Westport’s Terex Corporation announced today two business deals that will give it an increased presence in the Chinese marketplace.

Terex, which makes construction and material handling equipment, said that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 65 percent control of the privately held Shandong Topower Heavy Machinery Company located in Jinan, China.

It also announced that it has entered into an agreement with Fujian South Highway Machinery Company to establish a mobile materials processing equipment manufacturing joint venture in Quanzhou, China.

“These actions further escalate the growth opportunity for Terex in China, which has been steadily expanding with the addition of our Terex Port Equipment facility in Xiamen, and our new Aerial Work Platforms factory, nearing completion in Changzhou,” said Ron DeFeo, Terex chairman and chief executive officer.

The strip of 11 storefronts known as 606 and 616 Post Road East in Westport is undergoing a facelift, according to Don Kowalsky, an officer of Kowalsky Brothers Construction, owners of the property. He said it will include new sidewalks and new siding that will make the stores look more like the ones across the street—- also owned by the Kowalsky family—in the strip of storefronts anchored by Fresh Market. Kowalsky said that the Peter Coppola Salon is relocating from Wilton Road to the 616 Post Road East location in the next month and he expects to have the facelift completed by the end of September. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A new report on average income per person tells southwest Connecticut residents what they already knew – their take home pay is down big time.

In fact, the estimate released today by the U.S. Commerce Department showed per capita income in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk metro area fell by one of the biggest margins in the nation in 2009.

Yet the news was not all bad. The metropolitan area that stretches from Greenwich to Bridgeport and includes Westport remains far and away the wealthiest among 366 U.S. areas — as it has for years.

Per capita income in the Bridgeport- Stamford-Norwalk metro area was $73,720 in 2009, down 6.8 percent from $79,108 the previous year, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

Westport’s first restaurant specializing in Vietnamese cuisine will open at 1620 Post Road East this month, according to its co-owners, Anh Nguyen and Tim Huynh, both Bridgeport residents.  Huynh, a diverse entrepreneur who also owns Lynn’s Nail Salon in Bridgeport for the past nine years, said that his family has been in the restaurant business in California for a long time.  The new restaurant will have seating for 34 as well as take-out service.  In preparing for the grand opening Huynh said the restaurant’s Vietnamese theme will highlighted by the co-owners and staff donning traditional Vietnamese attire. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A new wine, beer and spirits shop, Saugatuck Grain and Grape, will open next month on Railroad Place next to Mario’s in space long occupied by Depot Liquors, according to owners Westport residents Jeff Marron and fiancee Mimi McLaughlin. McLaughlin,  known to many Westporters as the owner of the women’s retail apparel shop Screamin’ Mimi that was located on Main Street until 2003 in space now occupied by Lucky Brands, has been a Westport resident since 1989.  Marron, a Darien native, said that the new shop will feature “educational sessions with special interests in scotch and bourbon and many great artisanal wines.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The AAA Travel office, located in the strip of stores at 20 Saugatuck Ave. in Westport’s Saugatuck area for the past 20 years, is closing its office at the end of the business day today. It is not leaving Westport, however. See below for its new home. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport AAA Travel office is relocating from 20 Saugatuck Ave. to its new office at 419 Post Road East in the Compo Shopping Center. The new office opens on Monday. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Brooks Brothers new children’s store Fleece officially opened at 10 a.m. today at 136 Main St., next to the traditional Brooks Brothers store. The Westport store marks the 192-year-old retailer’s first foray into girl’s apparel. While boys’ is not a new category for Brooks Brothers, the Fleece collection represents a new direction and focus by the retailer, which includes not only tailored clothing but a new emphasis on sportswear. The Fleece shop is accessible through its front door entrance as well as through a passageway between it and the adjacent Brooks store. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Just in time for back to school shopping, Brooks Brothers announced today it will debut its highly anticipated children’s line in the company’s first freestanding Brooks Brothers Fleece for Boys and Girls store in Westport on Thursday.

The new children’s store is located at 136 Main St. in space formerly occupied by Crabtree & Evelyn in the Brooks Corner shopping complex and next door to the longtime Brooks Brothers traditional store.

The store will feature more than 700 square feet of sportswear created by Brooks Brothers’ guest designer Nikki Kule.

The new location will also mark the introduction of Brooks Brother’s first ever girl’s collection of sportswear, party dresses, blazers and accessories all bearing a whimsical version of the brand’s iconic signature sheep label, an announcement said.

Brooks Brothers is opening a standalone children’s store callled Fleece at 136 Main St., just a couple of doors down from its longtime clothing store. The Fleece line for girls and boys will be featured in about 15 Brooks stores, according to its Web site. Workers said Fleece will open in about two weeks. An industry trade journal reported the children’s standalone stores are being tried out in Westport and Kansas City. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com