A Yale University graduate is returning to the city where he studied to breathe new life into New Haven's shuttered Anchor Restaurant.
The once-bustling space at 272 College Street has sat vacant since New Year's, when the restaurant closed down amid reports of financial problems.
A petition to save the Anchor failed to keep it afloat.
Yale University Properties, which owns 272 College Street, has struck a deal with Yale graduate Karl Franz Williams to bring the Anchor back to life.
Williams also owns a successful cocktail bar in Harlem, New York, that has earned rave reviews and high praise from New York City publications, according to a news release from the Yale University Office of New Haven & State Affairs.
The Anchor will keep its name and will serve up a "simple yet classic" menu comprising healthy salads, sandwiches, small plates and mixed drinks, according to Yale. It will be open seven days a week.
"We are thrilled to be part of the New Haven community and part of the Yale University Properties’ portfolio," Williams said in a statement Wednesday. "We look forward to paying tribute to the great history of this nostalgic location while bringing a new world vibe to the food and beverage presentation. As a Yale graduate, it is extremely exciting for me to re-invigorate this concept for New Haven. I look forward to becoming a part of the diverse cultural fabric that makes New Haven great."
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Charlie Moore, the Anchor's original owner, told Yale he is "delighted that the legacy of the Anchor will continue to be a part of the award winning New Haven restaurant scene."
It's not clear when the new Anchor will start serving customers.
