By Dave Matlow

UPDATE The owner of the now closed Westport Baskin Robbins ice cream franchise said today he was done in not only by a higher rent but a lifestyle that frowns on high calories.
Babar Mustafa outside his closed store today: Grateful for support of Westporters. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“I was paying $5,000 rent plus $2,000 electricity,” said Babar Mustafa, who had owned the franchise for seven years and was store manager for seven years before that. “I could no longer keep the store open.”

Mustafa, who closed the store at 180 Post Road East on Monday, said the landlord, Marc Nevas, has been very kind and discounted his rent for a year but told him that they “could no longer be in business together.” 

Mustafa took exception to a comment posted on WestportNow Monday night that called his landlord “greedy.”

UPDATE and CORRECT The Jasmine Restaurant at 60 Charles St. in Westport’s Saugatuck section is closing on Thursday, Sept. 30. Owner John Liu said it’s “not decided” what will happen to the space. There are rumors that a burger chain is interested in moving in. John and his wife Lena have operated the restaurant since 1996 and in January opened Chinese Takeout at 67 Saugatuck Ave. From 1987 to 1997, they owned Panda Pavilion on Post Road East and prior to that, Ship’s Corner on Jesup Road. (An earlier version of this caption said it was closing Monday.) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport’s unemployment rate in August dropped to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent in July, the Connecticut Department of Labor said.

In May, the rate was 6.3 percent, the highest since January when it was 6.6 percent. The department said the number of unemployed in August was 790, down 20 from 810 in July.

The Department of Labor said the August labor force in Westport numbered 12,968 persons with 12,178 employed.

The Westport labor force number dropped by 148 persons in August over July, the department said, with 88 fewer persons employed in August compared to July.

There’s a new look at Westport’s Restoration Hardware, 76 Post Road East, inside and out as part of the national retailer’s “The Gallery” look for its fall collection. “It’s now like walking right into the catalogue,” said one store employee. “We have more furniture on display to give the customer a better idea of how it would feel in their own space.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Capel Rugs of Connecticut celebrated the official opening of its store and showroom today at 222 Post Road West in space previously occupied by Villency furniture. Westporter Larry Lieberman, the store’s general manager and a principal in the new business, said the Lawrence family of Fairfield is the majority owners and landlord for the 6,700 square feet shop which sells Capel’s brand of area rugs as well as broadloom, wall to wall, antique rugs and related decorative floor covering products. “We’re not a franchise business, we’re owned privately by local people, he said. “The Capel brand has been in existence since 1917—our tagline is ‘America’s Rug Company since 1917.’” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Rita Donnerstag, president of Philadelphia-based Douglas Cosmetics, today denied published reports that the Main Street retailer is closing. She said renovations were under way on the second floor of 57 Main St.—one of five U.S. Douglas locations—“but that does not mean we are closing.” Store personnel, when queried, would not comment. A real estate source who spoke on condition of anonymity said he understood there may be a change in Douglas ownership, which is controlled by a Germany-based company. There were rumors that cosmetic vendor Blue Mercury across the street may take over the space. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Wine-making experts Tess and Mark Szamatulski told Westport Roatary Club members today that the wine-making business is very good despite the recession. The Szamatulskis have owned and operated the Monroe-based Maltose Express Home Beer and Winemaking Supplies store, the largest home-brew and wine-making supply store in Connecticut, for more than 20 years. They said the poor economy has made people more price conscious and probably contributed to increased alcohol consumption. The combination has propelled their business, they said. Pictured (l-r) are Tess Szamatulski and Rotarian Fred Feuerhake opening a bottle of home-made wine for tasting as Mark Szamatulski explains the finer points about the process for making wine at home. “In Canada, 25 percent of consumed wine is home made,” he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com