A children’s training facility called The Little Gym is opening in August at 629 Post Road East in the shopping center former anchored by Shaw’s Supermarket. According to the firm’s Web site, “the Little Gym offers individualized, highly motivational physical and mental development to children ages 4 months to 12 years.”  Erica Newman, who was born and raised in Stamford and now lives in Wilton, is the gym director and owner of the local franchise. She has operated a Little Gym facility at 87 Water St. in Norwalk for the past five years. “We’re closing our Norwalk location which allows us to open both in Westport and later in the year in Darien,” she said. The Little Gym is a 30-year-old franchise business with more than 300 locations in 21 countries including almost 300 in the United States. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Casual Male Retail Group, a Canton, Mass.- based chain of specialty clothing retail stores, is changing the name of its Rochester Big & Tall men’s apparel store at Westport’s 1505 Post Road East (next to Blockbuster) to Casual Male XL on July 1. It will be Connecticut’s 10th Casual Male XL location. Rochester Big & Tall has occupied its current location since July 2008. Eulia Tsanatelis, assistant store manager, said the new Casual Male XL store will carry the same type of merchandise that is carried by Rochester Big & Tall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Bluemercury, a luxury beauty products and spa retail chain, opens on Friday at 62 Main St., the site formerly occupied by Jd Cosmetic Essentials (see WestportNow April 25, 2009). According to company’s Web site, it is the nation’s fastest growing luxury beauty products and spa retail chain with almost 30 retail stores and spas across the country. The privately held company is headquartered in Washington, D.C. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

UPDATE Waterworks, a retail bath accessories shop that had been at 181 Main St. for 10 years and in Westport since 1981, closed its Westport store on April 24. According to Kathy Kennedy, an employee in the Westport store for 10 years who now works in the Waterworks Greenwich store, the Westport shop closed “to consolidate it into the Greenwich store which had recently been enlarged and renovated.” News reports said about 20 locations were closed by the chain which was founded in 1978 by Barbara Sallick and her husband, Robert, who joined her father’s Danbury plumbing supply business and launched “a new kind of American bath company.” Waterworks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 3. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

A notice tells customers that the Westport Waterworks store at 181 Main St. has closed. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

UPDATE A federal judge in Hartford today sentenced Westporter Robert D. Graham, a former General Re Corporation executive and former member of the Westport Board of Finance and Planning and Zoning Commission, to one year and one day in prison and fined him $100,000 following his conviction on fraud charges.
Robert Graham: “I realize there are no do-overs in life.” WN file photo

The sentence, which is to be followed by two years of supervised release, was handed down by Judge Christopher Droney, who again rejected federal sentencing guidelines in sentencing Graham, 61.

He is the last of five former Gen Re and American International Group, Inc. (AIG) officials to be sentenced since they were convicted in February 2008 following a five-week jury trial. (See WestportNow Feb. 25, 2008).

“I realize there are no do-overs in life,” Graham told Droney. “Nothing I can say or do now can change what has happened or its impact on the lives of others or on me. Your honor, I regret that more than words can adequately express.”

Hudson Valley Bank, a Westchester-based bank with $2 billion in assets, officially opened its Westport branch today at 420 Post Road West. Westport First Selectman Gordon F. Joseloff (3rd l.) joined James J. Landy (5th l.) president and CEO, and other bank officials and dignitaries in cutting the ribbon. The bank had a “soft” opening last fall. Landy said he was pleased with the response of the Westport community to the bank’s services aimed at individuals, businesses, professional service firms and not-for-profit organizations.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

Baskin-Robbins will host its Third Annual 31-Cent Scoop Night today from 5 to 10 p.m. at all Baskin-Robbins locations nationwide, including the Westport store at 180 Post Road East. Baskin-Robbins is partnering with the national Volunteer Fire Council, the nation’s leading non-profit association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS and rescue services. Members of the Westport Volunteer Fire Department will be there along with a Westport Fire Department fire engine. Pictured is last year’s event. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com