Two New Restaurants Opened at Shops at Yale

New Haven operators can observe how these eateries are filling retail vacancies with specialized, price-conscious dining concepts.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Bold vector editorial illustration showing two ceramic pasta bowls and a wrapped sandwich on a marble table, representing local restaurant openings. — Two new eateries, Between Bread and Twirl, have opened at the Shops at Yale, marking a shift in the New Haven retail district. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Between Bread and Twirl have officially opened at the Shops at Yale in New Haven. Both restaurants recently held ribbon-cutting ceremonies to mark their entry into the local dining market.

Why it matters

The opening of these businesses at 1008 Chapel St. and 260 College St. represents a turnover in the local retail footprint, specifically filling the space previously occupied by Copper Kitchen. These additions aim to meet local demand for accessible dining options in a high-traffic retail district.

Twirl features a 12-foot communal table and offers pasta bowls starting at $10 with a $25 three-course prix-fixe menu. These openings revitalize two separate storefronts within the Shops at Yale retail center.

The players

Between Bread

An eatery owned by Danielle Ginnetti and Linda Minichino located at 1008 Chapel St.

Twirl

A pasta restaurant owned by Craig Hutchinson and Jim Baronowski located at 260 College St.

Shops at Yale

A retail and dining center in New Haven that hosts the new businesses.

The details

Between Bread occupies the former Copper Kitchen site, while Twirl utilizes a build-your-own model where diners select pasta types and pair them with various sauces. The Twirl concept, which was developed in 2018, specifically targets the gap for affordable, accessible Italian dining in the New Haven area.

2018: Owners identified the need for local pasta restaurants.
October 14, 2026: Ribbon cutting ceremonies occurred for the two restaurants.

Market Landscape

The arrival of these two establishments follows a pattern of localized retail replenishment meant to sustain foot traffic in New Haven's central shopping corridor. This turnover is consistent with the ongoing efforts by the Shops at Yale to manage tenant mix in competitive urban districts.

Operators in the area should monitor how these new entrants utilize high-density retail locations to drive volume through mid-range pricing. Pay attention to whether the build-your-own pasta model successfully captures higher lunch-hour throughput compared to traditional sit-down competitors.

The takeaway

The successful launch of specialized, value-priced concepts highlights the demand for operational efficiency in high-rent districts. Business owners should assess their own menu pricing and table turnover metrics against these new local benchmarks to remain competitive in the current environment.