Study Guide

Mike Pietrafeso

Chef & Owner of Roost Kitchen + Coffee

236 East Putnam Avenue • 475-303-2100 • heyroost.com

WHEN DID YOU OPEN ROOST FOR BUSINESS? Roost Cos Cob opened in November of 2021. Our first Roost location opened in Darien four years ago and Roost Stamford opened in late 2019.

AFTER HAVING SUCCESS WITH ADA’S IN RIVERSIDE, HOW DID YOU SELECT COS COB FOR YOUR NEXT VENUE? The Ada’s kitchen is quite small, and I was looking for another location in Greenwich to increase our kitchen capacity. When this spot became available, it was the perfect combination of a big kitchen with a storefront on the Post Road. I also thought it would be a great addition to the Cos Cob community. I really like the proximity to Cos Cob Elementary School and that particular strip of stores has small businesses that have been there for decades. Years ago, I was a chef in that very kitchen when it was Plum Pure Foods, so it is serendipitous I’ve found myself back here again.

HOW HAS THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED SINCE YOU’VE OPENED? The community has been incredibly supportive. We love getting to know new customers and also seeing some of our Ada’s regulars stop by. Our neighbors, Randy, Kim and others have helped us spread the word, and the Cos Cob Elementary families and faculty have been wonderful.

NAME YOUR FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT RUNNING A BUSINESS IN YOUR HOMETOWN—AND WITH YOUR SPOUSE! My wife has a full-time job at Deloitte—but she helps me immensely! There’s a lot to love about being a small business owner in the town that my wife and I grew up in, and that my daughters are now growing up in. • Being able to be present as a dad for my three girls and showing them that working hard is worth it if you’re able to do something you love. • Being my wife’s favorite place to get her daily smoothie and latte from. • Feeding local families and sharing my love of food with others—and making my Italian grandma proud. • Creating a team of people who have become our family and many of whom have been with us from day one. • Being part of the broader small business community here in Greenwich and Fairfield County where local businesses are integral to town life. • Having an impact on local families and being involved in the community.

WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO SPOTS IN TOWN? During the week, I cook a lot at home, but we are a ‘pizza on Friday nights’ kind of family—so we love Arcuri’s, Pizza Post and Grigg Street Pizza. We’ve been going to Boxcar Cantina with our girls for years now. For a date night, my wife Krista and I like Hinoki or Miku for sushi.

Mike and Krista Pietrafeso

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE ROOST CONCEPT AND HOW IT DIFFERS FROM ADA’S. The Roost concept really isn’t very different from Ada’s. It still offers a scratch-made and seasonally inspired menu made fresh daily from local ingredients—along with a great coffee and tea program. Starting this spring, Roost Cos Cob will have expanded hours and we’ll be adding new larger plates and bowls to the menu to offer delicious and convenient family dinner options during the week. We hope this will lessen the load of weekly cooking for local families—all with the convenience of ordering online for a quick and easy pick-up.

WHAT ARE SOME POPULAR OFFERINGS ON THE MENU? Our well-known favorite is our Roost Egg Sandwich on our homemade English muffins, with a runny egg, bacon, cheese, arugula and bearnaise sauce. Some of our other favorites include the breakfast burrito, the Kale + Quinoa salad with our famous white balsamic vinaigrette, our seasonal buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, and our overnight oats are a crowd pleaser for both kids and adults. The menu really has something for everyone, from healthy smoothies to more indulgent sandwiches and always, our homemade chocolate chip cookies to complete the meal.

ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? Our spring menu updates launched in late March, and I am considering adding our homemade ice cream sandwiches to the Roost Cos Cob menu. You’ll have to stay tuned to see what happens! Be sure to visit heyroost. com and follow us @heyroost for our seasonal menu updates and news.

