Category: Business - Page 156

Sunday, October 18, 2026

KoKo FitClub Celebrates Opening

Owner Peter Buckley, with wide smile, greets guests tonight at the official grand opening of Koko FitClub, 619 Post Road East in the shopping center anchored by The Fresh Market. A former banker and physical fitness afficionado, Bulkley describes the fitness clinic, one of 86 franchises in the nation, as “an automated training studio” driven by technology. The company said its facilities feature the “patented Koko Smartraining System—the first ever, fully automated and integrated exercise and nutrition solution.” He said he plans to open eight additional Koko clinics in Fairfield County. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

State Jobless Rate Records Biggest Jump Since ‘76

By Keith M. Phaneuf

www.ctmirror.org

The Connecticut jobless rate jumped from 8.5 percent to 9 percent in August, the biggest one-month increase in 36 years, the state Department of Labor reported today. The state lost 6,800 jobs.

“It looks as if we are seeing a slowdown in growth,” said Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor.

But while Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said today that Connecticut’s economy continues to face tough challenges, he also was openly skeptical of the labor report’s accuracy for the second consecutive month.

The state’s total nonfarm job estimate fell in August, marking the fourth monthly decline in 2012. The first eight months of 2012 now have produced net job growth of just 1,300 positions so far this year. That’s well below the 8,000 new jobs gained during the first eight months of 2011.

Click here for more of story

Monday, September 17th, 2012

Open for Business as Usual

The Painter’s Supply store, 413 Post Road East in the Compo Shopping Center, was open for business today following a car crashing through its front windows on Saturday. “We’ve had a lot of phone calls asking if we are alright and is the store open for business,” said Matt Auchy, general manger. “We told everyone that we are fine and business is open as usual.” He said the loss of natural light through the windows is being felt, however. Auchy said he understands from police that the driver was a 65-year-old woman who said she was wearing flip-flops that caught on the gas pedal. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Economic Picture Grim as Job Losses Reappear

By Keith M. Phaneuf

www.ctmirror.org

After hitting its lowest point this past spring since emerging from the the recent recession, the state’s economy might need until 2018 to recover all of the jobs it lost, the University of Connecticut is reporting today in its latest quarterly journal.

“At the current rate it will take nearly six more years to recover all the jobs lost in the last recession. And we may not be even that lucky,” states the introduction to The Connecticut Economy’s Fall 2012 issue. “Economists expect tepid … growth as far as the eye can see, which would translate into exceedingly sluggish job gains in coming quarters.”

Connecticut lost 4,000 jobs between April and June, representing 1/10th of all jobs it has recovered to date, as the growth in the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP)—the value of all goods and services produced—slowed to just 1.7 percent.

“With growth so slow we shouldn’t have expected much in the way of new Connecticut jobs,” wrote economist Steven P. Lanza, executive editor of the journal.

Click here for more of story

Friday, September 14th, 2012

Comings & Goings: AD Bistro Debuts on Post Road East

Westport’s newest restaurant, AD Bistro, debuted tonight at 1035 Post Road East, formerly Arcudi’s restaurant. The restaurant is attached to the Aux Delices French bakery and cafe, which opened in June (see WestportNow June 1, 2012). It is owned by Greenwich residents Greg Addonizo (r) and his wife Debra Ponzek (not pictured) who own other cafes in Greenwich, Riverside, and Darien. They also have a large commercial kitchen in Stamford where they offer adult and children’s cooking classes. Ponzek is an internationally-acclaimed chef who, prior to opening Aux Délices, was executive chef at New York City’s Montrachet Restaurant and credited with a seven-year run of three-star status. Chef at AD Bistro is Lisa Varnberg (c., striped pants), a graduate of the French Culinary Institute. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

Wine and Wallpaper

Farrow & Ball, the British manufacturer of traditional paint and wallpaper, held a reception tonight in its new Westport showroom at 396 Post Road East in the Compo Acres Shopping Center. Kathy Banfe, president, North America sales and marketing, said Westport is the company’s 10th showroom in the United States and its second in Connecticut. The other is at 32 East Putnam Ave., Greenwich. The 1,250-square feet Westport space between Robek Juice and Compo Farm was previously occupied by T-Mobile. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

Comings & Goings: Another Saugatuck Eatery

Another addition is coming to the Saugatuck restaurant scene – one featuring gourmet Chilean fare in the former Saugatuck Post Office. The popular restaurateur and caterer, Maria Munoz del Castillo, owner of the former Bistro Du Soliel at 120 Washington St. Norwalk will open a cafe, off-site catering and take-out eatery at the site on Riverside Avenue by November, according to her father, Bernardo. The Saugatuck Post Office closed in September 2009. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Comings & Goings: Pinkberry to PRE

Westport is about to get a Pinkerry frozen yogurt store like the one in Fairfield at 1512 Post Road (above). The company will open at 111 Post Road East by Thanksgiving, according to Westport broker Franco Fellah of HK Group. The location was previously occupied by the Go Figure one-to-one personal trainer facility which moved last month to 1200 Post Road East in the Carriage Hill Shopping Center. According to Fellah, the Westport Pinkberry unlike other locations, will also offer coffee. He said that the Westport and Fairfield franchise owner, Jamie Karson, a former senior executive of the Steve Madden women’s footwear company, also owns a Pinkberry shop in Greenwich and also plans to open one in New Haven. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Comings & Goings: Organic Mattresses to PRE

Healthy Choice Organic Mattresses has opened at 141 Post Road East in the space that was formerly occupied by 4@1 apparel shop that relocated to Sconset Square as Akram Women’s Apparel. Owned by David Spittal of Putnam Valley, N.Y., Healthy Choice Organic Mattresses also has locations in Danbury since 2009 and Mt. Kisco, N.Y. since 2010 and sells organic mattresses, adjustable beds and bedding accessories for adults, children, babies and even pets. Spittal, who said he’s been in the mattress business for 25 years, said all his mattresses are American-made and all are made with natural latex, wool and cotton. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Making Progress on Post Road East

A truss was installed in the construction of the new business facility at 100 Post Road East today which will be the home of two new retailers, Steven Alan and Paper Source. It is adjacent to the Old Town Hall at 90 Post Road East which houses Spruce Home and Garden and a financial firm and soon will feature the Old Town Hall Restaurant on the lower level. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com