The building at 121 E Putnam Ave in Cos Cob, once home to Chocoylatte Gourmet, has been vacant since February 6, 2020, when a car crashed into it. The building was declared unsafe due to structural damage and has only recently been demolished.The building at 121 E Putnam Ave in Cos Cob, once home to Chocoylatte Gourmet, has been vacant since February 6, 2020, when a car crashed into it. The building was declared unsafe due to structural damage and has only recently been demolished. Chocoylatte was popular due to its flowing chocolate fountain. The building had been sold a week before the crash, on February 5, 2020, for $1,100,000. The crash resulted in the death of the driver, Andrew Miller, 47, of Bridgeport, who was the sole occupant of the car that struck a tree and power lines before hitting the building. Greenwich building inspectors declared the building unsafe due to significant structural damage. Despite the owner’s promise to work on reconstruction, the building remained empty for four years before its demolition. A new apartment building is nearing completion across the street from the former Chocoylatte site. The three-story, 22-unit mixed-use development was approved under Greenwich’s 6-110 moderate income housing plan, aimed at encouraging “workforce” housing. While the building is larger than the former Friendly’s it replaced, it is not larger than the neighboring CVS building. It will offer five units for middle-income tenants and retail space along the street. Lawsuits filed in 2022 by Sabel Adjusters, Chocoylatte, and KRM (the building’s owner) against insurance companies and each other are ongoing, with court hearings expected to continue until April 2025.
Many have noticed the building at 121 E Putnam Ave in Cos Cob – formerly home to Chocoylatte Gourmet – has been empty since the night of February 6, 2020, when the driver of a Ford Taurus crashed into the European café and bakery.
The building had already been renovated as Commuter Cleaners was previously located there and only opened in July 2019.
Thanks to the flowing chocolate fountain, Chocoylatte quickly became popular.
The building had only been sold a week earlier, on February 5, 2020, by Bar N Brand, LLC to KRM Realty LLC for $1,100,000.
The crash resulted in the death of the driver, Andrew Miller, 47, of Bridgeport, who was the sole occupant of the car that police say was traveling eastbound when it went off the right side of the road and struck a tree and power lines before hitting the commercial building. Fortunately, the building was unoccupied at the time.
Greenwich building inspectors have examined the building and declared it unsafe due to significant structural damage.
At the time, owner Kelly Dantas promised in a Facebook post working hard on reconstruction.
Unfortunately, the building stood empty for four years and was only recently demolished.
The red line through the “Chocoylatte” sign is all that remains of the European bakery and café in 121 E Putnam Ave, Cos Cob. July 4, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Submitted photo of Chocoylatte in February 2020 after it was hit by a car
Tire tracks where a car hit a tree and utility lines before crashing into Chocoylatte in February 2020. Submitted photo
What is going on?
According to court records, a lawsuit was filed in early 2022 in the District Court by Sabel Adjusters, a public claims adjustment firm, against Chocoylate and the building’s owner, KRM.
In addition, a counterclaim has been filed against Sabel by Chocoylatte and KRM.
Chocoylatte and KRM are also suing insurance companies Selective Insurance Company of South Caroline and Twin City Fire Insurance Company.
According to the judiciary’s website, the upcoming court hearings will last until April 2025.
While these lawsuits drag on, a new apartment building across the street on the site of the old Friendly’s was approved in 2020 and is nearing completion.
Residents opposed the apartment building, which was proposed under the city’s 6-110 ordinance for moderate-income (“workforce”) housing, but the city needs more housing overall, especially workforce housing and affordable housing.
And while the building is much larger than the former Friendly’s building it replaced, it is not physically larger than the CVS building next door. It will have 22 apartments, including five units for middle-income tenants. There will be retail space along the street.
At 100 East Putnam Ave in Cos Cob, across from the former Chocoylatte, an apartment building approved in 2020 is nearing completion. The three-story, 22-unit mixed-use development was approved under Greenwich’s 6-110 moderate income housing plan, which is designed to encourage “workforce” housing. Photo: Leslie Yager
M&T Bank moved into the former Friendly’s building in Cos Cob. Photo: Leslie Yager
