun’s has solidified itself in the New Haven restaurant scene but retains its traditional flavors and charm. Suleiman celebrates the consistency of the food they serve and cherishes the bonds they have formed with regulars who have been coming for decades. 

“I get customers from 40 years ago, coming even longer,” Suleiman said. 

Despite the generational legacy he carries on his shoulders, Suleiman declined to comment on the mark he personally hopes to leave behind. For Suleiman, the sole mission is simply “to be good to people.” 

In addition to serving food, Suleiman said he has provided support and mentorship to other New Haven chefs, like Bun Lai, a Hong Kong-born American chef and former owner of Miya’s Sushi, a now-closed sushi bar that opened in 1982 across the street from Mamoun’s.

Since childhood, Suleiman and Lai bonded over their shared experiences as children of immigrant parents in the restaurant business. Lai said that he credits his success as a chef to Suleiman. 

“He’s been a mentor, a best friend and brother to me throughout my life. Honestly, I couldn’t have survived in this business without him.” Lai said. “He’s doing it to honor that community and honor his father and his mother.” 

Students, too, told the News that they appreciate Mamoun’s Falafel, a casual quick bite that has cemented itself into the cultural memory of New Haveners. 

“Mamoun’s is more than just a place to go to when you’re hungry. It’s a place you go to with friends, with family, with lovers. It’s a place that brings you up when you’re down,” Will Miller ’26 said. 

Mamoun’s is located at 85 Howe St.

The post Past and present of Mamoun’s Falafel in New Haven appeared first on Yale Daily News.

LaDrea Moss, the visionary behind Mindless Thoughts Clothing, shared her journey of transforming a simple idea into a thriving business. According to Moss, the name “Mindless Thoughts” was a creative inspiration from a family brainstorming session, capturing the essence of the brand’s creative and unfettered spirit.

“Back in 2010, some teens asked me to draw a logo for their clothing brand. After falling in love with the branding process, I knew I had to start my own line,” Moss said.

Prior to taking this entrepreneurial direction, Moss worked for 15 years as an American Sign Language liaison in the autism field. 

However, she described difficulties in transitioning to fashion.

“Starting off with $1,000 and selling from my car, we faced hurdles like finances and location. We faced a recent robbery, losing $20,000 worth of inventory, which hit us hard,” Moss said.

Nevertheless, she now focuses on consistency and staying ahead of fashion trends.

The style of Mindless Thoughts Clothing reflects Moss’ personal taste — comfortable, modern and always in tune with the latest media. 

“I sketch out whatever I am thinking,” she says.

As for the future, Moss is ambitious, planning to relocate to a busier area, hire more employees and even consider expanding to other states. Moss hopes that Mindless Thoughts will eventually be a name recognized beyond New Haven.

Customers like Verin Knox are a testament to the brand’s appeal. 

“I shop here once or twice a month,” Knox said. “The quality is good, the designs are simple yet impactful, and they always complement recent shoe releases.”

Employee Ciahna Battle, Moss’ sister, adds a personal touch to the story, expressing her pride in supporting the Mindless Thoughts vision. 

Battle has been a part of Mindless Thoughts since its inception and valued the opportunity to support her sister and watch the business grow.

“Working here is more than just a job; it is about being part of a family that values creativity and community,” Battle said.

Mindless Thoughts Clothing is located at 1296 State St.

The post From digital dreams to streetwear reality: the resilient rise of Mindless Thoughts Clothing appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Front desk agents at the Omni petitioned to unionize in late January. The union won by a majority in the vote to unionize on March 1. Although the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale has been unionized for decades, it was not until last Friday that front desk workers entered the union. 

Isadora Milanez ’19, an organizer for Local 217 UNITE HERE, told the News that front desk workers approached Local 217 UNITE HERE, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, to join their colleagues in the existing contract with Omni.

“We have a great standard of the Omni union contract, and they wanted to be a part of it,” Milanez said. “We also have upcoming contract negotiations to renew our contract between the employer and the union this year that people are feeling optimistic about.”

Milanez said that the vote was triggered by the National Labor Relations Board after front desk employees submitted union representation cards that demonstrated interest in forming a union.

Bobby May, a front desk worker at the Omni, shared his excitement following the unions’ victory.

“It was a great feeling,” May said. “The Omni is a great company to work for. But now, being part of the AFL-CIO, only makes it better.”

May said that the process to unionize was straightforward and smooth overall.

