Coppola's on 9 closes, LaGrange restaurant to open in spring

Coppola's on 9, the Town of Poughkeepsie restaurant with historic ties, has closed and will become a Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union, according to a statement from owner Luigi Coppola.

At the same time, the family announced "eighteen by Coppola's," a LaGrange  restaurant expected to open in spring at the James Baird Park Golf Course.

The restaurant closed on Feb. 19, one month after the Town of Poughkeepsie planning board approved the site plan for a credit union branch at 2373 Route 9.

HISTORICAL SITE: Plan for Coppola's on 9 redevelopment mulled; owner denies closing  

CREDIT UNION: Plan approved for credit union at Coppola's on 9 

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"This is a bittersweet moment," Nick Coppola, one of the owners, said in the press release. "We have made a great number of friends and greeted thousands of customers at that location. It is sad to leave, but we are now looking forward to the next chapter in the evolution of the Coppola’s brand."

The future of Coppola's on 9 came into question after the site plan for the credit union was brought to the town planning board on Sept. 15. While Nicola Coppola's signature was on the application, according to town planner Eric Hollman, John Coppola, one of the restaurant's owners, said in September that plans to close the restaurant were "all rumors."

Coppola’s Ristorante in Hyde Park and Coppola’s LaFantasia in Highland will operate as normal. The Pleasant Valley restaurant will also serve as a venue for weddings and special events, the press release said.

Before it was Coppola's on 9, the site was founded as the Westervelt House in 1744, according to town historian John Pinna. The Westervelt family worked as toll collectors along the King's Highway, which would become Route 9, and continued working as toll collectors following the American Revolution.

While the building will be demolished as part of construction, elements from the original Westervelt House, such as wood and brick, will be preserved and reincorporated into the credit union branch, according to Tony Rohrmeier, executive vice president for Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union.

The structure will be built to resemble the Westervelt House, featuring information about the site's history within the branch. The branch is expected to open by January 2018, Rohrmeier said.

Geoffrey Wilson: gwilson@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4882, Twitter: Geoff_LW