A noon grand opening today will mark the official move of Silver of Westport to its old home a few doors away at the Compo Acres shopping center on Post Road East.

Co-owners Steven and Susan Silver on moving day Oct. 3. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

After 19 years in the same Compo Acres location, the family-owned and operated gift and travel necessity business serving Fairfield County since 1904 has moved to its new space that Silver previously occupied for 31 years beginning in 1951.

Trader Joe’s will expand to include the vacated space.

Co-owners Stephen Silver and his sister Susan are bringing back the door prizes that their father Phil conceptualized and implemented for the original location. They have a free $20 gift for the first 200 customers who make a purchase of $19.51 and there will be a grand opening drawing to win free gifts.

By James Lomuscio

Like the old Yankee Stadium, its large, framed photo on the wall near the register, Arcudi’s Restaurant will also be consigned to the memory of Westporters, many of whom spent a lot of time at the eatery discussing baseball, government and town issues.

Joe Arcudi: “The new Westport doesn’t know the old Arcudi’s.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Joe Arcudi, a lifelong Westporter, Little League and Babe Ruth coach and former first selectman, said economic realities will force him to shut down on Monday.

“I have no choice,” said Arcudi, 69, who first opened the 1035 Post Road East restaurant in 1973, then reopened it again two and half years ago. “My volume doesn’t justify the rent.”

It is not that the $4,100 a month for the one-story, square building next to Carvel is exorbitant by Westport standards. In fact, Arcudi says, it is low. It is just that the man whose advertisements state, “We don’t cut corners,” has had a hard time making ends meet since he reopened after a nearly 15-year hiatus at the same location.