Route 22 eatery adds a stop in Stamford

As gas prices top $3 a gallon, reminiscing about 1950s car culture takes on an even more nostalgic tone.

At the newly opened Route 22 American Restaurant and Bar, guests will have no trouble recalling the days of cheap and plentiful gasoline. The restaurant features plenty of reminders of the

The brainchild of Lance Root and Michael LoKolce, the first Route 22 restaurant opened in Armonk, N.Y., five years ago. With the grand opening of the Stamford location on May 11, the concept has crossed into Fairfield County.

"The Armonk location was built in a 1927 gas and service station and that's how we got the idea for the antique memorabilia," founder Lance Root said.

For the new location, Root and partner Michael LoDolce partnered with the Post Road Entertainment Group. The group owns and operates several bars and restaurants in Connecticut and lower Westchester, such as the Black Bear Saloons in Stamford and White Plains, N.Y., and Hula Hanks, also in Stamford.

Although he declined to mention specific investment figures, Root said the partnership allows the Route 22 concept to grow faster.

"We have just signed a lease for Fishkill, N.Y., and that location will open in November," Root said.

Root is no stranger to theme restaurants. He started working at the Hard Rock Cafe in New Orleans while still a student at Tutane University and after he finished school, he helped open the new chain's locations as far as Sydney, Australia. Later, he served as regional manager of the All Star Cafe, before embarking on the Route 22 concept.

Located at 1980 West Main St. in Stamford, the restaurant is in a shopping center that houses a Shop Rite.

The 5,500-square-foot restaurant has 175 tables and a separate room that can seat up to 50 people for private parties.

General manager Eddie Pugsley said the new restaurant combines the concepts of the Black Bear Saloon and the first Route 22 restaurant.

"It's old-school Americana," Pugsley said.

Previously, Pugsley was assistant manager at the White Plains Cheesecake Factory He was acquainted with owners of Post Road Entertainment, when he worked as a bartender for the group's Thirsty Turtle bar.

"They approached me with a restaurant concept. Most of their businesses are pubs and bars and they wanted to have some insight into the restaurant concepts," Pugsley said.

To reconcile the pub atmosphere with the family-friendly dining, the bar is separated from the restaurant with garage doors which cuts down on noise crossover. The doors are opened when a live band performs, usually on a weeknight.