Tag Archives: Westport Pizzeria

Main Street Gas Lamp: Harder To Find Than Waldo

Posted on May 2, 2013 | 5 Comments

Redoing the Main Street “bump-out” — in front of Westport Pizzeria, across from Vineyard Vines — was a great idea.

But the execution – meh.

The Downtown Merchants Association wanted something pretty, quaint, eye-catching, different. Something that screamed (or at least whispered) “Westport.”

What they got was:

Main Street, Westport CT

Somewhere along the way, the trees got cut. The planned plantings were eliminated.

And — probably because of some obscure state Department of Transportation rule — the fairly funky faux gas lamp was obliterated by 3 big signs.

The bottom 2 of which have seen better days.

Look closely. You can find the “gas lamp.”

But the drivers entering downtown — folks we hope to attract by our cuteness — never will.

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Posted in Downtown, Organizations

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Grandfather Clause

Posted on May 1, 2013 | 183 Comments

The other day, a longtime friend and fellow Staples grad joked — at least, I think she was joking — that Westport natives like us should be “grandfathered in” for certain privileges.

For example, she said, we should be exempt from the 1-way prohibition on Wright Street — near that gross office building — because it was 2-way all the way, back in the day.

She also said we should still be allowed to call Earthplace “The Nature Center” — because that’s what it always was, and really still is. Plus, whenever we walk into Elvira’s, we should not be surprised by the full shelves and lack of grubbiness.

Before it was Elvira's, it was The Old Mill Deli. Also known as Kenny's. Or Grub's.

Before it was Elvira’s, it was The Old Mill Deli. Also known as Kenny’s. Or Grub’s.

I came up with my own grandfather clause: driving both ways down Main Street — like from the pizzeria toward Thompson’s Pharmacy. I mean, Ships. Sorry: Tiffany.

Sure, that would cause a bit more chaos than turning onto Post Road West from Wright Street.

But it is a grandfather-driver-type thing to do.

Yep, there was 2-way traffic on Main Street. And Klein's, the Townly Restaurant, and a Mobil station.

Yep, there was 2-way traffic on Main Street. Plus a traffic light, Klein’s (now Banana Republic), the Townly Restaurant, and a Mobil station.

If you’re a long-time Westporter, click “Comments” to add your own ways of being grandfathered in.

And if you’re a newcomer, click “Comments” to share ways you might be grandfathered in to Westport, years from now.

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Posted in Downtown, Local business, Looking back, Organizations

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Eat!

Posted on January 5, 2013 | 20 Comments

Over the past few years, Westport’s pizza places have multiplied like mushrooms.

The latest entrant — with a menu that includes plenty of other Italian dishes — is EATalia. (Get it?)

What makes this new restaurant blog-worthy is that it replaces another Italian place: Joe’s Pizza. The site is the Post Road, opposite the old post office.

But Joe’s did not disappear. It relocated up Main Street, to the small shopping center past Avery Place that includes Sally’s Place.

That puts it just a few pies away from Westport Pizzeria — which hasn’t changed anything (except a few prices) for 43 years, to the delight of pizzaphiles everywhere.

And — to complete the circle — the landlord for EATalia is Mel Mioli. That’s right: the owner of Westport Pizzeria.

Mamma mia!

pizza

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Posted in Downtown, Restaurants

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Stumping On Main Street

Posted on November 21, 2012 | 29 Comments

‘Twas the day before Thanksgiving — and the start of what everyone calls “the holiday season” — but downtown Westport looked decidedly unfestive.

This morning, work crews chopped down every tree on the west side of Main Street — right to ground level.

Word on the street (ho ho) is that light poles will replace the trees, which were planted only a few years ago. We’ll have to see if this is a step forward — aesthetically and Westportically speaking — or not.

Paul Bunyan arrived while several stores remain shuttered — more than 3 weeks after Sandy surged up Main Street, onto floors loaded with merchandise and into basements housing electrical equipment.

The locked doors and we-don’t-want-you-to-see-in windows added to the dismal atmosphere, on what is usually one of the most bustling days downtown.

At the same time — slowing what little traffic there was, while adding a decidedly un-holiday glow — work continued on the new “bump-out” opposite Westport Pizzeria.

Meanwhile, directly across Main Street, the little patch of life on the corner of Elm Street shows the after-effects of a recent accident. An enormous truck failed to make the tricky turn.

But hey. We’ve still got that magnificent tree next to Vineyard Vines.

For now, anyway.

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Posted in Downtown, Local business, Restaurants, Weather

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Westport Pizzeria: On The Move From Main Street?

Posted on April 24, 2012 | 29 Comments

For years — as locally owned businesses have left Main Street — Westporters have said, “At least we’ve still got the pizzeria.”

How much longer, though, is uncertain.

Mel Mioli

Owner Mel Mioli confirmed this afternoon that Westport Pizzeria — a downtown fixture for 43 years — may not be there much longer.

He’s negotiating a new lease. If the terms don’t work out, he won’t renew.

The good news: He’s got a new place lined up.

Westport Pizzeria would take over the space that will be vacated when Joe’s Pizza — just around the corner on the Post Road, opposite the old post office — leaves.

Joe’s is moving too — coincidentally to Main Street. The new location will be the small building that houses Sally’s Place.

As for Westport Pizzeria: There are “a couple of months of negotiations left,” Mel says.

“We’d like to stay here. We’re used to it. But we’ll see what happens. We’ve got time.”

Mel does not seem worried. “If we have to move, we’ll be happy,” the popular owner says. “And we’ll make the new place very nice.”

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Posted in Downtown, People, Restaurants

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How’s Business?

Posted on July 13, 2010 | 29 Comments

Bill Brown and his cronies were trying to guess the oldest surviving business in town.

Bill guessed Beacon Electronics — but then realized it closed last year after a 60-year run.

Someone suggested Carvel — definitely a cool choice.

Boccanfuso has been around since 1957, though not at the same Post Road East location (near, coincidentally, Carvel).

Bill — who worked at the Westport Food Center on Main Street in the 1960s, which most definitely is not still in business — asked “06880″ to name the oldest surviving business in town.

We punted.

What does “oldest surviving business in town” mean?

Is it the place that’s been in one spot the longest?  If so, the answer is probably a gas station.

Is it the place that’s been in one spot the longest — with the same owner?  That might be Westport Pizzeria or Mario’s?

What about Oscar’s, which is almost where it started in the 1950s — just a few doors down?

While Mitchells is in its 3rd location, it’s still on the Post Road.  And it’s on its 3rd generation of owners — that counts for something, right?

Does the Red Barn count?  It’s served diners on Wilton Road for over 50 years — but didn’t it close briefly before the Nisticos took over?

Feel free to nominate your own “oldest surviving business in town.”  Clink the “Comments” link at the top or bottom of this post — and include your definition of the term.

The Red Barn seems to have been around since before there were cameras. (Drawing by Sascha Maurer/Courtesy of CardCow.com)

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Posted in Local business, Looking back

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