By Dave Matlow

Westport’s Main Street is about to take on a new retail look with new additions and current tenants changing addresses.

New and old retailers are readying new space on Westport’s Main Street. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

According to Sharon Maddern, managing director, brokerage, at David Adam Realty, players involved include longtime tenant Lululemon Athletica as well as new arrivals Sundance and Johnny Was.

Lululemon, 91 Main St., will relocate to the space formerly occupied by Nike at 69 Main St., she said. The move will double space of the leisure clothing retailer.

Johnny Was, a women’s bohemian fashion retailer, will open at shared address 69 Main St., the former location of Allen Edmonds. It is the first store in Connecticut for the women’s fashion brand.

Viva Zapata, the iconic Mexican restaurant in the heart of Saugatuck, will hold a party Saturday from noon until closing to celebrate its 50th year in business. The restaurant first opened in 1969 on Post Road East near what is now Playhouse Square and was owned by Duke and Jette Merdinger. After a fire destroyed the building later that year, the restaurant moved to its current location on Riverside Avenue in Saugatuck. Longtime employee Bob O’Mahony partnered with his brother-in-law Harry Brady and bought the restaurant from the Merdingers in 1993. They have owned and operated it since. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Chez 180, a gourmet restaurant under the guidance of Chef Carlos Perez, will open in the late summer at 180 Post Road East. According to Brookfield-based architect Christian Frye, Perez was co-owner of the former La Palette Bakery Cafe in Watertown. Chez 180, located directly across the street from three restaurants, Trattoria Finalmente, Jeera Thai and Le Penguin, will have 3,000 square feet and seat 40 patrons. It will feature a variety of cuisines and specialties, including fresh baked breads, pastries and desserts. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Betsey Kravitz (at window), co-owner with husband Hal of the new Elvira Mae’s, was all smiles late today after the Old Mill Beach convenience store received its certificate of occupancy at 3:30 p.m. and was able to begin selling ice cream and other goodies from the store’s service window. The store hopes to fully open for business at the weekend. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Elvira Mae’s, the Old Mill Beach store formerly known as Elvira’s, opened for business late today just in time for the fireworks crowds. Actually, it was just the service window where co-owner Betsy Kravitz served up ice cream, hamburgers, hot dogs and other goodies. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

By James Lomuscio

The former Daybreak Nurseries at 500 Main St. is getting a sidewalk to nowhere — a small price to pay for the town’s newest housing complex under construction, Daybreak Commons Westport.

One of the nine homes under construction at Daybreak Commons Westport. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The more than 700 feet of walkway will wrap from Main Street to Weston Road and to the entrance of the complex’s nine, 55 age-restricted homes going up on the 2.2-acre site.

Johnny Schwartz, principal of Norwalk’s Able Construction, Inc., said the sidewalk is what the town required, and because it was a state road, a whole host of state requirements had to be met as well.

But it’s not for naught, Schwartz said. Someday, it might connect to walkways at the intersection of Main Street and Compo Road North.