A local couple who dreamed of opening their own tavern where patrons could hang their hats, have a satisfying bite and watch a ball game, are planning to open just such a restaurant in East Haven early next year.
Joseph and Kristina Moran plan to open J. Charles Tavern as sports-centric tavern, with comfort food, hand-held appetizers and plenty of televisions broadcasting sports. “We want J. Charles to be a place where people can come in after work, have a good bite to eat, a good laugh and watch a ball game,” said Joseph Moran, who will run the restaurant with his wife, Kristina. “Our slogan is ‘come as you are.'” The restaurant is named for his father, he said.
The tavern will move into the space formerly occupied by Koi Sushi in Trolley Square in East Haven, according to the town’s Economic Development Director Rich Coppola.
“It’s comfort food, but also steak and the kind of things you would expect to find at a tavern,” Coppola said.
Moran said he had been dreaming about owning his own restaurant since he was 20. “We love East Haven,” said the California native who moved to East Haven in 2004. “We want to be a real staple in the East Haven community.”
He and his wife have more than 40 years of experience in food service between them, he said. He began working in grocery stores at 16 and moved on to restaurants, bartending and food manufacturing, he said. His wife has been tending bar in West Haven for more than 25 years. Moran is hoping to open the tavern early in 2027 but did not want to specify a date. The bar will include several TVs that will broadcast sports, he said. “We’re going to be a sports-centric tavern,” he said. “We’re really excited about achieving our dream,” he said.
Coppola said the couple is currently renovating the former sushi restaurant. “This is something we sought after for the area,” Coppola said. “Part of planning includes looking at what are the needs for the town. All of us have a wish list of things that we’d like. People will say to me, ‘Hey, any chance we could get a steak place?’ or ‘How about a Chick-fil-A?'”
Coppola said he was particularly encouraged that the owners of the new restaurant are from East Haven. “This couple is from town, so they have a real feel for the place. We’re really excited about it,” he said.
Dining and Cooking