There was a ribbon cutting ceremony today to mark the relocation of the Westport office of the law firm of Berchem, Moses & Devlin, P.C. from Imperial Avenue to 1221 Post Road East. The firm, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, occupies more than 4,700 square feet in its new location. Westport Managing Partner Ira W. Bloom, the Westport Town Attorney since 1998, said the new location would give the firm a higher visibility and be more convenient for clients. Pictured are lawyers and guests (l-r) Win Baum, Mark Kovac, Gail Kelly, Doug LoMonte, Lisa Parrelli Gray, director of Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, Ira Bloom, Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff, Robert Berchem, Floyd Dugas, and Jan Bryniczka. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Around the Rosy, a new store that buys and sells used clothing for children from newborns to 14-year-olds, opens Monday at 222 Post Road West. The owner is Taryn Bolotin, daughter of well known singer-songwriter Michael Bolton of Westport. According to its website, the store will buy and sell clothing, toys, child/baby gear and furniture and “any items we cannot purchase from you, may be left in our donation box. The donation box items will be sold for donations to St. Jude’s Hospital, and any unsold items will be donated Big Brothers Big Sisters.”  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Post 154, the new restaurant in Westport’s former main post office at 154 Post Road East, is set to open in August, according to Alex Rosado, executive chef and managing director. The restaurant will seat 268, including the main level, lower level and patio and employ a staff of about 40-50, he said. Rosado, who describes the cuisine as “world class creative, in an upscale, high end, yet comfortable, fun setting,” is the former executive chef at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa in the Florida Keys, ranked No. 3 in the country by Zagat and No. 1 in Florida for hotel restaurants. He is also listed as executive chef at Valley Stables Food & Drink in Oakland, N.J., owned by Joe and Melissa Kelly, the owners of Post 154.  Rosado, who recently moved to Norwalk, said Post 154 will be open seven days a week but will serve dinner only at the start. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Dave Matlow

Westport’s west bank of the Saugatuck River, already hopping with new restaurants Bartaco and Cafe Moja, will soon add a new 120-seat restaurant in National Hall, by the end of the year, according to Westporter Mark Coe, property development consultant for Greenfield Partners. 

The ground floor of National Hall will be the location of an Italian restaurant by the end of the year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

It will be a return to the past—after the building converted to a 15-room luxury hotel in 1993, there were several restaurants on the ground floor, but they gave way to office space in 2005. The hotel closed in 2010 and Greenfield Partners took over the building, which dates to 1873 and once was part of the thriving 19th century Westport waterfront.

Coe said the 4,685-square foot space will have seating for 120 and will feature a bar, cafe and white tablecloth sections.

According to Bobby Werhane, founder of Experience Hospitality and owner of the new establishment, “the name of the restaurant has not yet been determined but definitely will not be called Spasso,” an Italian restaurant he owns at 551 Hudson St, New York.

Kibberia Mediterranean Restaurant and Cafe will open around July 15 at 361 Post Road West, the location formerly occupied by John’s Best, according to co-owner/manager Nick Iskandar (above). The restaurant, which specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine and has a restaurant with the same name in Danbury, will have a casual environment that seats 100 and offers take-out service, he said. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com