Category: Business - Page 55

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Legislators to Propose New Budget Plans to Break Gridlock

Keith M. Phaneuf and Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

www.ctmirror.org

With the state budget standoff nearing two months, Democrats and Republican legislative leaders announced plans today to unveil revised budget proposals soon.

Majority House Democrats remain focused on a sales tax hike to mitigate severe hits to cities and towns proposed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, and will unveil their latest budget plan Wednesday, said Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin.

And GOP leaders in the House and Senate, who were unable to block a labor concessions deal they still argue will hurt Connecticut in the long run, said they’re also developing a new budget that accepts the labor savings.

But after a nearly two-hour, closed-door meeting, top lawmakers said that while they still were working with the goal of adopting a new, two-year budget during the week of Sept. 11, they didn’t express any optimism this would happen.

Comings & Goings: Romanacci Pizza Bar to Railroad Place

Romanacci Pizza Bar will open at 50 Railroad Place in late September, according to Graziano Ricci, co-owner with his brother Maurizio. The brothers currently own two eateries in Norwalk, Osteria since 2009 and Romanacci Pizza Bar since 2012. Since then, the Ricci brothers expanded to Monroe and Trumbull over the past two years. Graziano said the Westport shop, at the beginning, will offer pizza only on a delivery or takeout basis and said commuters can text order from the train and the pizza will be ready for pick up. “We are applying for a beer and wine license,” he said. The space, formerly occupied by Grana Pastificia fresh pasta, is connected to its neighbor Winfield Deli giving customers the convenience of picking up a morning coffee and, according to Breno Donatti, Winfield Deli owner, “selecting a breakfast pizza to complement the coffee that I serve.” Graziano said Romanacci specializes in Roman pizza alla palla, square and crisp. Romanacci General Manager Anthony Devivo said the pizza will be prominently displayed in the window of the Railroad Place facility so that commuters can view its specialties. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Monday, August 21st, 2017

Main Street Retailers Remind It’s Tax-Free Week

Athleta, 107 Main St., was among Westport Main Street retailers reminding shoppers today that this is tax-free week in Connecticut. The 17th annual tax holiday began Sunday and runs through Saturday. Most clothing and footwear priced under $100 is exempt from Connecticut’s sales tax of 6.35 percent. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Thursday, August 17th, 2017

Comings & Goings: Japanese Gastropub to Vigilante Firehouse

Chef Brian Lewis, owner of The Cottage in Colonial Green, today announced plans to open a second eatery in Westport at the landmark former Vigilante Hose Co. No. 3 firehouse, 6 Wilton Road. Lewis describes the cafe as “a modern Japanese Izakaya meets Omakase restaurant.” Izakya is a type of informal Japanese gastropub that are casual places for after-work drinking. Omakase is a Japanese phrase that means “I’ll leave it up to you” (from Japanese “to entrust.”) Lewis said it is slated to open in late fall. The space was formerly occupied by Neat Coffee and Craft Cocktails, which closed in January. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

On the Job With: Sandy Cooper, Cooper’s Auto Parts

By James Lomuscio

For 44 years, seven days a week, Sandy Cooper has come to his same shop in the same location, opening at 6 a.m. and using the same cash register.

Sandy Cooper: on the job every day since 1973. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The register at Cooper’s Auto Parts at 1763 Post Road East across from Stop & Shop was a gift from a friend the night before he first opened Sept. 1, 1973.

“I was ready to use a shoe box,” he recalled, adding that his friend who had owned a gas station had an old McCaskey register.

Though some of the register’s keys saying gas, tires, ethyl and tubes have never been used, Cooper says it’s served him well. So has the narrow, tight parking strip mall that houses his business.

Saturday, August 12th, 2017

With Municipal Aid on Chopping Block, a Cordial Chat

By Mark Pazniokas

www.ctmirror.org

Evidently resigned to a shrinking pool of state aid, leaders of two municipal associations pressed Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday about granting Connecticut’s cities and town flexibility in dealing with public employees to achieve off-setting efficiencies, long a politically fraught topic at the State Capitol.

Malloy’s approach to closing a remaining $1.6 billion state budget shortfall for this year would hit municipalities on at least two fronts: requiring them to contribute to a teacher pension system now wholly financed by the state and teacher conttributions, and writing a new formula to distribute what the governor says must be a reduced budget for education aid.

Given that municipal aid and teacher pensions have been major points of contention in budget talks, the governor’s joint press conference with the executive directors of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM) and Council of Small Towns (COST) was surprisingly cordial, even if some of their comments had the cautious tone of a diplomatic communique.

“I believe that we had a productive meeting,” Malloy said after his closed-door meeting with Joe DeLong of CCM and Betsy Gara of COST. “That doesn’t mean there were any final products to be produced today, but I share a great many of their concerns and, quite frankly, their goals. I expressed that.”

Friday, August 11th, 2017

Comings & Goings: Ryan John Barbershop Opens

Ryan John Barbershop has opened at 235 Post Road West, near Sylvan Road. According to owner Ryan Recupero, “Our luxury barbershop offers precision haircuts for men, children (even a few women), hot lather straight razor shaves, and men’s hair color.” Recupero, a Trumbull resident, also owns and operates a full service salon in Fairfield since 2005. “I chose Westport because it’s a beautiful family town, and I wanted to join the many great businesses that serve the residents and tourists,” he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Comings & Goings: Steven Alan Closes Westport Store

Steven Alan, the men’s and women’s casual clothing and accessories store at 100 Post Road East, has closed. The store opened in February 2013. Store manager Magda Thompson, said, “Customers have come in to say how sad they feel that we’re closing.” Landlord Rob Haroun said the company is closing around 10 stores around the country, with the store in Greenwich among them. Alan said in April he planned to refocus his energy away from being a specialty multi-brand store and onto his own label. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Wednesday, August 9th, 2017

Comings & Goings: New Locations for Sports Attic & The Flat

Two businesses, Sports Attic and The Flat, which opened on Railroad Place less than one year ago, are relocating to new spaces on the same block. Sports Attic, 26 Railroad Place, is relocating to 24 Railroad Place, currently occupied by The Flat. The Flat will relocate to 40-42 Railroad Place previously occupied by Saugatuck Grain and Grape, which has moved to Post Road West. Sports Attic features new and used sporting goods and gear while The Flat offers home furnishings, accessories, contemporary lighting and vintage furniture. Pictured are Becky Goss (l), owner of The Flat, and Greg Dilenge, owner of Sports Attic. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Comings & Goings: Bar Bucha Closes

Bar Bucha, at 597 Riverside Ave. in Westport’s Saugatuck area, has closed, according to a neighboring business owner. Bucha was owned and operated by the entrepreneurial former Staples High School student Aishah Avidu who was honored as a young entrepreneur at the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce 1st Citizen Citizen award dinner in June (see WestportNow, June 13, 2017.) Bucha, which opened in November 2016, featured nonalcoholic kombucha-based beverages. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com