By Dave Matlow
Purple Feet of Westport Wine and Spirits, 275 Post Road East in Playhouse Square, will close by Nov. 30 after almost two years at the location, according to owner Nick Rossi.
Purple Feet owner Nick Rossi said poor visibility from Post Road East and parking issues at Playhouse Square hastened the closing. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
He said that a new owner will reopen the store in another location in Westport and retain the name.
Rossi, a resident of South Salem, N.Y, said he plans to relocate to Austin, Texas where he will seek a location to open a wine shop.
“Austin is very conducive to small businesses, fewer restrictions on liquor licenses and the rent is about one-third of what it is here,” he said.
Rossi added, “We just could not get traction at this site, there’s no visibility from the Post Road, and then there’s the parking issue.”
Speaking of his attraction to Austin, he said, With one liquor license, I can open a wine store and a wine bar in the same location and even offer live music without the need for a cabaret license.”
Purple Feet Wine and Spirits opened in 1976 at 1080 Post Road East in the shopping center anchored by Barnes & Noble,.
It reopened at Playhouse Square in March 2012 after Rossi acquired Purple Feet from Marco Crettol, who operated Purple Feet in Westport for 34 years. (See WestportNow March 9, 2012)