May also said that he feels a new sense of unity with his colleagues now that front desk workers have joined the union.

“I feel like we’re one. We have a pension, we have a retirement and we will have fair wages.”

The addition of front desk agents to the union is welcomed by other workers at the Omni as contract negotiations approach.

Ryenamar Ortiz, a restaurant server and shop steward at the Omni, voiced his support for the front desk workers joining the union.

“We’re happy and excited for front desk workers to join us in bargaining for our new contract,” Ortiz said, according to Milanez. “This shows unity and makes us stronger.”

The Omni did not reply to a request for comment on the unionization.

Almost the entirety of employees at the Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale are now a part of the Local 217 UNITE HERE union.

The Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale is located at 155 Temple St.

The post Six front desk agents unionize at the Omni appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The Emerson Tenants Union registered with the City of New Haven’s Fair Rent Commission at City Hall on Friday morning, becoming the city’s fifth tenants union and the first to form against a landlord other than mega-landlord Ocean Management. Union leaders Kolokotronis and neighbor James Blau began efforts to unionize earlier this month after the pipe-burst caused significant water damage and made Kolokotronis’ apartment unlivable. Blau, who lives directly beneath Kolokotronis, experienced similar repercussions from the leak, leading both tenants to temporarily move out of their homes.

After being met with little responsiveness from their landlord, a pastor at the next-door Trinity Lutheran Church, the pair shared their concerns with neighbors, who had similar negative experiences with the landlord. Within 27 hours, Kolokotronis and Blau gathered support to unionize from the required majority of renters — 13 of the 18 occupied units signed on.

“It’s not just us as a group of tenants that are standing up and trying to have a voice in our building,” Kolokotronis said while describing the motivations to unionize. By recognizing the union, he explained, “the city is behind the collective power.”

Unlike the city’s four previously existing tenants unions — which all formed against Ocean Management — this is the first that has formed against a small landlord. According to Connecticut business records, the Emerson Apartments were purchased by Trinity Lutheran Church in 2000, which then developed Emerson Apartments LLC, a separate entity that manages the property.

On Friday, attorneys James Giulietti and Jeremiah Morykto issued a statement on behalf of the Emerson Apartments, which noted that the units at the apartment complex were licensed by the city’s Livable City Initiative and had been inspected by the New Haven Fire Marshal in 2023. According to the statement, all requirements of these two authorities were “complied with and met.” The attorneys also wrote that Emerson Apartments LLC has “had a good relationship with all its tenants” since its formation in 2000.

Raymond Sola, the landlord of the Emerson Apartments, did not reply to multiple requests for comment by the News.

In their request for collective bargaining, the tenants union submitted a letter that listed four topics that landlord-tenant negotiations will seek to address, including timely building maintenance and a multi-year rent schedule, which tenants hope will prevent year-to-year rent increases.

“We have come to collectively see and realize that our eyes, ears, and voice are essential to proactive upkeep that ensures we reside in a clean, safe, and thriving building environment,” reads the letter, which was obtained by the News.

Also included is a request to establish a regular meeting between tenants and the management or landlord of the Emerson Apartments to discuss updates and issues regarding the building. Additionally, the letter includes a clause that advocates for the right of first refusal and right to a first bid — both of which serve as “insurance measures” against tenant displacement in case another landlord purchases the building, according to Kolokotronis.

If the landlord chooses to sell the property, the right of first refusal would give tenants of the Emerson Apartments the option to match or refuse an offer on the complex before the landlord can sell it. Similarly, the right of first bid would grant the tenant union the ability to issue the first bid on the sale of the property if union members wish to do so.

“For us, this is about being proactive,” Kolokotronis said. “This is a way to guard against corporate displacement. It’s a way to guard against corporate landlords becoming further entrenched in the state.”

Kolokotronis, who has prior experience organizing tenants unions, said that recent events at the Emerson Apartments led him to “connect the dots” with his past housing experiences. While the flooding triggered the unionization, according to Kolokotronis, other incidents of landlord unresponsiveness encouraged residents at the Emerson Apartments to come together in support of the union.

Fellow tenant Kenneth Naito MUS ’24 explained that he supported efforts to form a tenants union, especially after experiencing similar living concerns, including a cracked ceiling and mold, that were met with “no serious action” by the landlord.

