Zeneli pizzeria, across the street and down the block at 138 Wooster. The brothers who own the Wooster Street pizzeria Zeneli’s have purchased a retail-apartment building down the block — next door to a former liquor store where they plan to open a new restaurant. That property sale was r ecorded on the city’s land records database on Thursday, Aug. 13. The relevant warranty deed states that Troja LLC paid $1.5 million to Mary M.U. McGuire, the trustee of the Dennis A. McGuire Living Trust, to acquire the property at 173 Wooster St. That two-story, four-unit, retail-apartment building — also known as 171 Wooster St. — was last appraised by the city for tax purposes as worth $649,600. The new owner of the building is a holding company controlled by Jeshar and Gazmir Zeneli of North Haven. They are two of the three brothers who run Zeneli Pizzeria e Cucina Napoletana at 138 Wooster St.  The Zenelis also own the single-story commercial building at 175 Wooster St., which used to be home to La Bella Vita Wines and Liquors. The Zeneli brothers boughht that building for $620,000 in 2021. In May of this year, the Zenelis won a special exception to permit a new restaurant at 175 Wooster St. with 0 off-street parking spaces — sparking a parking debate among Wooster Square neighbors. Why have the Zenelis now purchased 171-173 Wooster St., too? “We purchased 173 Wooster Street because we believe the property is a good investment and adds value to our other property in the area. We also see it as a long-term investment for our family,” Jeshar and Gazmir told the Independent in an email statement. “In addition, one of my brothers is planning to live in one of the apartments there in the future, so the property has personal as well as investment value for us. “We’re happy to be part of the Wooster Square community and look forward to maintaining and improving the property.” Jeshar said that their acquisition of 173 Wooster St. will not affect the 175 Wooster St. property. He said that 173 Wooster is “not going to be part of the restaurant” at 175 Wooster. And what’s next for the Zenelis’ planned new restaurant at 175 Wooster? What work still needs to happen before that new restaurant can open? “We’re still working on the project and finalizing the plans,” said Jeshar. “Once everything is finalized, we’ll present the project to the Building Department for approval. We’re excited about the plans and look forward to moving ahead.” One of the current — and longtime — commercial tenants of the newly sold building at 173 Wooster St. is the photography studio StudioDUDA, which is run by Paul Duda. In a phone interview Wednesday, Duda praised the Zeneli brothers for “the respect they’ve shown to the fact that I’ve been there for 30-some years.” Duda said that his business will be staying put at 173 Wooster, and he welcomes the Zenelis as his business’s new landlord. “Of all the ways it could have gone, I’m very excited” that it was the Zenelis that bought the building, he said. “I think it’s wonderful.” As for the restaurant that they have planned for next door at 175 Wooster, “I’m excited to see what they produce.” 175 Wooster, where the new restaurant will be, right next to 173 Wooster. As pictured on the front door of the former liquor store / future restaurant at 175 Wooster. The post Zeneli Brothers Buy Another Wooster Street Building appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less