By James Lomuscio

Sandwiched between Black Friday and today’s Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday pays homage to local retailers, the Davids amidst the onslaught of Goliath chains and big box stores. According to Westport Mom & Pop establishments, the concept has not only worked, but caught on over the past decade,

Chic Jolie was open and participated in Small Business Saturday, but storm-damaged Crumbs across the street was closed. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

But this year, with some exceptions, was far from stellar, retailers say, noting Saturday’s sales were a shadow of what they were a year ago. Some blame Storm Sandy for getting the holiday shopping season off to a shaky start. Others say an uncertain economy is making consumers more tight fisted.

“Christmas is definitely off to a slow start because of Sandy and probably appropriately so,” said Steve Silver, the third generation owner of Silver of Westport, Inc., a Post Road East specialty gift store in town since 1951.“People have to look after their families and their homes. They have a whole different set of priorities.

“We’d love to see them come in, and we’re ready when they are,” added Silver, saying he is optimistic that as Christmas approaches and memories of Sandy fade, sales will pick up.

Among Westport retail shops participating today in in Small Business Saturday is Chic Jolie, the women’s clothing and accessories store at 24 Taylor Place at the intersection of Jesup Road. First celebrated in 2010, it is held on the Saturday after Thanksgiving during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year. it is a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which feature big box retail and e-commerce stores respectively. By contrast, Small Business Saturday encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar businesses that are small and local. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A number of Westport Main Street retailers remained closed today—one of the busiest shopping days of the year—because of flooding damage from Storm Sandy. Among them were Chico’s (l) and next door Nike Running.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Westport’s Gap Stores at 125 Main St. attracted many shoppers lured by the advertised 20, 40 and 60 percent discounts. As part of the recent lengthy renovation of the building, the owners installed floodgates—actually high metal panels—as required by law. They succeeded in limiting flood damage from Storm Sandy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Keith M. Phaneuf

www.ctmirror.org

Connecticut’s unemployment rate rose marginally in October, climbing to 9 percent despite 1,200 new jobs added last month, the state Department of Labor reported today.

The latest numbers also show a stabilizing of the jobless rate, which has hovered at or around 9 percent for much of the fall after a volatile summer. The rate rose from 8.1 percent to 9 percent between June and August before dropping to 8.9 percent in September.

“It appears that job growth rates have been slowing over the last two quarters,” Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research at the labor department, said today. “With October’s results we are—for the first time—showing year-over-year declines in job levels.”

The state job market has lost 2,800 jobs since October 2011 for a 0.2 percent decline. The latest report represents the fourth month of job gains in 2012 set against five months of losses and one month with no change.

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The Mumbai Times Indian cuisine restaurant at 616 Post Road East, next to Mitchell’s, celebrated its grand opening tonight. Formerly The Bombay Club, it is owned by Tarun and Simmi Narula, who said the cuisine is influenced by the cooking styles and ingredients of both north and south India. It is the couple’s second restaurant. Their first, Spice Root, is located in Williamstown, Mass. They said they will open their third restaurant, also called Mumbai Times, in two weeks in Cos Cob. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Connecticut Innovations (CI), the state’s quasi-public authority responsible for growing Connecticut businesses through innovative financing tools and assistance, today announced that it has made a $750,000 investment in the newly Westport-based mobile software firm deets Inc.

The investment, also involving individual investors, spurred the company’s recent relocation of its headquarters from Los Olivos, Calif. to 20 Ketchum St. in Westport, an announcement said.

Deets Inc. provides a unique communications and collaboration tool for mobile devices, including iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as a Web-based tool, CI said. The company retains a satellite office in California.

“We’re excited to welcome deets Inc. to Connecticut,” said Claire Leonardi, chief executive officer and executive director of CI.

By James Lomuscio

Rick Falcone, owner of Art’s Deli on Post Road West, officially reopened Monday after two weeks of a shuttered business due to Storm Sandy.

Art’s Deli and Age of Reason on Post Road West were hard hit by Storm Sandy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

But today Falcone said the struggles, financially, are far from over even though the more than foot high waters are long gone and most of his food has been replaced.

“It makes me sick talking about it,” he said citing $12,000 in lost gourmet, Italian food and at least another $13,000 in destroyed freezers, coolers and required electrical repairs.

To make matters worse, his insurance policy does not cover flooding since the business a few doors down from the West Bank of the Saugatuck River “is in an overflow area,” said Falcone.

Westport Main Street stores attracted many Saturday shoppers today despite the temporary closure of 11 retail shops that are undergoing repair and renovations following Storm Sandy. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com