Wildaliz Bermudez, the Director of the Fair Rent Commission who also officiated the union’s registration process on Friday, explained that the FRC will serve as an intermediary between the Emerson Tenant Union and their landlord moving forward.

In addition to granting the Emerson Tenant Union official recognition, registering with the FRC will protect members of the tenant union against potential retaliation from their landlord. Lee Osorio, a field representative for the FRC, explained that existing conditions at the Emerson Apartments reflect a broader pattern of unsafe living conditions throughout the city.

“I would hope that this shows other apartment buildings that this is not difficult to do,” Blau said. “You just need the majority of apartments to sign a letter and you can get certified as a tenants union — it’d be great if that spread.” 

The Emerson Apartments are located at 284 Orange St.

The post City’s fifth tenants union forms in response to burst pipe appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Mayor Justin Elicker visited a site for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program on Thursday morning to highlight the free services the program offers. VITA, which consists of 14 sites across the greater New Haven area, provides free annual tax preparation assistance and financial advisory services to low to moderate-income Connecticut residents.

The program provides assistance to community members who have a household income of less than $63,000, are disabled or speak limited English.

The organization held a briefing at its Evergreen AAA Site in West River to spotlight its services and raise community awareness. 

“Last year, VITA volunteers in New Haven helped 3,700 families. That’s a huge number. 1,700 families claimed over $4.6 million in refunds. So some of that money could be yours this year, and if you’re listening, make sure you come in and get your refund and save $1.1 million in tax preparation fees,” Mayor Elicker said in a speech. “This is a huge, huge service to our communities.”

VITA works in conjunction with other organizations in the city, one of which is the Financial Empowerment Center which provides educational events, personal budgeting and access to banking and credit advisors.

Brenda Moore, the Empowerment Center’s program manager, emphasized the importance of helping community members get “back on track,” following the pandemic and rising inflation. 

According to Nick Brundage, a VITA program manager, many New Haveners don’t take advantage of these resources, and he pointed to an IRS report that estimated around 20 percent of people eligible for certain tax credits in the city don’t receive them.

“We’re looking at you know, about a quarter of a million dollars left at the IRS that can be in people’s pockets here in New Haven,” Brundage said. “So getting the word out about the VITA program is incredibly important. And as families continue to face inflation, the VITA program continues to be a free service that connects them to other services like the [Financial Empowerment Center].”

VITA also hopes to make community members aware of the fiscal policies that are shaping their day-to-day lives.

According to Brundage, a group of dependency credits, which are credits that can reduce the taxes a filer pays by up to $2,000, were reduced after the pandemic.

Volunteers are an integral core of VITA’s services and programs, and a few team members were present for the event.

Takima Robinson, the chief program officer, continues to volunteer because of the meaningful contribution that she believes the team is making in the city. 

“$19,355 I want to say one more time, $19,355. That is a refund that we were able to get a family when I started many years ago,” Robinson said. “That is why I still come back and volunteer. It is a life changer. VITA comes in handy to those who need it the most.”

VITA hopes to open more branches and grow its team this coming year to expand its offerings for the 2025 tax season. 

Pamela Allen, the site coordinator for VITA Evergreen AAA, also encourages volunteers to bring the program’s services to their own communities and towns if they don’t provide similar services. 

According to Allen, universities in the area have an obligation to provide financial advice and tax assistance to the towns they are in. 

“Yale needs to do this. Albertus Magnus needs to do this. Southern needs to do this. They need to open up the door, save their students some money, and also help community members save some money,” she said. 

VITA Evergreen AAA is located at 43 Norton St.

Correction, Feb. 28: This article has been corrected as VITA consists of 14 sites across the greater New Haven area and provides services to those who have a household income of less than 63,000 not 55,000.

The post Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program ramps up service campaign appeared first on Yale Daily News.

In 2019, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law a bill that incrementally increased the minimum wage in the state from $10.10 per hour at that time to $15.00 by 2023. The bill also instituted yearly raises based on the federal Employment Cost Index starting this January.

“The minimum wage for many years remained stagnant, making existing pay disparities even worse and preventing hardworking families from obtaining financial security,” Lamont said at the press announcement of the increase last year. “This is a fair, modest increase and the money earned will be spent right back into our own economy and support local businesses.”

Five years ago, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a minimum wage increase that pegged its growth to economic growth. The minimum wage in Connecticut increases annually on Jan. 1, tied to the Employment Cost Index, a measure of nationwide wage growth calculated by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

According to Connecticut Labor Commissioner Danté Bartolomeo, the increase will benefit between 160,000 and 200,000 minimum wage workers in the state.  

