Sofia on Lafayette may be new to Hampton, but the owner – and head chef – is no stranger to Hampton or even to the address to one of the newest businesses on Route 1. Sofia on Lafayette, located in the former Rico Figg’s location, opened on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. However, Ron Cipullo has twice occupied the same building for two of his prior restaurants, dating back nearly two decades.

“I first started here in 2002, sold that restaurant in 2006, bought it back in 2015, and sold it in 2018,” said Cipullo, a Hampton-are staple in the food industry for the better half of the past 40 years. “I ended up coming back, renovated the place and was done the first week in April. From that point, we couldn’t open. After a couple months of the building being vacant, I had to do something.”