Michael Tolle

Owner, CRUSH Table Tennis

55 Field Point Road • 203-489-0664 • table-tennis.com

WHEN DID YOU OPEN FOR BUSINESS? CRUSH was prepared to open in the early part of 2021. First there was a two-year renovation process, and then when the business was ready to open, there was a mask mandate in place. So, I made a difficult choice to wait until the mandates were lifted. Situations being what they were, CRUSH officially opened October 2021.

WHY DID YOU SELECT GREENWICH—AND THE FORMER GREENWICH PROPANE BUILDING—FOR YOUR LOCATION? CRUSH creates a new market segment within table tennis. It is not a pure gymnasium, nor is it primarily a bar with tables. We focus on the socialization aspects of the sport, in all the forms it takes. This location was the result of a lengthy site selection process in the tristate area. Greenwich certainly met the desired demographic and psychographic targets. The challenge was to find a spot that could efficiently be transformed to meet the desired application.

HOW HAS THE COMMUNITY RESPONDED SINCE YOU’VE OPENED? Everything has been going fabulously. More than 95% of people who walk into the upstairs space are taken aback on how a premium table tennis facility has made its way into downtown Greenwich. Walk-in players and monthly members are thrilled to have a new recreational option here. CRUSH regularly sees customers across all skill levels, age groups, genders and reasons for playing. Hosts of private parties and corporate events love both the large size of the venue and an atmosphere that its comfortable, fun and unique.

WHO DID YOU WORK WITH TO CREATE THE SPACE? In terms of support from local organizations, many have helped CRUSH overcome the enormous headwinds encountered the past three years in the making. The Chamber of Commerce was key in helping me find the right local businesses that I needed to work with in pulling this together. Be it Smeriglio Associates LLC, S.E. Minor & Co., Gilbride, Tusa, Last & Spellane LLC, Griffith E. Harris Insurance, or others, they are the ones who actually achieved the vision of the business.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING IN TOWN? Greenwich is a very international community with diverse types of backgrounds. One can pick up a game with someone and have a wonderful conversation about different experiences or come to find an intersection in interests where one might not expect.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO OPEN CRUSH? The initial idea was when my son and his friends entered middle school.

Michael Tolle

They all had their phones and gaming computers, but I didn’t see enough places for people of all ages to socialize in small or large groups. I’ve done business strategies for large global companies as a career. Mostly hybrid/ mixed approaches like this. They are very difficult to execute, but also very challenging to replicate. Again, it is not a pure recreational play. Nor is it a pure adult bar play either.

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE CONCEPT AND WHAT CUSTOMERS CAN EXPECT. The venue is 6,000 square feet across two floors, with nine tables and four playing areas. There are high-quality tables, paddles and balls. But there are also numerous amenities like: lounge chairs, a professional sound system, large screen television, training robot, firepit, sports drinks, beer, wine, cocktails, and customers are also welcome to bring food or have it delivered.

WHAT KIND OF EVENTS DO PEOPLE HOST THERE? No two events have been the same. Adolescent and adult birthday parties, corporate team building exercises, private parties for various occasions, corporate celebrations, nonprofit fundraisers, bat and bar mitzvahs and ladies’ nights out. Sometimes people have an emphasis on table tennis. But other times, customers are seeking a venue with all the amenities that can host anywhere from two to 15 to 40 to 60 to 120 people.

ANY NEW DEVELOPMENTS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? We will be announcing the long-awaited arrival of a Head Coach in midApril. Table reservations will start being encouraged and available online. Four summer youth camps are being filled currently (July morning or afternoon session, August morning or afternoon session) with a limit of 10 students per session. A long-requested Club Ladder will be launched for competitive players, and we’ll also have expanded hours.

Greenwich High School seniors celebrate at the 2021 graduation ceremony.

STUDY GUIDE

Students flourish with an abundance of academic and extracurricular options

From preschool to high school and beyond, our town’s 62,000 residents have access to a wealth of educational opportunities. Recognized for an excellent public school system, Greenwich also boasts an enviable selection of private schools. The variety of learning options is a big draw for new residents. Greenwich public schools include 11 elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school and one alternative high school; private school offerings range from preschool to high school through grade 12, as well as those with programs for children with learning differences.