Gildemar Herrera, who represents New Haven’s municipal management employees as the president of AFSCME Local 3144, welcomed the increase in the minimum wage but said that she foresees little impact on working families struggling to afford rising food prices and rent hikes. 

The state minimum wage, among other key programs, directly impacts the many working families Herrera represents, especially single mothers with young children to support. Herrera said that she worries, in particular, about immigrant families struggling to pay the bills.

Those earning a $15.69 wage remain “working poor,” according to Herrera, who said that more should be done to support those workers. 

But Garrett Sheehan, the president of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, said he was opposed to the automatic minimum wage increases, and that he would support policies that promote flexibility and follow “economic realities.”  

“While we understand the increased cost of living and are fully supportive of paying employees livable wages, we sympathize with employers, specifically small businesses who are the most negatively impacted by the consequences of well-intended legislation,” Sheehan said. ”There should be a balanced approach to minimum wage policies — one that aims to support the prosperity of businesses and the well-being of our workforce.”  

Historically, the introduction of a minimum wage was tied to women’s labor politics in the late 19th century, as mostly women were working in the lowest-wage jobs, according to Yale labor historian Jennifer Klein. Bartolomeo said that nowadays, approximately 60 percent of minimum wage earners in Connecticut are women. 

Another policy challenge Klein identified is employers reclassifying their workers as non-employees to evade labor standards and minimum wage legislation.

What makes low wages unlivable in the U.S., Klein says, is the absence of state benefits, like healthcare, childcare and housing, which some other countries subsidize. 

“Nobody ever became not poor working for minimum wage,” Klein said, echoing Herrera. “What you really need to talk about is what’s going to change the balance of power for workers. And what are you going to do to make that possible? The technocratic fix is not enough.”

Klein said that she believes that minimum wage increases will not necessarily push businesses away from the state. When employers need more workers, “they hire more workers.”

When the minimum wage increase was passed, State Rep. Robyn Porter emphasized that the increased wages for residents would benefit local businesses and produce revenue for Connecticut. Announcing the most recent increase, Lamont seconded this sentiment. 

For tipped workers in Connecticut, the minimum wage is lower — at $6.38 for waiters and $8.23 for bartenders. This year, CGA might consider a bill that will eliminate this gap. 

The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. 

The post New Haven labor and business leaders disagree on automatic minimum wage increases appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Alternate Universe is a comic book store that has served readers in Connecticut for over 25 years. The New Haven store opened in 1995, and in 2005, co-owners Joseph Stinson and Erik Yacko decided to expand their business by opening a second location in Milford. Since then, Stinson has operated the New Haven location while Yacko oversees the Milford location. The store has formed a community with regular customers as well as some new Yale students every semester. 

“With comic books, there’s an ebb and flow. When a new TV show or new movie comes out, there’ll be a few new readers, but most people have been collecting for a while,” Stinson said. “With Yale, we get a little turnover every four years because new people come in and begin getting comics, our store becoming their favorite shop.”

The extended history of Alternate Universe, however, begins in the 1980s. In the 80s, Alternate Universe was originally named Paperback Trader. The comic book store was then bought by a different company called Dream Factory, which operated as a chain of stores throughout Connecticut. Dream Factory then became Moondogs, where Stinson and Yacko were working at the time. After Moondogs went out of business, Stinson and Yacko took over the store in 1996.

It was through Dream Factory that Stinson and Yacko befriended Rich Casiglio, who loves comic books and has worked with them his whole life. In 2005, during their expansion into Milford, the owners contacted Casiglio and hired him as an employee of Alternate Universe in New Haven. In his day-to-day working at Alternate Universe, he takes care of customers and restocks the store. 

As an employee, Casiglio recognizes the familiar faces of Alternate Universe’s loyal shoppers. 

“The majority of comic book store customers are regulars. You see them weekly or bi-weekly,” said Casiglio. 

A handful of Yale students frequent the store weekly, too, he said. 

With a steady number of regulars who patronize the store, Alternate Universe does not prioritize advertising. 

“​​It’s more so that people find us more than we find people because us advertising isn’t going to turn anybody into a comic book fan that isn’t already one,” Stinson said. 

