Harvest Restaurant, 36 Railroad Place, in the space previously occupied by Mario’s, will open “during the holiday season” according to a real estate source. The owners, Vicente and Nuve Siguenza, also operate Cava in New Canaan, Harvest in Greenwich, New Haven, Scena in Darien, and 55 Degrees in Fairfield. Frank ”Tiger” DeMace, co-founder of Mario’s with the late Mario Sacco, died in 2012 at age 78. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Rio Bravo, a Mexican restaurant, has opened at 1460 Post Road East, next door to Bravo, an italian restaurant.  The establishments are unaffiliated—different owners, no business relationship according to management of each restaurant. Bravo which opened in 2014 is owned by Michael Sias of Stratford. Rio Bravo is owned by Edgar Brambila. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport Wine & Spirits, 877 Post Road East, opposite the Sherwood Island Connector, has reopened under new management The new owner is Zak Ginzburg, a Westport resident for the past three years. He also operates Cost Less Wines and Liquor on High Ridge Road in Stamford since 2000.  He said in addition to wine, liquor and beer, the Westport store also offers a gourmet cheese selection. The store opened in April 2014 under former owner Paul Sherman. (See WestportNow April 28, 2014)  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The A&J Farm Stand, a Post Road East icon at 1680 near Stop & Shop, celebrates its 25th year at that location, according to owner Albert Cuseo, a lifelong Westport residents and 1987 graduate of Staples High School.  He said the stand opened as a seasonal business in 1990, selling locally grown produce in the warm months and in the winter holiday season offering Christmas trees, wreaths poinsettias and other festive holiday items. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Shoe-Inn, the women’s designer shoe store for four decades at 38 Main St., will move across the street to 21 Main St. in space formerly occupied by Henry Lehr. The space has been vacant since September 2014.  According to the store manager, Shoe-Inn will open across the street in February. It has seven other stores located in New Jersey, Westchester County, New York City, and Long Island. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Tribeca-based Matt Bernson, specializing in shoes, handbags, jewelry and small leather goods, will open at 136 Main St.in the Brooks Corner shopping center in space previously occupied by the Johnston & Murphy shoe and accessories store.  According to its website, “our shoes are produced in quantities of 100 per color. all of our jewelry is handmade in NYC and our handbags are all produced in quantities of 30 per color.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Roy Fuchs

Westport Assessor Paul Friia today offered some good news and some bad news to the Y’s Men of Westport Weston about the almost concluded full revaluation.

Tax Assessor Paul Friia: commercial values have increased more than residential. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Larry Untermeyer for WestportNow.com

The good news—the commercial grand list grew faster than the residential during the five years since the last revaluation, meaning businesses will shoulder a larger portion of total taxes. The bad news—not by much.

Addressing the group’s weekly meeting at the Saugatuck Congregational Church, Friia said state statute requires that every community perform a reval every five years, alternating a “full inspection” assessment, as his office is concluding now, with a desktop update.

Revaluations, he said are done “not to raise taxes…  but “to create “an equitable distribution of taxes across the municipality.”