Millie Rae’s, the “home, girl and garden” store owned by Cheryl Sugel of Westport, has reopened at 1011 Post Road East after relocating from 1799 Post Road East. The space was formerly occupied by Country Curtains. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport’s Westfair Shopping Center, 1759 Post Road East on the Westport-Fairfield town line, has changed hands for $4,350,000. The two-building, 16,000-square foot shopping complex was built in 1950 and sits on 1.1 acres of land. Longtime tenants include Cooper’s Auto Parts as well as Westfair Fish and Chips. The seller was KB Westfair, LLC and the buyer was Westfair Real Estate, LLC, an affiliate of John A. Nelson and Paragon Realty Group, LLC of Westport. KB Westfair, LLC was formed in 1999 by the late Kathryn (Kay) Frazer Brooks, who died in 2016, with her children Lori Frazer and Marc Frazer, according to a filing with the secretary of the state’s office. She was the widow of B.V. “Dexter” Brooks, founder and publisher of Brooks Community Newspapers. HK Group was the only broker involved in the transaction, which was announced by Matthew Keefe, president, and Franco Fellah, executive VP, at HK Group. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Shearwater Roasters, a coffee bar, has opened at 833 Post Road East in the newly constructed building, opposite the Sherwood Connector. Owner Ed Freedman (above), a 30-year resident of Fairfield, said the Westport location is his second coffee bar, having opened in Fairfield’s Brickwalk in June 2017. He said his company manufactures coffee for distribution at its “roasting headquarters” in Trumbull. The Westport location features outdoor patio seating for 10 as well as inside seating. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Martlow for WestportNow.com

Downunder, the paddle board and kayak retail and rental store at 575 Riverside Ave., is closing after nine years. Karen Jewell (above), general operations manager and fitness director, said owner Kim Hawkins is closing the Westport store and one in Rowayton after 15 years due to economic conditions, pollution on the Saugatuck River, and bad weather in the past two summers. In a posting on the Downunder website, Hawkins said: “The state of the economic climate in CT, factors relating to the paddling environment, and my now living on the West Coast, have made it not feasible for the business to continue.” The store will close after the Labor Day weekend. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Spooky Town Halloween Superstore, 1807 Post Road East opposite Stop & Shop, a family-owned and operated West Haven-based pop-up business for the past 30 years, has returned to a Westport location for the first time since 2017. Other Spooky Town locations in the state include Orange, Milford and Avon. An employee said the most popular items includes witches, ghouls, “anything scary,” “it costumes,” LOL Surprise (for little girls), Super Girl, Captain Marvel, Toy Story costumes, Super Heroes “and whatever is on TV or YouTube.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Verizon store, 385 Post Road East in the Compo Shopping Center, will relocate two doors away to the space previously occupied by Halstead Real Estate. According to a Verizon employee, the transition will happen “within a few days.” Halstead will relocate to 56 Post Road East, the former Dovecote store, “around Thanksgiving,” according to John DiCenzo, Halstead executive director of sales “We’ve been in this location for 10 years, our lease expired, the new space has comparable room—around 3,000 square feet—and provides a very comfortable layout for our 30 agents,” he said. Baker Graphics previously occupied the space at Compo Shopping Center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com