The store has found comfort in its narrower reach, however. Though serving a tight niche, Alternate Universe offers a wide array of comic books for its loyal customers. The store carries indie, action, superhero, slice of life and manga selections. 

Regulars like Mikai Chamber appreciate the selections available at the store. Chambers has lived in New Haven for a decade and has been shopping at Alternate Universe for three years. Here, Chambers has found a home for his love of comic books, which began in his youth with Spider-Man and has since expanded into the indie genre. 

“They’ve got it all. From trade paperbacks, omnibuses, hardcovers, back issues – whatever you need,” Chambers told the news. 

Looking ahead, Stinson hopes to make room for more comics now that they’ve maxed out their space. 

According to Stinson, the possibility of opening a third location has been discussed, but remains an idea for now. 

“The one thing I want to try to do is focus on what we carry a little bit more and start getting some ancillary items out just so we have more room for comics,” Stinson said.

Alternate Universe is open every day on 1181 Chapel St.

The post Alternate Universe keeps comic books super in New Haven appeared first on Yale Daily News.

The Feb. 19 protest was organized by local hospitality union UNITE Here Local 217, which represents facilities and hospitality workers at UNH. The group of over 100 rallied around the call of “no contract, no peace,” signifying their commitment to improved working conditions and benefits.

“Local 217 has set a standard across the state, and we are accepting nothing different on this campus — we deserve the same wage as the rest of those in the union,” Kenneth Keen, a Local 217 member and UNH employee, told the News. “We’re family, we’re brothers and sisters and we’re part of 217 to make our lives better, to have equal wages in New Haven and to continue the standard across the entire area.”

The “standard” Keen described comes from the unions’ successful bargaining for healthcare paid entirely by the employer at eight Connecticut universities, including Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven.

Other protesters echoed Keen’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of community in the fight against the administration.

Carlos Rivas, a member of Local 217 for almost 38 years, told the News that only in the past 10 years have conditions begun to deteriorate for workers.

“We need better insurance; I don’t care about money, I just care about insurance,” Rivas said. “I’m not going to stay on the job much longer, but for my co-workers, I’m fighting for them.”

The call for health insurance was a central component of the rally, with all six protestors interviewed by the News mentioning its importance. 

Other demands centered around workplace safety and job security for UNH employees, without which Local 217 members felt like they were receiving “second-class treatment,” according to Jamie Genovese, a facilities worker at UNH.

“The students are not getting 100 percent of what they’re paying for simply because of our morale, and they need to know that,” Genovese said. “We’re here every day, we’re not going to go on strike, but these priorities are not luxuries; they are the bare minimum. People would be so much happier to come to work if these contracts went into effect and the students would benefit from that.”

UNH students also demonstrated their support for the adoption of the union’s proposal. Catherine Carvalho, vice president of the UNH Young Democratic Socialists of America, told the News that she hopes students see the efforts of the union and decide to get more involved, as she feels that increased student mobilization will be necessary to get the contract to pass.

Allison Staples, a member of YDSA, added her support for the union’s demands. 

“Facilities and Sodexo workers are a huge part of making sure our campus can work, and without them, us as students can’t have our day to day lives function as well as they do,” Staples said. “Without the things that we’re demanding like job security, equal wages and insurance, it’s not fair for them to work under those conditions and it’s not fair for us to let them fight without our support. We’re willing to stand behind these workers as long as it takes.”

Furthermore, Chris Tyrrell, a UNH student, argued that the contract proposal was a “no-brainer” as the university workers deserved better. 

In a statement to the News, the University of New Haven wrote that it was bargaining in “good faith.”

“The university respects the rights of the demonstrators to peacefully express their views,” the University wrote. “Members of the university’s management committee continue to bargain in good faith with the union representing the facilities employees and remain optimistic that a new agreement will be reached.”

According to the school’s statement, UNH is currently negotiating two separate contracts, one with the university’s union facilities employees and another with Sodexo, the university’s third-party food service, whose workers are also represented by Local 217.

Members and supporters of Local 217 gathered at 34 Rockview St. in West Haven before marching through campus.

The post University of New Haven workers protest against ‘second-class treatment’ appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Evans originally started the business from a bus before moving it to a physical location in 2016.

He associates the “non-traditional” route he took when he first began Ricky D’s with his new mobile app venture. 

Jorge Banuelos GRD ’27, a Ph.D. student in history who is a regular, declared it the best restaurant in the city.

