Bottlerocket, a New York wine and spirits shop, will open a Westport branch in late June, according to founder/owner Tom Geniesse, at Westport’s 1790 Post Road East in the former Rugged Bear space in the shopping center anchored by Stop & Shop. According to the Bottlerocket website, Geniesse, who was in Westport today overseeing the new store’s renovations, opened his first Bottlerocket shop in 2006 at 5 W. 19th St. in Manhattan’s Flatiron district. New York Magazine said of the store: “If Romper Room carried wine, it would look like this. The philosophy is wine buying made fun and easy—all 350-or-so choices are arranged by country along one wall, then redistributed in central kiosks as partners for food (chicken to takeout) or by style or value (cheap to cheapest).” It notes that the store has a play area that keeps tots occupied during browsing. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Work was at a feverish pitch today at Terrain Westport, the new Urban Outfitters Inc.-owned store opening Friday on Post Road East in the former Curran Cadillac showroom. Workers were rushing to be ready for a VIP opening eve reception tonight. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Ring’s End, the retailer of lumber, millwork and building supplies, has opened a specialty paint center at 877 Post Road East in the space formerly occupied by Sports Collectables in the retail strip housing Radio Shack at the intersection with the Sherwood Island Connector.  According to the store manager, Daniel Vasconez, the 2,500-square foot Westport store will announce a ceremonial grand opening at a later date. Store hours are Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CEO David Campbell is a former first selectman of Darien. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Main Street has lost another retailer with the closing of the Janie and Jack children’s apparel shop at 51 Main St.. A sign in the window requests that customers visit them at their other two Fairfield County locations—Greenwich Ave, Greenwich and Danbury Fair Mall, Danbury. Other Janie and Jack locations in Connecticut are in West Hartford and Farmington. The Gymboree Corp., a California-based company, is a specialty retailer operating stores selling high-quality apparel and accessories for children under the Gymboree, Gymboree Outlet, Janie and Jack, and Crazy 8 brands, as well as play programs for children under the Gymboree Play and Music brand, and women’s clothing and accessories under the Shade brand. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Work was going on at high speed today at Terrain Westport aiming at a May 9 opening before Mother’s Day. The new Urban Outfitters Inc.-owned shop for eco-friendly growing supplies, home and garden décor, furniture, as well as locally sourced and prepared artisan foods is located in the former Curran Cadillac space on Post Road East. The new store will employ about 75 people, according to Matt Horn, Terrain general manager. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Terrain General Manager Matt Horn (l) and Creative Director Greg Lehmkuhl take a break from the set up activities today at the former Curran Cadillac space on Post Road East. The Urban Outfitters Inc.-store will open May 9. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A photo sneak preview of Terrain Westport, the new Urban Outfitters Inc.-owned store opening May 9 in the former Curran Cadillac space on Post Road East. General Manager Matt Horn said the Westport store is only the second of its kind. “Our first is located in Glen Mills, Pa., in the Philadelphia area not far from the main offices of Urban Outfitters,” he said. Added Creative Director Greg Lehmkuhl: “There are no other stores like this anywhere. We blend the outside and inside. It’s for people who love gardening and nature.” Site contractor Jay Kowalsky, president of Westport’s Kowalsky Brothers, said more than 200 workers are involved in the rush to get ready for the opening. Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Papadum Indian Restaurant has opened in Bridge Square in Westport’s Saugatuck area. The owner, Prakash Nath, a native of Nepal and now a resident of Norwalk, owns three other restaurants in Connecticut—in Fairfield, Stamford and Guilford.  Nath said that he changed the name of his Bridge Square restaurant from Indian Rasol (see WestportNow, March 19, 2012 ) to Papadum because there is a restaurant in Norwalk with a similar name and wanted to avoid confusion. Papadum seats about 32-34, has a full service bar, and serves cuisine of India that is influenced by both the north (“richer in flavor and milder”) and south (“more spicy.”) The site formerly was Henry’s Place. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com