W Hair & Color Salon, after eight years at 1869 Post Road East, has relocated to 1391 Post Road East, next to Balducci’s, in the space previously occupied by Fovama Rugs, which closed in July 2013. Owner Letisha “Tish” Blanckaert said business, which now includes 10 stylists, “has grown so much we had to move for functionality reasons—much bigger space and more parking.”  She said the new space has 3,000 square feet compared to 1,800 at her former location.  Blanckaert said the public is invited to a grand opening celebration on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Rebar Engineered Fitness will open next week on Wilton Road in the rear of National Hall, 8 Post Road West. Husband and wife co-owners Danny Clark, 30, and Abby, 29, of Wilton said they relocated from Idaho, where they sold their fitness business earlier this year to be closer to their East Coast families. An accomplished competitive fitness athlete, Danny Clark earned a bronze medal in the 2012 FILA World Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships in Krakow, Poland. Rebar, not a franchise or chain but a privately owned business, invites the public to an open house introductory event on Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

After 25 years at 645 Post Road East, Patio.com, the outdoor furniture and patio accessories store, has relocated to a new retail building at 919 Post Road East at the intersection of Cedar Road and near the Sherwood Diner. The site until 2010 was home to the Cedar Brook Café, said to be the nation’s oldest, continuously operating gay bar, which closed after 71 years. Westporter Phil Ross, co-owner of Patio.com with his older brothers David and Mitch, said he decided to relocate when the new owners of its former location doubled the rent. “Even though our new space, 4,000 square feet, has about 25 percent less square footage than our former location, we are very pleased to remain on Post Road East,” he said. Ross said Patio.com, which first opened in Westport in 1980, has since expanded to 13 locations in Connecticut, New York, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Bagel Maven, 538 Post Road East, closed today after owner Alex Perdomo said he was unable to get a new lease. Although the business has been there since 1990, he has been the owner for only the past six years. (See WestportNow Sept. 29, 2014) In a statement, Perdomo said: “Even though I must leave today, I am grateful for the time I had here. The customers have been wonderful to me, they became my friends and it is my hope to stay in Westport if I can find another space soon. God bless everyone. Thank you!” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Members of the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission today took a field trip to 333 Post Road West where a plan is under review to convert a commercial office building (rear) to a medical facility. The plan includes demolition of the structures at 335 Post Road West (foreground) (see WestportNow Teardown of the Day, Dec. 17, 2013) which would be converted to a parking lot to meet the parking requirements for medical facilities, according to P&Z Director Larry Bradley. Owner Linda Mandell, who was on the excursion, said Internal Medicine Associates of Westport will leave its longtime home at 162 Kings Highway North to be one of the new tenants. Performance Physical Therapy, currently at 333 Post Road West, will remain, she said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

UPDATE and CORRECT Henry Lehr, the iconic, high end women’s apparel store at Westport’s 21 Main St., has closed. The closure follows the death in July of owner Camilla Lehr of Westport who died at Norwalk Hospital at age 44. Other Lehr outlets, including those on Long Island, remain in business, according to Camilla Lehr’s husband. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Shade Store, featuring custom shades, blinds and drapery, will open soon at 115 Main St. in the walkway behind Vince. womens’ apparel store. The third-generation family-run business started in 1946 as a fabric store in Mt. Vernon, N.Y., according to the company website. Although the Shade Store has 18 showrooms in 10 states, the Westport location will be its first in Connecticut with additional openings planned in Brooklyn, Houston, Miami and Washington, D.C. The nearest existing location is in Port Chester, N.Y as well as four stores in Manhattan. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com