Customers of Darien Social shuffled out its doors for the last time Sunday, but the space at 10 Center St. was not dormant long. On Wednesday, April 5, renovations began on the restaurant that will soon become the second Louie’s Restaurant and Bar, an Italian eatery which has been in Cos Cob since 2009. “We’ve been looking around for the better part of a year trying to find a spot that we thought would work well and that we would succeed in,” said Pieter Hartong, a Darien resident and co-owner, with Stamford resident Tony Lagouranis, of Louie’s since 2012.
“We felt like this location was very good. It’s very central to Darien.” Hartong and Lagouranis bring five and more than 50 years, respectively, in the restaurant and hospitality industry. In renovating the Center Street location, they hope to achieve a similar ambience to that of the pre-existing Cos Cob trattoria, which boasts a “vibrant and friendly atmosphere,” according to its website.
