Jimmies of Savin Rock Closes After 100 Years Serving Connecticut's Shoreline
Five generations of the Gagliardi family served Connecticut's shoreline from a hot dog stand that became an iconic seafood destination. Now the landmark restaurant has served its final meal.
The fried clams and lobster rolls that drew generations of Connecticut families to Savin Rock have come to an end. Jimmies of Savin Rock, the iconic West Haven seafood restaurant, closed this week after a century of serving the shoreline.
Five generations of the Gagliardi family operated the establishment at 5 Rock Street, which began as a hot dog stand called Moxie during the heyday of the Savin Rock Amusement Park in 1925. The restaurant transitioned to full-service dining in the 1970s and became synonymous with Connecticut coastal cuisine.
“It’s hard to put into words what this place has meant to our family and to so many customers over the years,” said a family spokesperson. “But after 100 years, we felt it was the right time.”
West Haven Mayor Dorinda Borer issued a statement congratulating the restaurant on its centennial milestone while acknowledging the loss to the community. “Jimmies wasn’t just a restaurant—it was part of our identity as a shoreline city,” Borer said.
The closure marks the end of one of the last direct links to the Savin Rock Amusement Park era. The park, which operated from the 1870s through 1966, once drew hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to West Haven’s beaches, boardwalks, and attractions.
At its peak, Jimmies seated hundreds of diners in its sprawling dining rooms, with views of Long Island Sound and lines stretching down the street on summer weekends. The restaurant’s fried clams and shore dinners appeared on countless “best of Connecticut” lists over the decades.
Long-time customers expressed sadness at the news. Social media filled with memories of family traditions, first dates, and celebration dinners at the landmark establishment.
“My grandmother took me there as a kid, I took my kids, and last summer I took my grandkids,” wrote one Facebook commenter. “That’s four generations of memories at one table.”
The property’s future remains unclear. West Haven officials said they hope any future development preserves the site’s connection to Savin Rock’s history and the shoreline’s character.
The Gagliardi family thanked customers, employees, and the community for a century of support. No plans for the family’s next chapter have been announced.