Returns and Westport History

Holiday return items were piled on the counter at Westport’s Banana Republic, 44 Main St., late today. Seen in the background are the quirky characters painted on a mural by New Milford artist Edmund Ashe, Jr. in the 1930s to decorate the wall behind a bar called Triangle Tavern, later Townly’s Restaurant. It suffered damage due to a fire in the 1950s and subsequently was covered with dry wall when Klein’s, a Main Street presence since 1937, expanded into the spot. In 1999, Klein’s leased the ground floor to Banana Republic and moved upstairs, finally closing for good in 2004. The mural was rediscovered during the Banana Republic renovation and restored. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com