By Dave Matlow
The coffee, bakery and sandwich shop Steam, located at the refurbished stationhouse on the eastbound side of Metro-North’s Westport station in Saugatuck, has closed.
Bob Glaser is still operating the Steam shop at the Green’s Farms station and hopes to continue. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
The closure comes less than a year after its revival last June when loyal customers rallied additional support to keep the business running. (See WestportNow, June 28, 2015)
Meanwhile, the Steam shop at the Green’s Farms train station remains open under an agreement between the owner, Chef Briana, LLC , and Bob Glaser who, with a partner, assumed the rights to operate Steam at both locations, according to Glaser.
“There’s been a huge outpouring of support from customers of the Green’s Farms location to keep it open,” he said. “They’re saying ‘please stay here.’ ”
Glaser, a former Westport resident now living in Monroe, said while Chef Briana, LLC remains as the legal owner and tenant, “We’re working closely with the town on the eviction process before it goes out for bid for a new owner. We’ll be one of the bidders.”
Glaser, expressing optimism, added he has expanded the Green’s Farms hours from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed Saturday and Sunday.)
“There’s so much opportunity here.” he said. “Greens Farms Academy is just around the corner, Burying Hill Beach is a short walking distance and the Southport Beach is nearby. We’re the only game in town.”
He added that he is talking to the town about relocating the Saugatuck Steam to the westbound side. “It wasn’t working well on the eastbound side,” he said.
Steam opened at Green’s Farms in July 2013 (see WestportNow July 26, 2013) and at Saugatuck in January 2014 (see WestportNow Jan. 16, 2014)
