Category: Business - Page 110

Sunday, October 18, 2026

After 110 Years, Silver of Westport is Closing

By James Lomuscio

On this Black Friday, Stephen Silver quipped “this is the blackest Friday of all of them. ” The 110-year-old, family business, Silver of Westport at 390 Post Road East, will close once the holiday shopping season ends, he said.

Stephen Silver was upbeat after announcing the store’s closing. “I want to go out like a New Orleans funeral—all the bells and whistles,” he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Silver said the decision to shut the specialty gift and luggage shop was made with his two sons and daughters-in-law at 5 p.m. Thursday following Thanksgiving dinner.

He noted his grandfather, Samuel Silver, started the family business in Bridgeport in 1904, selling canes and umbrellas. In 1951, his father, Philip Silver, opened the Westport shop, growing the business with specialty gifts and luggage in Westport’s Compo Acres Shopping Center.

“We’ve been teetering, talking about closing it for a long time,” he said, adding, “I want to go out like a New Orleans funeral—all the bells and whistles.”

Comings & Goings: Silver of Westport to Close

UPDATE One of the last mom and pop mainstays in Westport, Silver of Westport, is closing. Co-owner Steve Silver (pictured with his co-owner sister, Susan, before they relocated the store in Compo Acres Shopping Center in 2011) said a “retirement sale: sale of the century, nothing excluded” began today. No date has been set for the closing, he said. The family-owned and operated gift and travel necessity business has served Fairfield County since 1904 and has been in Compo Acres since 1951. It and its neighboring retailers lately have been impacted by remodeling of the exterior and reconfiguration of the rear parking lot. “Business had not been good, but the scaffolding covering the storefront for the past eight months was the icing on the cake,” Silver said. He added: “I want to go out like a New Orleans funeral—all the bells and whistles.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Main Street Crowded With ‘Black Friday’ Shoppers

Westport’s Main Street was busy today with “Black Friday” shoppers seeking bargains. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Bob Eckman for WestportNow.com

Good Shopping on Main Street

Sidewalks in Westport’s downtown area were crowded today with shoppers seeking “Black Friday” bargains. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Comings & Goings: Chocolate Shop Opens on Main Street

Westport and Weston First Selectmen Jim Marpe and Gail Weinstein today welcomed Weston resident Aarti Khosia (c) and celebrated the official opening of Khosia’s Le Rouge handmade chocolates on the lower level of 190 Main St. Khosia, whose business is also operated online (www.LeRougeByAarti.com), said the hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day except Monday and “will extend hours as we get closer to the holidays.” She added, “We’re a cafe as well and serve a range of flavored coffee selections.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Freshii Launches Weekend Kids Eat Free Program

Freshii Westport has announced a weekend Freshii Kids Eat Free program, which seeks to promote healthy eating among youngsters. The program for children under 10 begins Saturday and runs until the end of January.

During this time, Freshii, 19 Post Road East, is offering children a free entree from the kid’s menu on Saturdays and Sundays when their meal is accompanied by an adult entrée –- one free kid’s meal per adult entrée.

“We want kids to understand that healthy eating doesn’t mean giving up delicious food,” said Jonathan Blob, owner of Freshii Westport. “We are introducing our kids eat free program because we love seeing kids from Westport and surrounding towns come in and enjoy our fresh, healthy options –- and we want to see even more of them.”

Freshii is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. For more information, contact Freshii Westport’s director of operations, Craig Charlton at (203)222-3599, or visit https://www.freshii.com/us/locations/connecticut/westport.

Tuesday, November 25th, 2014

Comings & Goings: Athleta Opens on Main Street

Just in time for the holiday season, Athleta, a division of GAP Inc, has opened at 103-07 Main St. The new store was constructed in the spaces previously occupied by Westport Pizzeria, Kate Spade and Francois du Pont Jewelers, which have all relocated elsewhere. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Friday, November 21st, 2014

Comings & Goings: Top Drawer to Close After 37 Years

Top Drawer, a women’s boutique at 1537 Post Road East, is closing. Owner Joan Rotman (above) and manager Mickey Kleefield and their staff have delivered personalized service to Westport customers for more than 37 years. A closing sale is in progress, and Rotman said she plans to be out before the end of the year. “It’s time,” she said, adding that she and her staff will miss their many customers with whom they have developed very close ties over the years. “Thank you for all your loyalty, caring and friendship,” she said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Thursday, November 20th, 2014

CT Gains Jobs in October but Unemployment Rate Remains Fixed

By Keith M. Phaneuf

www.ctmirror.org

Connecticut’s jobless rate remained fixed at 6.4 percent in October, despite the addition of about 3,600 new jobs, the state Department of Labor reported today.

The agency’s latest report also downgraded job growth estimates it had released two weeks before Election Day. Back on Oct. 20, labor officials said Connecticut gained 11,500 jobs in September, it’s single-largest monthly gain since April 1994. But Thursday it revised the September gain downward by 1,000 jobs to 10,500.

“Connecticut’s job market continues to steadily add jobs this year at its best pace since the recovery began, and that growth seems to be drawing more people into the labor force,” said Andy Condon, director of the Labor Department’s Office of Research.

“These numbers are another sign of progress,” Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said today. ” … We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure Connecticut remains on a path towards an economic revival. By working with the business community on expanding their operations or relocating to our state, we are putting Connecticut on the path to long-term prosperity.”

Click here for more of story

Saturday, November 15th, 2014

Comings & Goings: Froyoworld Westport Closes

Froyoworld Westport has closed at 361 Post Road West in the shopping center once anchored for many years by the also closed John’s Best. Froyoworld opened in June 2012, one of a wave of frozen yogurt shops that opened about that time. (See WestportNow June 18, 2012) Froyoworld’s closure follows the closing of Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt, 113 Post Road East, last June and the more recent closing of Peachwave Yogurt at 170 Post Road West. (See WestportNow June 10, 2014) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo