Category: Business - Page 84

Sunday, October 18, 2026

Comings & Goings: Alex and Ani Jewelry Closes

After almost three years in business, Alex and Ani, a jewelry store which described itself as “eco-friendly,” has closed at 117 Post Road East next to Specs. Founded in 2004, the Rhode Island-based company has more than 30 retail locations nationwide. The space was previously occupied for 15 years by The Avenue Gallery, specializing in framing antique maps and nature prints. Alex and Ani opened in Westport in July 2013. (See WestportNow July 12, 2013) (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Saturday, June 11th, 2016

Comings & Goings: Green & Tonic Opens Wednesday

Green & Tonic, a health food cafe, opens Wednesday at the corner of Taylor Place and Jesup Road, according to Patricia Blank, operations manager for the Westport site as well as Green & Tonic cafes in Darien, New Canaan, Cos Cob and Greenwich. Owned by husband and wife Cai and Jeff Pandolfino the hours are Monday to Friday 7 a.m.to 7 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site was formerly occupied by Crumbs Bakery. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Comings and Goings: New Beauty Wellness Has Grand Opening

New Beauty Wellness, a medical and day spa, has opened at 1137 Post Road East near the intersection of Morningside Drive North. It celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony. According to site director Lindsay Cross-Lerou, the spa offers facials, massages, body treatments, injectables and laser treatments. A plastic surgeon, Mark Erlich, a resident of Easton, is a staff member. The business offers six treatment rooms in its 4,000-square foot facility. Pictured- (l-r) Ed Schaufler, principal; Jennifer Efstathiou, lead esthetician; Helen Garten, selectman; Paul Dowicz, principal; Matt Mandell, executive director, Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce; Lindsay Cross-Lerou, site director, and Stephen Dowicz, principal. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Friday, June 10th, 2016

Comings & Goings: Acqua Successor is Boca

By James Lomuscio

Opening up a new restaurant in Westport’s highly competitive atmosphere is undoubtedly daunting. It’s even more challenging if it’s your first time owning one.

Revisson Bonfim will live the American Dream when he opens his Boca restaurant in space occupied for 20 years by Acqua Ristorante Mediterraneo. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

But for Revisson Bonfim, a 42-year-old investment banker who studies emerging markets, the planned opening of his Boca restaurant in August at the site of soon-to-close Acqua Ristorante Mediterraneo at 43 Main St. facing Parker Harding Plaza is the American Dream coming full circle. The restaurant, whose name is Spanish for mouth, will offer dishes from Spain, Italy and France.

“I’m originally from Brazil, and I moved to the United States when I was 16,” said the East Norwalk resident. “My very first job in the United States was working at a restaurant in Greenwich.”

The place was Manero’s, the same company that for decades had an iconic Saugatuck restaurant at the site that is now Rizzuto’s.

Wednesday, June 8th, 2016

Malloy’s Approval Drops to All-Time Low of 24 Percent

By Mark Pazniokas

www.ctmirror.org

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s approval rating hit a low of 24 percent today in a new Quinnipiac University poll, reflecting voter dismay over a chronic fiscal crisis that has come to define his six years as governor, most recently requiring service reductions and state employee layoffs.

“Voters feel Connecticut’s economy is going down the drain, and they are sending Gov. Dannel Malloy’s approval ratings right down the same drain. Even Democrats disapprove of the way he is doing his job,” said Douglas Schwartz, the poll’s director.

The poll is an across-the-board repudiation of Malloy, the first Democratic governor in decades, and a vote of no-confidence in the state’s economy, factors Republicans hope will enable them to shrink the Democrats’ majorities in the General Assembly or even capture control of a chamber.

Overall, 68 percent of voters disapprove of his performance, 24 percent approve and 8 percent have no opinion. He was upside down in every subset of voters, including Democrats, whose disapprove/approve split was 47 percent to 40 percent.

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Comings & Goings: Design Within Reach Goes Postal

The former Westport main post office, occupied until January by the Post 154 Restaurant, will be the new Westport home of furniture retailer Design Within Reach, according to a real estate source.

Design Within Reach is the new tenant at 154 Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The company, which formerly leased space on Elm Street, is expected to occupy the 9,000-square foot space on two floors by the end of the year, the source said.

There was no immediate confirmation from the company.

An investment group with ties to Westport paid $2.35 million for the property in May 2011. (See WestportNow May 23, 2011) The restaurant opened in August 2013.

Tuesday, June 7th, 2016

Library Talk Features Al DiGuido June 14

Al DiGuido at his Saugatuck Sweets. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Many Westporters know of him from his charity Al’s Angels or his yummy shops Saugatuck Sweets.

But that’s just scratching the surface when it comes to learning about entrepreneur and philanthropist Al DiGuido, who on Tuesday, June 14, at 7 p.m. in the Westport Library’s McManus Room will offer marketing innovator insights into his many business successes, event planners said.

Sponsored by Bernstein Global Wealth Management and Patriot Bank, DiGuido’s free talk is titled “Win Small Battles: 10 Essential Truths on Building & Leading.”

It will focus on the top 10 of essential components for achieving success in a wide variety of endeavors, an annnounement said.

Friday, June 3rd, 2016

P&Z Focuses on Site Plan to Defuse 8-30g

By James Lomuscio

Developers of a planned four-story, 94-unit rental property at 1177 Post Road East are willing to adjust their site plan, hopefully to the town’s satisfaction, without using the state’s affordable housing statute 8-30g to override zoning laws, their attorney said.

An architect’s rendering of the proposed project at 1177 Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Still, 1177 PRE Associates LLC is keeping 8-30g in its quiver via proposed text amendment 714. The amendment adds a new section “Residential-Rental Housing Opportunity/Workforce Zone District” as provided by the state’s affordable housing appeals procedure.

Under state law, 8-30g can be enforced if a town does not have 10 percent of its housing stock deemed affordable, which Westport does not. That opens the door to an aggressive developer riding roughshod over zoning regulations, doing what he or she pleases, something town officials say would jeopardize Westport’s identity and charm.

Christopher Smith, an attorney from the Shipman & Goodwin LLP firm representing 1177 PRE Associates, cautioned the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) of that during a public hearing Thursday night.

Comings & Goings: Now It’s Vine

Vine, a charcuterie-style bar and restaurant, will open at 190 Main St. by end of June, according to owner Sammy Alanz. The space was previously occupied by Luxe Wine Bar, which closed in April. (See WestportNow April 12, 2016) Alanz initially announced the name of his new eatery would be Bankside Social, but has now changed it to Vine, a “wine room and charcuterie.” He also said that the restaurant will feature fresh, organic, local offerings—see http://www.westportvine.com (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Friday, May 27th, 2016

Bond Panel OK’s $22M for Hedge Fund Expansion

By Keith M.Phaneuf

www.ctmirror.org

The State Bond Commission today approved $22 million in financing to help Westport-based Bridgewater Associates, one of the nation’s largest hedge funds, to expand in Fairfield County.

But Democratic state Comptroller Kevin P. Lembo, a potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate in 2018, joined with a prominent Republican state representative to oppose assistance for Bridgewater.

Both Lembo and Rep. Chris Davis, R-Ellington, argued it was imprudent to dedicate scarce state resources to a firm that manages more than $130 billion in global investments.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who chairs the 10-member bond commission, countered that Connecticut competes daily with neighboring states for businesses and jobs.

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