The Aux Delices French bakery and cafe opened at 1035 Post Road East, formerly Arcudi’s restaurant. The new Westport location for Aux Delices, owned by Greenwich residents Greg Addonizo and his wife Debra Ponzek, is their fourth cafe in Fairfield County. Addonizio said that the new cafe seats 45 indoors, where it features a large bakery and selection of gourmet foods, and 25 at its outdoor patio.  He said the hours of the bakery and foods shop are 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. and tables will be served from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.  He describes the ambience of his four locations as “cafes with gourmet food and a bakery team of 15 chefs.” Having started the business in Riverside in 1995 with his wife, he said that their other similar establishments are located in Greenwich (opened in 2000) and Darien (2004). In addition, there is a commissary in Stamford where they offer adult and children’s cooking classes. Addonizio said Aux Delices also offers the option of conducting cooking classes in the privacy of homes. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A new Italian restaurant, Arezzo, will open at Westport’s 5 Riverside Ave. “hopefully in late July,” according to Daniel Saat (above) who co-owns the business with Adele Dezlinnocenti, both New York residents. Saat said the restaurant, which will provide valet parking, will feature prime steaks, seafood and pasta with a northern Italy influence and a full wine list. The 3,200-square feet location will have seating for 80 diners inside and 24 diners outside “with a river view,” he added. “We always wanted to open a restaurant in Westport,” Saat said. “We could have opened in South Norwalk but Westport is where we want to be.”  The prior occupant was Napoli Sul Fume which closed in December 2010. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Dave Matlow

UPDATE (adds additional broker information) A new restaurant in Westport’s old post office at 154 Post Road East will feature a sweeping bar, banquet rooms, and outdoor dining, according to broker Franco Fellah.
The new restaurant will feature a sweeping bar on the main floor, outdoor dining, and private basement banquet rooms. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Fellah, executive vice president of Westport’s HK Group, said the deal was completed last week for the 4,650-square foot main floor and 4,200-square foot lower level.

Fellah represented the landlord, Ansley Westport Partners, LLC, and Sharon Maddern of David Adam Realty represented the tenant, 154 Post LLC. Construction is expected to take at least six months.

Fellah did not identify the restaurant principals or the type of restaurant planned for the 1935-built structure. Ansley Westport Partners, an Atlanta-based investment group, purchased the property last May for $2.35 million. A representative said after the purchase he hoped it would “enhance” Westport’s future. (See WestportNow May 21, 2011)

Intermix, a women’s apparel and accessories shop, will open at the end of August or early September at 51 Main St., between BlueMercury2 and Lucky Brand shops, in the space previously occupied by the children’s apparel store, Janie and Jack that closed in April (see WestportNow May 4, 2012).  The Westport shop will be Intermix’s second location in Connecticut having opened at 325 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich in April 2011, according to an employee at the Greenwich store. According to its website, Intermix locations are in 10 states, the District of Columbia and Toronto, Ontario. The flagship location for the New York-based company is at 1003 Madison Ave. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Another national retailer is headed for Westport’s Main Street. Allen Edmonds, a premium retailer of quality shoes and accessories, has leased 2,000 square feet of space at 69 Main St., said Anthony Malkin, president of Malkin Properties. The retailer will open in August, he said, and its immediate neighbors will be Nike and Theory, which signed leases with Malkin Properties in 2011. “This transaction further validates Westport’s Main Street and the appeal of Main Street to quality retailers who desire the pedestrian shopping experience it offers,” Malkin said. The three adjacent spaces had formerly been occupied by Gap Stores which consolidated into one building at 125 Main St. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

UPDATE A popular Fairfield restaurant, Safita, specializing in Middle Eastern cuisine, is expanding to 6 Wilton Road in Westport “hopefully in June,” according to its owner Kheder (“Kody”) Hassoun. A native of Syria, Hassoun said he emigrated to the United States at age 2 with his parents. He opened Safita at 2217 Post Road, Fairfield in October 2010. “It was our first venture into the restaurant business,” he said. “My mother was the chef. Now we have customers in line some nights waiting for a table.” He said the success prompted him to expand to the former Vigilant Hose Co. No. 3 firehouse. “About half our customers are from the Westport-Weston-Wilton area,” he said. He expects to have seating for 50 plus 10 seats at a full bar and some outdoor seating. He said he has not yet settled on a name for the Westport location. Built in 1841, the firehouse was at one time used as a homeless shelter, then in the early 90s as De Rosa’s Brick Oven Pizza, and more recently as a kitchen fixture store. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

White Birch Studio, a fine home design business, opened at 3 Sconset Square near Christ & Holy Trinity Church. The owner, Weston resident Susan Anderson, said a grand opening celebration with live music entertainment open to the public is planned for June 7 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  She said regular business hours are Mon-Sat, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  The 1,700 square feet shop was formerly occupied by Rockwell Art and Framing which relocated to 236 Post Road East in January 2011. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com