New Restaurant to Open at Old Frankies

An old fast food restaurant on Rubber Avenue that’s been vacant for nearly three years will soon breathe new life.

Naugatuck resident Jimmy Ayash said he plans on opening a new restaurant at the former Frankies, located at 664 Rubber Ave. The new business, which he said will be called “Ayash-Man,” will offer fast, fresh food, in an atmosphere that is a bit higher quality than a regular fast food joint, Ayash said.

“We’re emphasizing value, but we’re giving them a healthy choice that is quick,” Ayash said. “I want this to be a place that Naugatuck can really be proud of.”

The menu will include fresh items such as soups, salads and wraps as well as the regular fare of Philly cheese steaks, hot dogs and hamburgers.

“The rest is a surprise,” Ayash said. “People who like surprises are going to love this place.”

The Rubber Avenue business has been vacant and overgrown since Frankies shuttered its doors in 2009. Since then, the property has been left untouched. Even the chairs could be seen inside still stacked on top of the tables. But, in recent weeks, Ayash has been spending time renovating the space, something he said plans on doing until it opens.

In deciding on opening a new restaurant, Ayash emphasized that he wanted to have it be in Naugatuck. He said he chose the former Frankie’s to open his business because of its location, parking and because it is comfortable.

Since the location was already an established eatery before, the said there was no need to submit a special permit application. The business has gotten all the necessary requirements through the land use process, the office said.

Ayash said he’s hoping to open Ayash-Man on April 1, although he’ll have a firm date later on.

“I could open it sooner, but I want to make sure everything is exactly how I want it to be,” he said.

Ayash was a former mayoral candidate in Waterbury in 2003. He operates a store at the mall in Meriden, called Made by Hand, which he said he will close so he can focus on the Naugatuck business.