"There’s always something to learn," said Letezeio.
And learn he will as Letezeiobrings his knowledge of wine to the cafe to create what he calls a "partnership in wine." While keeping the cafe’s atmosphere and menu the same, Letezio wants to expand the horizons of the local wine drinker, or even help to educate those who might not know a merlot from a cabernet.
"I think Milford is ready for a wine bar,"
Letezeio said. "All the area towns have them—New
Haven, SoNo. (South Norwalk) I don’t want to upset the
present clientele, but I do want to usher in that new
consumer.
"I want it to be everything you love about the cafe and
more," he added.
Letezeio and the staff at Cafe Atlantique will offer patrons
a tour of the world through the menu and wine selection.
Letezeio said each month is going to be dedicated to a
different country. The cafe will offer wines, music, art and
food that coincide with the month’s country.
In his ownership of the cafe thus far, Letezeio said patrons
have responded well to his changes.
"When I bought the cafe, people were saying to me
‘You’re not going to change the menu?’" he said.
"We haven’t changed the menu, but people seem to like
the country and the theme.
"They like the wine and the better selection,"
Letezeio added. "You can get different things that you
might not have tried before."
Sheri Foster, a West Haven resident who grew up in Milford,
takes the train from Milford to Stamford every day during
the week.
"I get off the train and after a long day it’s nice
to know that there’s a cozy place to wind down and have a
cup of coffee or a glass of wine. The food and wine
selection are terrific. It feels like a small piece of New
York City in downtown Milford," Foster said.
In addition to offering wines and foods by country, Letezeio
said the cafe will also hold language and wine tasting
classes based on that country. For example, Letezeio said
that German wine labels are virtually impossible to read. A
class he would offer would be one to help decipher those
labels.
Additionally, Letezeio said he will have Milford Adult
Education teacher Len Gulino, who does wine tasting at Pond
Point, share his wine knowledge with patrons. Gulino will
teach two to four classes a month, and each class will cost
$25.
Aside from expanding the cafe’s focus on wine, Letezeio has
also extended the hours. The cafe now opens at 6 a.m. during
the week to cater to the commuter. Letezeio said the cafe now
offers a "grab and go" section with pre-made
sandwiches and pour-your-own coffee so people can "get
to the train on time," according to Letezeio.
While the cafe appeals to the commuter crowd early and to
what Letezeio calls the "mommy and me" clientele in
the later mornings, 6 p.m. will mark the transition to the
"wine crowd."
"I want this to be a place to go to have a glass of
wine and a small bite," Letezeio said. "It’s not
for sit-down dinner — there are plenty of restaurants
downtown for that."
City Economic and Community Development Director Robert
Gregory said Cafe Atlantique is a meeting and gathering
place that creates a special atmosphere for downtown.
"It’s Starbucks without being Starbucks because it is
locally owned," Gregory said. "They are a shining
star in our galaxy of stars.
Letezeio agreed he wants to stay true to what Cafe Atlantique
has become for Milford, while extending the opportunity for
people to grow and learn as wine drinkers. Letezeio cited the
movie "Sideways" as proof positive that wine has
had a rebirth.
Cafe Atlantique is at 33 River St. The cafe’s menu and
wine list, as well as ongoing events, are available at www.cafeatlantique.us