An article from the Ridgefield Press

59 BANK in Ridgefield
By Fran Sikorski

Arthur Michaelsen, formerly of Ridgefield, is executive chef of his new family-owned restaurant, 59 BANK in New Milford featuring innovative American cuisine with global influences.

Many area diners were disappointed 33 1/3 Restaurant in Copp's Hill Plaza in Ridgefield closed.

The good news is that former partners, executive chef Arthur Michaelsen and his wife Julia, the chef's sister, Nancy Burke, and their parents, Jim and Josephine Connelly, are back in the restaurant business with a new name, 59 BANK, located on a trendy street in New Milford across from the Bank Street movie theatre. Nancy Burke is in charge of catering, and Josephine Connelly creates lovely floral arrangements.

The new restaurant occupies two floors and two dining rooms, one sharing space with a large bar on the first level; and the other, in a spacious setting with modern furnishings is on the lower level, a great spot for private functions.

Celebrating 14 years as a professionally trained chef, Arthur Michaelsen said he and his wife Julia had previously owned Heibeck's ice cream store in Wilton where they started a catering company, and he was executive chef when 33 1/3 first opened. When the business was successfully launched, he left to open the Old Stone Farmhouse on the island of St. John, V.I. Returning to the states, he worked as a private chef in Greenwich before returning to the family-owned restaurant in Ridgefield. At 59 BANK, he is assisted by sous chef Marco Siguenza. Chef Michaelsen is creative, robust and his menu prices are a very good value.