Laborers worked over the Labor Day weekend to prepare for the opening of Mike’s Pizza at 623 Post Road East in the shopping plaza that was anchored by Shaw’s and soon to be the home of Fresh Market. It replaces Martha Ristorante Pizza at the same location. (See WestportNow Aug. 21, 2009) Scheduled to open on Saturday, according to a worker, Mike’s Pizza has another pizza shop in Fairfield at 1560 Post Road and operates a food service business at Fairfield University. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Workers today prepared for the opening of Rizzuto’s Wood-Fired Trattoria and Bar, at 540 Riverside Ave. in the space formerly occupied by Conte’s Restaurant in Westport’s Saugatuck area.  According to General Manager Brian Green, “We’re hoping we’ll be open around Sept. 22.”  The restaurant is owned by Bill Rizzuto who also operates similar style eateries in Bethel and West Hartford. (See WestportNow, April 11, 2009). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Riverside Barber Shop in Westport’s Saugatuck section closes on Saturday after 82 years in the same location. The late John Santella opened the shop in 1927 and it was then owned by his son, Lou. Owner Pat Vigilio (r), the shop’s owner since November 1999, will reopen at a new location on Tuesday at 231 Post Road West at the upper level of Greg & Tony’s Salon. Vigilio announced that he is donating the barber pole to the Westport Historical Society. Pictured with him are Allen Raymond, a longtime customer, town historian, and a past president of the Society, and Tina, a hair stylist who will also move to the new location. Riverside Barber and adjacent DeRosa’s Restaurant are making way for the Saugatuck Center development by the Gault family. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Neighbors on Westport’s Newtown Turnpike are become increasingly unhappy with what’s become of the former Three Bears Restaurant which had a brief run as Tiburon before the successor restaurant suddenly closed last month (See WestportNow July 27, 2009). In addition to weeds growing around the building and notices plastered on the front door, someone left a note to the former Three Bears owner, telling him “Shame on you.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Douglas Healey for WestportNow.com

Second Time Around, a Massachusetts-based retail store chain that sells high-end “contemporary, new and resale designer clothing” for women, has opened a store in Westport at 135 Post Road East, its 20th in the nation. According to Trumbull resident Betsy McGuire, the store manager, an official grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 29 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to a store in Greenwich, the rapidly expanding retail chain also recently opened a store in Chicago. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A new women’s clothing store in Westport, Second Time Around at 135 Post Road East, is attracting customers like (l-r) Terri Shank of Trumbull and her daughter Taryn. They were having fun with store manager Betsy McGuire as they perused the apparel selections. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Dave Matlow

To hear Westport car dealer Joe Postighone tell it today, the Obama administration’s “cash for clunkers” program ending Monday has been one big headache.
The showroom of New Country Toyota on Westport’s Post Road East today where the general sales manager said the “cash for clunkers” program has been a “nightmare.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“We stopped the program two weeks ago,” said Postighone, general sales manager of New Country Toyota on Post Road East.

“We had 15 deals – all processed, all approved, not delivered because we have not been paid (by the government) on any of them.”

Saying he was speaking for all the Toyota dealers in a 50-mile radius—about 20 dealers—Postighone said only one dealer has received reimbursement and that was on only one car.

Martha Pizza at 623 Post Road East is now under the new ownership of Kowalsky Real Estate, according to Jay Kowalsky, president of the Westport-based realty firm. Kowalsky said that he expects it will be replaced shortly by Mike’s Pizza of Fairfield which also operates a food service business at Fairfield University. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Workers were busy today readying The Fresh Market supermarket for its Oct. 7 opening at 605 Post Road East in Westport. The site is the former location of Shaw’s Supermarket. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com