Category: Business - Page 31

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Hearst Buys Seven Area Weeklies

In a further consolidation of local Connecticut newspapers, Hearst Connecticut Media Group has announced acquisition of the print and digital assets of seven area weekly newspaper brands from Ridgefield-based Hersam Acorn Newspapers (HAN.)

The seven weeklies acquired by Hearst Connecticut Media. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Acorn Newspapers photo

Hearst, which owns the Westport News, gets The Ridgefield Press, The Wilton Bulletin, New Canaan Advertiser, The Darien Times, The Shelton Herald, The Trumbull Times, and The Milford Mirror.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

HAN announced last week it was closing the Easton Courier, Monroe Courier, Redding Pilot, Stratford Star, and Weston Forum. The announcement immediately set off speculation the balance of its newspapers would likely be sold.

Friday, October 12th, 2018

Celebrating Westport Pizzeria’s 50th Anniversary

Westport Pizzeria, 143 Post Road East, marked its 50th anniversary today by rolling back prices to 1968, including 25-cent slices. Taking time out of the celebrations were founders Joe and Mel Mioli (2nd and 3rd l) and (l-r) Francesco Mioli (Mel’s son) Carrie Mioli (Mel’s wife) and Alessandro Mioli (Mel’s other son). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Thursday, October 11th, 2018

After 49 Years, Weston Forum Closes

After 49 years of publication, the Weston Forum plus four other HAN Network newspapers will shut down this week, its publisher announced today.

“Due to economic forces buffeting our industry, we are rescaling our business again,” Martin V. Hersam, publisher and CEO, said in a letter to his readers.

Hersam said volatility of the newsprint market “made our options clear” about the company’s dozen community newspapers and websites.

“The best efforts of our incredible staff and years of strategic planning, retooling and restructuring could not overcome the economic realities of tepid advertising and subscriber interest in this market,” Hersam said. “We just could not sustain a publishing business here any longer.”

Tuesday, October 9th, 2018

Westport Pizzeria Celebrates 50 Years with 25-Cent Slices Friday

By James Lomuscio

A kitchen worker had called that he wouldn’t be in, so Mel Mioli was in the Westport Pizzeria’s kitchen early Monday, filling pots with sauce, meatballs and prepping for another day at 143 Post Road East.

Mel Mioli in front of Westport Pizzeria, 143 Post Road East.. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“When we opened it just me, Joe and his wife,” Mioli recalled about the day he and his brother first opened the business at 107 Main St. on Oct. 12, 1968.

“Now, it’s just me,” he added.

On this particular day Mioli — formally named Carmelo, Melo to family and close friends and Mel to generations of Westporters -— waxed sentimental as he looked back over the past 50 years.

Wednesday, October 3rd, 2018

BOF Chair: Carryover Account is Not Mold Account

By James Lomuscio

Insurance proceeds of $562,367 for prior mold remediation at Coleytown Middle School (CMS) will go into the town’s general fund, not the schools’ carryover account as the Board of Education requested.

That was the unanimous decision of the Board of Finance tonight.

“The carryover account shouldn’t be the mold account,” Board of Finance Chairman Brian Stern said before the board’s vote approving an amendment for the funds to go into the general fund.

“Have the carryover account stand on its own two feet,” he added.

Comings & Goings: [Solidcore] to Compo Acres

[Solidcore], a pilates fitness gym featuring 50-minute classes and coaches, will open in the rear of Compo Acres shopping center by end of the year, according to constructuction workers. Founded five years ago in Washington, D.C. by entrepreneur Anne Mahlum, the business now has locations in 12 states. This is its first location in the state. It is located adjacent to SoulCycle in part of space formerly occupied by Patriot National Bank. The front portion of the space will be occupied by United Bank. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018

Comings & Goings: United Bank to Compo Acres

Hartford-based United Bank will open at Compo Acres shopping center by the end of the year, according to workers at the site. Serving Connecticut and Massachusetts with 50 locations, the bank was created through a merger of Rockville Bank and United Bank in November 2012. With the opening, three of the four corners at the intersection of Compo Road and Post Road East once again will be bank locations, including Fairfield County Bank and People’s United Bank.The site of the new United Bank was the former home of Patriot National Bank, which occupied the space from 2008 to 2015. The fourth corner at the intersection is Winslow Park. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Monday, October 1st, 2018

Comings & Goings: Pokeworks to Compo Acres

Pokeworks, a Hawaii cuisine inspired eatery, will open at 396 Post Road East in the Compo Acres Shopping Center. Founded in 2015, the franchise restaurant has grown to 21 locations. The offerings are described on its website as sustainable, seasonal, natural ingredients. The space, between Compo Farm Flowers and Jersey Mike’s, was previously occupied by Ball & Farrow, the British-based paints and wallpaper company. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Wednesday, September 26th, 2018

Restaurant Week(s) Begins Sunday

Westport’s annual Restaurant Week — actually two weeks — is set to begin Sunday and run through Sunday, Oct. 14.

It will feature 24 eateries offering fixed price meals “to suit any foodie’s interest or pocketbook,” the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce (WWCC) announced.

According to Matthew Mandell, WWCC executive director, the event is part of a continuing “Eat Local” campaign to promote area restaurants. He said venues include restaurants town wide, as well as in Southport.

He added that instead of a single price for all places, each restaurant has its own prix fixe ranging from $15 to $25 for lunch and $25 to $40 for dinner.

Flooding Closes Anthropologie

A sign on the front door of Anthropologie, 59 Post Road East, in the Bedford Square development, informs shoppers that the store is closed today due to damage from flooding from Tuesday’s storms. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo