The opening of Madewell, 155 Main St., next to Oscar’s, is set for Aug. 6, according to a worker on site. The store offers women’s clothing, including denim jeans, designer jeans, women’s tank tops, jackets, sweaters and more, according to its website. A division of J. Crew Group, Inc., Madewell also has stores in Greenwich and White Plains. The Westport location was formerly occupied by Coach. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Claire’s, the fashion accessories and jewelry store for young women at 45 Main St. in Westport, has closed. According to an employee at neighboring L’Occitane, “I came to work one day and they were gone.”  The manager of the Claire’s store in the Stamford Center said its Westport presence “has been at least 10 years.”  She said she had no idea why it closed. In addition to Stamford, Claire’s other locations in Fairfield County include Trumbull, Milford and Greenwich. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

In the midst of Saugatuck Center’s continuing growth, a residential and restaurant renaissance redefining the timed honored section of town, comes Westporter Howard Steinberg, an entrepreneur who wants to nurture and launch innovative businesses to stardom.

Howard Steinberg is transforming office space at 20 Ketchum St. into a collective of idea people, entrepreneurs, angel investors and experienced business people. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“The next Zuckerberg?” he’s asked about the likes of another Mark Zuckerberg, the iconic founder of Facebook, spawned by his vision.

“Let’s hope so,” says Steinberg, a 26-year town resident, who is in the midst of transforming 5,440 square feet of office space at 20 Ketchum St. into a collective of idea people, entrepreneurs, angel investors and experienced business people.

Dubbed the Westport Innovation HUB, the enterprise Steinberg touts currently has offices under construction that are designed as a “home to individuals and entities that want to enjoy shared resources, connections, expertise, experiences and access to capital in a beautiful, convenient, turnkey office environment.”

Garelick & Herbs, the upscale culinary market located at 1799 Post Road East since its founding in 1993, will relocate to 3611 Post Road, Fairfield in about 15 months, according to co-owner Jason Garelick. “We’re moving literally down the street, a stone’s throw from here” he said, referring to the close proximity of the new location. The store will occupy the site of the former Double LL Stand. In addition to the Westport location, Garelick said that he and his wife Paula, Fairfield residents, expanded to Greenwich in 1997, to New Canaan in 2000, own Mora Mora catering in South Norwalk and are also the official caterers for the Westport Inn.  Garelick said the red barn, now standing in the new location, will be demolished and the replacement structure will house the relocated Garelick & Herbs in 4,800 square feet of first floor space compared to its current 3,600 square feet. “We feel we are a part of Westport life and will continue to be so…we’re just down the street,” he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

One of the consulting firms vying to design a master plan for downtown Westport in the face of major developments tonight offered a vision of a transformed town.

Louis Gagliano, chairman of the Downtown 2020 Committee, welcomes members of RBA of Connecticut LLC, a Norwalk-based company of 200 planners, landscape architects, urban designers and civil engineers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

It includes a Main Street with three-story, gable-roofed buildings and two more walkways to Parker Harding Plaza. The plaza would have fewer parking spaces, and there would be an expansive green overlooking the Saugatuck River. There would even be a river ferry shuttling pedestrians to and from the west and east banks.

Such were some of the ideas offered up by RBA of Connecticut LLC, a Norwalk-based company of 200 planners, landscape architects, urban designers and civil engineers. One of its principals, David Lapping, who was present tonight, is 20-year Westport resident.

RBA is one of three respondents to Downtown 2020’s RFP (request for proposals) to develop a master plan of development and implementation for the downtown. Monday night the committee heard from Peter J. Smith, Inc. of Buffalo, N.Y., and on July 31, Milone & MacBroom, Inc. of Cheshire will make its pitch.