Category: Business - Page 102

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Red Barn Contents Go On Sale Friday & Saturday

Nostalgic about the closing of Westport’s Red Barn Restaurant? On Friday and Saturday you will have a chance to take a piece of the restaurant home to have a permanent memento.

Richard (l) and Frank (ChIch) Nistico Jr. in front of the Red Barm full service bar, which opened in March 2014 after a 30-year effort to get town approvals. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Norwalk’s Fairfield County Antique and Design Center announced that it would be holding an estate-liquidation sale for all the contents of the restaurant at 292 Wilton Road from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.each day. See pictures of items here.

“We will be selling all fixtures, kitchen equipment, signs, weathervanes, decorations, etc.,” an announcement said. “All are welcome starting at 8 a.m. on Friday. No early birds. Everything will be priced to sell. Own a piece of history from your favorite restaurant.”

The restaurant, owned by the Nistco family since 1983, closed last week after months of swirling rumors of its demise. (See WestportNow July 11, 2015)

The Way We Were: The Red Barn in the 1960s

This postcard from the 1960s shows the Red Barn Restaurant, 292 Wilton Road, when it operated under Harry and Dorothy Davega. The Nistico family renovated the building when they bought it in 1983. All the contents will go on sale Friday and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. following the restaurant’s closing. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Comings & Goings: Neat Reopens Even Neater

Westport’s Neat Coffee and Craft Cocktails, 6 Wilton Road, officially reopens Thursday after closing for one week for a “face lift,” according to owner Rachel Haughey. “We replaced the furniture, fixtures, color scheme and the overall feel that our designers said ‘is like a Botox treatment,’” she said. Manager Sandra Walimaki describes the change as “having a warmer feel that’s both a coffee house and bar at the same time.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Saturday, July 11th, 2015

Comings & Goings: Red Barn Restaurant Closes

UPDATE The Red Barn Restaurant, a Westport institution for decades at 292 Wilton Road, has closed, according to an announcement on the restraurant’s website by the Nistico family, which operated the landmark next to exit 41 of the Merritt Parkway.
“The Red Barn has officially closed,” the announcement said. “Thank You for your many years of patronage and support!” The announcement followed word from two sources in contact with the family that the restaurant had closed. Rumors have swirled for months that the restaurant was closing and was being purchased by the neighboring Westport Weston Family YMCA, which has not commented on the rumors. A sign on the front door today simply says “closed.” The Nistico family, longtime Westport restaurateurs who for decades had previously owned the Arrow Restaurant in Saugatuck, purchased the Red Barn in 1983. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Red Barn Closing Announcement is Sign on Front Door

UPDATE After months of rumors, a sign on the front door today of the Red Barn Restaurant, 292 Wilton Road, made it official—the landmark restaurant operated at exit 41 of the Merritt Parkway by the Nistico family since 1983 is closed. Later, an announcement went up on the restaurant website: “The Red Barn has officially closed. Thank You for your many years of patronage and support!” Its closure follows the end of two other landmark restaurants in recent years—the longtime Saugatuck mainstay Mario’s Place in April (see WestportNow April 4, 2015) and the Three Bears) Restaurant on Newtown Turnpike in 2009. (See WestportNow Feb. 2, 2009) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Friday, July 10th, 2015

Maybe, Maybe Not

A shopper at Westport’s annual summer sidewalk sale looks over a purse today in front of Shoe-Inn on Main Street as the three-day sale got under way. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Crowded Shopping

It was close in shopping in front of the LF store, 26 Main St., today as crowds converged on the downtown area for the Westport Downtown Merchants Association annual summer sidewalk sale. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Annual Sidewalk Sale Under Way

Westport’s much anticipated annual sidewalk sale was under way today along Main Street and Post Road East. The sale continues Saturday and Sunday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Sunday, June 28th, 2015

Steam Percolating Amid Money Woes

The coffee, bakery and sandwich shop Steam, located at the refurbished stationhouse on the eastbound side of Metro-North’s Westport station in Saugatuck, usually closed on Sundays, was open today to generate community interest amid reported money woes to save the business. According to owner, Briana Pennell (behind counter, smiling), “Today is amazing. This town is so great, the turnout is huge.” Pennell added, “We had some obstacles when we started out, but we’ve now restructured and I am the sole owner.” She said some changes are being made and “we will relaunch in the next few weeks.” The business had been closing at 3 p.m., but she said starting Monday, July 6 new hours will be 6 a.m.- 2 p.m. and then open again in the evening 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Also, starting July 12, it will be open Sundays 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. “We’re adding a few services for customer convenience to make it easier for grab ‘n go customers,” Pennell added. Summer intern Jeremy Mintzer, a Weston High School senior, said Steam has introduced a VIP house card that works like the gift card concept. He encourages Steam supporters to access https://www.razoo.com/br/causes/Love-Steam where donations to help the business can be made. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Chipolte Mexican Grill Open for Business

Chipotle Mexican Grill opened today at 376 Post Road East in the Compo Acres Shopping Center in the space previously occupied by Oaxaca Asian cuisine. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has outlets in Fairfield, Darien, and Greenwich, among other Connecticut locations. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com