Fresh Market to Open Oct. 7

By Dave Matlow

The Fresh Market will open Oct. 7 in the former location of Shaw’s Supermarket on Westport’s Post Road, one of the property owners said today.
Jay Kowalsky today outside the future home of The Fresh Market at 605 Post Road East. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

“The coolers, tiled floors, overhead and track lighting, and HVAC have been installed, and the deli department cases are coming in this week,” said Jay Kowalsky, president of Kowalsky Real Estate, the family-owned company of the longtime Westport Kowalsky family.

He said that the opening day festivities at 605 Post Road East will include a live music quartet and outdoor grills to prepare food samplings. 

“We’re resurfacing the parking lot, we’ll have new lighting and are planting islands with the same theme as seen on the Post Road island entrance to the Sherwood Connector,” he said.

Kowalsky said last November that frustration with the repeated failure by Shaw’s to upgrade its Westport store led to a decision not to renew its lease and negotiate with Fresh Market. (See WestportNow Nov. 11, 2008)

Fresh Market, founded by Ray and Beverly Berry in 1982, is part of an 88-store chain based in Greensboro, N.C.

The Westport site at one time was occupied by Grand Union and then by Shaw’s. It will be the first Fresh Market location in Connecticut.