With priority given to student and staff safety during the pandemic, Greenwich public schools have become adept at tailoring adaptive learning models. As school returns to more normal patterns, one consistency remains: academic excellence is paramount. Four of the district’s elementary schools and one middle school boast magnet programs. THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL AT DUNDEE and NEW LEBANON elementary have international baccalaureate programs; JULIAN CURTISS elementary school offers world language instruction in grades K-5, and HAMILTON AVENUE ELEMENTARY is the district’s first STEAM magnet school. WESTERN MIDDLE SCHOOL provides an Advancement via Individual Determinationtheme program. This college readiness and executive functioning program helps students achieve their goals and full academic potential. Parents searching for the right school can be assured their children will be well-placed for an exceptional education. Not only have three Greenwich schools achieved coveted Blue Ribbon status, but the Niche search tool for parents rank the district in the top one percent nationally.

The more than 2,600 students at GREENWICH HIGH SCHOOL have a wide range of choices for academic programs. Over 300 courses, in every category from first-year English literature and composition to Mandarin Chinese and video production, help students create an individual learning path. Classes include the project-based Innovation Lab and

Independent Schools:

For students who prefer a single-gender education, local private schools include Sacred Heart Greenwich (above), Greenwich Academy for girls and Brunswick School (below) for boys.

above: Greenwich Academy is a private school for girls ranging from pre-K and Kindergarten through 12th grade.

the sought-after Honors Science Research program, independent study and 29 Advanced Placement courses. And student performance is revealed by the achievements of the Class of 2022: 11 seniors are National Merit semifinalists, with 33 commended scholars; in 2021, all 13 GHS semifinalists achieved finalist status (finalists are announced after press time.)

Beyond academics, there are clubs, sports and numerous organizations catering to almost any interest. The high school has more than 100 formal clubs, so whether a student wants to explore cooking or anime, theatre or fine art, there is an extracurricular group available.

Community service is another area where students shine. Volunteering at food banks, museums and social agencies offer a way to learn new skills, create meaningful connections, and make a difference. This year, 238 members of the class of 2022 (out of 675 seniors) were inducted into the National Honor Society; as part of the membership requirement, many NHS members serve as tutors, help in learning centers, work in the school media center and volunteer around town

Greenwich High School athletics have produced championship teams and outstanding athletes, many of whom go on to excel in collegiate sports. For any student who enjoys playing sports, Greenwich High School participates in three seasons and fields 42 varsity teams which have won numerous county, state and regional championships. Many sports also field junior varsity and freshman teams. The girls’ varsity volleyball team was recently voted first in the state by the Top 10 Coaches’ Poll, and the team won the state class LL championship—the team’s third state-level laurels. Students can also participate in many intramural sports.

In addition to public preschool, Greenwich families have access to more than 30 preschool programs—many affiliated with local schools and churches—and several Greenwich daycare centers, which offer preschool programs.

Greenwich is also known for top-notch private schools, including GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL, which is the only co-ed, Nursery through Grade 12 college preparatory day school in Greenwich. Other notable private schools are SACRED HEART, BRUNSWICK, GREENWICH ACADEMY and WHITBY, one of the nation’s oldest Montessori schools. The exemplary KING SCHOOL in Stamford, as well as RYE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL in Rye, New York, are in neighboring towns. For students looking for a prep school experience, FAIRFIELD COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL in Fairfield, CT, is highly regarded. Adults have programs to choose from as well, with Greenwich Public Schools offering more than 250 continuing education courses annually.

Nearby options for higher education are also convenient to town. The UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT (UCONN) continues to expand its programs in Stamford; SUNY PURCHASE and MANHATTANVILLE are nearby in Westchester; and FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY is just a short drive away.