By James Lomuscio

Sheldon Stein received resounding support as well as some neighborhood concerns as he brought plans to redevelop the Westport Inn before a Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) public hearing Thursday night.
Sheldon Stein’s plans include a ballroom for 250 people. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) James Lomuscio for WestportNow.com


Anne Marie Tartaglia of Sturges Highway had nothing but laurels for Stein’s plan to totally redevelop the inn that has operated on Post Road East since 1965. Stein, managing principal of New York-based Ranger Properties, bought the property three years ago.

“We are looking forward to having a place to send families when they’re in town, and we think the (upgrades) will be beautiful,” she said.

Stein’s $2.5 million planned revamp includes renovating the inn’s 115 rooms, putting in a restaurant, creating a ballroom for 250 people and making major landscaping improvements. He plans to give up 17 parking spaces in the front for plantings and eliminate some vertical parking to dispel any semblance to a motel. That is Phase I.

The Roundabout women’s apparel shop, 170 Post Road West near the former Saab dealership, is relocating to Village Center Plaza, 606 Post Road East—the shopping strip across the street from the Fresh Market.  Roundabout, which sells “designer closeouts and consignment” clothing has been in its present location for more than 20 years, according to the store manager. A sign says the move will occur in the spring. Gary Kowalsky of Kowalsky Brothers, the landlord, said the soon-to-be-occupied storefront was previously occupied by Dynamic Martial Arts which relocated to 645 Post Road East in the shopping strip anchored by Patio.com. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Cheryl Scott-Daniels of Westport has been named the 2010 State Realtor of the Year by the Connecticut Association of Realtors, Inc.
Cheryl Scott-Daniels: former business executive. Contributed photo

The award is given annually to one Realtor who displays commitment, leadership and great dedication to the Realtor trade association at the state, national and local levels.

Scott-Daniels, the state group’s treasurer, has served on its board of directors since 1997.The holder of a Master of Business Administration degree in marketing, and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry, she was a vice president of marketing at both Revlon and Max Factor prior to entering the real estate business.

Scott-Daniels started her real estate career in 1988 and obtained her broker’s license in 1990. She owns her own office, ERA Select Homes in Westport, with agents servicing lower Fairfield County. She was licensed as an appraiser for 18 years and is a Notary Public. The Mid-Fairfield County Association of Realtors elected her as Realtor of the Year in 1993, 2002 and 2006.

A view of the building at Westport’s 125 Main St. from the Parker-Harding side. The building is undergoing extensive renovation before a new tenant—Gap Stores—moves in sometime early in 2011. (See WestportNow Nov. 12, 2010) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Another Westport business that caters to personal care, the spa True Grace II, has opened at 1850 Post Road East in the shopping center anchored by HomeGoods. The owner, Grace Choe, said, “I love Westport customers—they are very kind, they take care of themselves, have good personalities and are wealthy.”  Choe owns another True Grace spa at 44 Main St. which she said replaced the Spa at Port in February, 2010.  Choe, a resident of Westchester County, said she started her spa business in Armonk, N.Y. in 1998 and subsequently opened a second one there, and then one in Darien. True Grace II offers pedicures, manicures, body massages, face and body waxing and skin care services. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Ouzounidis family of Norwalk has opened Jordan’s Restaurant and Pizza, 1759 Post Road East, its third pizza restaurant location in the Norwalk-Westport area. In 1978 Nick Ouzounidis, 57, the family patriarch started Jordan’s, 369 Westport Ave. in Norwalk. and in 2005 opened a second pizza restaurant at 252 Flax Hill Road, also in Norwalk. Lazaros Ouzounidis, 30, who manages the new location in Westport, is one of three siblings in the family business. His sister Ritsa, 29, manages the Westport Avenue location, and brother John, 24, operates the Flax Hill location. Lazaros said, “My father oversees it all.”  Lazaros said the new Westport location was previously occupied by Westfair Pizza & Pasta which closed a few months ago. “We took over and we’re staying,” he said, wryly referring the WestportNow Comings and Goings series. The full menu and pizza restaurant is open 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. – midnight Fri and Sat and noon – 11 p.m. Sunday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com