“I think it’s definitely the best one I’ve spotted in New Haven. Probably the best I’ve had in Connecticut as a whole,” Banuelos said. “I’m originally from Kansas. So I have very high standards when it comes to smoked meat, and it exceeds the mark every time.”

Banuelos also highlighted the restaurant’s atmosphere and described it as service with a smile, which reminds him of the southern hospitality of his childhood.

The restaurant has also become a destination for undergraduate students, given its proximity to Pauli Murray College and Science Hill.

Ludovico Mazzocchi ’27 thanks the restaurant for exposing him to American dishes and culture.

“As an international student, I have always wanted to try new restaurants in New Haven,” Mazzocchi said. “In the UK, wings and ribs aren’t a very popular dish, so getting to try that here has been super fun.”

Despite Ricky D’s in-person success, the restaurant implemented their new mobile app last fall to increase their engagement and reward loyal patrons.

Evans began working on this venture last year and expects it to play a crucial role in growing Ricky D’s. Through the app, he hopes to reach more customers and spread his brand’s name domestically and internationally.

According to Evans, the game is a restaurant management simulator in which users can prepare and sell dishes digitally and collect in-game currency. In the future, patrons will be able to use the in-game “shack points” in store, creating a new form of rewards points for loyal customers. 

“[The app] is something new and innovative that I’ve been really focused on to help grow the business not just physically but also gauging digitally as well as the rib shack cooking game is available in 176 countries in the Apple App Store in the Android app store,” Evans said. “It’s essentially a replica of the restaurant. Users can serve customers in the game, earn shack points, get on the leadership board, upgrade their menu and upgrade their equipment.” 

Evans began working in conjunction with developers, and he hopes the app can help other local businesses grow as well.

Other small businesses will be able to use Ricky D’s template of the app to personalize it for their own businesses.

Ricky D’s is located at 302 Winchester Ave.

The post Ricky D’s Rib Shack launches new game for patrons appeared first on Yale Daily News.

Pizza, which has played a crucial role in shaping New Haven’s fame, has also helped generate economic growth in the restaurant industry. To honor its centrality to New Haven’s identity, Governor Ned Lamont took the opportunity to declare New Haven as the pizza capital of America. 

The festivities commenced with a speech from Colin Caplan, the owner of the culinary entertainment company Taste of New Haven.

“This is a day to celebrate what pizza’s all about. It’s about community, it’s about sharing, it’s about the hard work of the people that stand behind me,” Caplan said.

Caplan highlighted the economic impact of pizza in New Haven, saying pizza alone contributes $100 million to New Haven’s economy, with a significant portion of that being through tourism.

Mayor Justin Elicker also spoke about the importance of the dish in driving market interest and tourism. 

“It is just amazing how folks are taking a risk, investing in our community, bringing a lot of attention to New Haven,” Elicker said in his speech. 

Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon highlighted the significance of celebrating the city’s most famous food. 

“What we do here is a special thing that people come from all over the world to see. We should be really proud of that,” Scanlon said. 

Rep. Patricia Dillon brought a bill to the House floor in 2021 to recognize pizza as Connecticut’s state food, but the bill failed to pass the Senate. 

Even though the bill didn’t pass, Dillon said that she still hopes that the city’s pizzerias get the recognition they deserve. 

“When I brought out the pizza bill in the house, I said I wanted to honor people who make things with their hands — the craftspeople. The people who kept us alive during the pandemic,” Dillon said. “When we were home safe, they were in the kitchen cooking.”

Despite this sense of community and unity, pizzerias across the city have been vying for the spot as No. 1 in New Haven. 

George Koutroumanis, the owner of Yorkside Pizza, described this as a healthy form of competition, however. 

Despite the underlying sense of competition between the pizzerias across the city, Koutroumanis said it’s all in good fun, adding that at the end of the day, the different pizzeria owners are “all friends.”

He also highlighted the difficulty of labeling one pizzeria as the best. There is much more than taste that determines a customer’s preference, according to Koutroumanis. 

“Every pizza has a special palace in every person’s heart. When I came to America from Greece, I used to go to a pizza place in Waterbury,” Koutroumanis told the News. “That place has a very special place in my heart. Everyone has a pizzeria or a slice that is very special to them. So it’s very hard to say where the best pizza is.”

Ernie’s Pizza is located at 1279 Whalley Ave. 

The post Governor declares New Haven ‘Pizza Capital of America’  appeared first on Yale Daily News.