By James Lomuscio

Shake Shack, the modern day roadside burger and hot dog stand serving up beer and wine at upscale locations in New York, announced today it will open its first true roadside Shack in Westport in the second half of 2011.
Burgers from the Shack Shake location in New York’s Madison Square Park. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Flickr user Makoworks

Thursday night company Chief Executive Officer David Swinghamer and Chief Operating Officer Randy Garutti appeared before Westport’s Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) to discuss their plans.

They said they planned to open the restaurant at 1849 Post Road East near the Fairfield line on the former site of the Pho Mekong Thai-Vietnamese Noodle House and Restaurant. (See WestportNow Oct. 14, 2010) An announcement today said it will open in the second half of 2011.

Pitched as family friendly, the executives’ plans to open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., seemed to get favorable reviews from P&Z members, some of whom were familiar with the restaurant from other locations, or had heard about it. 

UPDATE The Pho Mekong Thai-Vietnamese Noodle House and Restaurant, 1849 Post Road East, near the Fairfield line, has closed and may be replaced by the Shake Shack, described on its website as a “modern day ‘roadside’ burger stand.” Shake Shack executives have requested to go before the Westport Planning and Zoning Commission Thursday night for a preliminary application hearing to explain their plans for the site. Serving hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries and milkshakes, Shake Shack has six locations, five in New York and one in Miami. The first Shake Shack opened in July 2004 in New York City’s Madison Square Park. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Big & Tall at 1276 Post Road East at the corner of Turkey Hill Road South is closing. A mailer said prices of up to 40 percent off were being offered before the closing of the Alpharetta, Ga.-based company’s only Connecticut outlet. Store personnel would not discuss the closing except one did confirm it was shutting down. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Dragone Classic Motorcars of Bridgeport will open an antique automobile showroom sometime next month at 176 Post Road West in Westport, the former location of Saab of Westport. Owner Manny Dragone said that the showroom will display 50 antique cars and sell “automobilia,” car talk for automobile memorabilia, such as racing trophies. Dragone said plans include operating about four or five antique car auctions each year and offering facilities such as conference rooms for various auto clubs. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Saugatuck Grain and Grape wine and spirits shop opened at 40-42 Railroad Place, next to Mario’s across from the Westport train station in Saugatuck in the location previously occupied by the Depot Liquor store. The owners, Mimi McLaughlin and Jeff Marron, note in the announcement letter of their opening, “We specialize in wines made by small producers, as well as craft beers and specialty spirits. We’ve strived to choose wines that you won’t see everywhere else, and are edited to factor in quality vs. price and varietal correctness.”  McLaughlin said that the shop will hold wine tastings everyday, from 5 p.m.to 8 p.m.  Store hours are Mon-Thurs 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Fri – Sat 9 a.m.-9 p.m. (See WestportNow – Aug. 2, 2010) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport-based Bridgewater Associates, already the biggest U.S.-based hedge fund, pulled in more new money in the 2010 first half than any of its rivals, industry magazine AR reported today.

The firm, which employs more than 800 persons in four Westport locations, now oversees $51 billion in assets, the magazine said.

It said during the first half, the firm took in $7.3 billion in new money, boosting its assets by almost 17 percent. A year ago Bridgewater had $37 billion.

JP Morgan’s asset management unit ranks as the industry’s second-largest U.S.-based fund with $41 billion in assets, the magazine said. This was a $2.7 billion gain since January, thanks to strong inflows into the firm’s fund business.