Crime & Safety

Augie's, Closed by Feds Friday Afternoon, to Reopen Saturday UPDATE

A sign inside Augie's Numero Uno Friday by 6:45 p.m. said the restaurant will open tomorrow. A visit by IRS agents Friday apparently closed the successful Augie's Numero #1 Restaurant & Pizzeria after lunch.

Augie's Numero Uno was closed Friday afternoon, and owner Augie Incorvaia could not be reached for comment. The restaurant was closed for business Friday night, but a sign inside said it would reopen tomorrow.

"They're closed," said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. "I'm getting all this second and third hand, but it looks like the IRS. I don't know if they'll reopen tonight."

Augie founded his restaurant in 1989, sold it three years later and bought it back in 2005. He's run it ever since, and in the last two years he branded and started selling his own spaghetti sauce. Augie greets customers by name, and he's the one answering the phones, talking to the customers or making the pizza.

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The restaurant closes every year for a two week vacation around the July 4 holiday, so it will be closed anyway starting Monday. This problem with the IRS leaves open the question of whether it will be open Friday, Saturday or Sunday. The sign that appeared Friday night clears up the question for Friday (closed) and Saturday (open.) Sunday remains a question.

Boughton said the Danbury police were not involved in what had the appearance of a raid to people in the plaza at 20 Germantown Road. The IRS said their agents had been on the scene Friday, but decined to say more.

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"I saw the feds. One was near the door. He was sending people away. They wouldn't explain anything," said Danbury resident and weekly Augie customer Vincent Carmignari.

Augie's Numero Uno is one of Danbury's most popular restaurants.

"It's a staple for anyone eating out in Danbury," said Stephen Bull, president of the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. "They're always booming."

David Hawley, at Hawley Realty farther down the plaza at 20 Germantown Road, said he buys lunch at Augie's four out of five days a week, and Carolyn Hawley, his mother, said she doesn't have to remember the name of her favorite dish at Augie's.

"The girl says, 'You're going to have your regular?' and I say yes. I don't even remember what it is," Carolyn Hawley said. She said it involves some sort of cheese in a roll.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.


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