So what about an object like Princess Jewelers?
Ever since the Big Bang, it seems, the small store next to Volvo of Westport has been “going out of business.”
First they offered 50% off.
Then 70%.
Now customers get an 80% discount.
I’m holding out for 100.
The cover painting on the brochure announcing “Main Street Memories 1960” is lovely, quaint — and historically inaccurate.
It shows cars creeping north, from the Y past Klein’s and Oscar’s. In 1960, Main Street traffic flowed both ways.
But I’m sure the rest of the Westport Historical Society show — which opens next Saturday (March 6) with a party from 1-4 p.m. — is both accurate and compelling.
Main Street, from the 1962 Staples yearbook. Klein's is now Banana Republic (and more than 1 floor); the Townly Restaurant just beyond it burned down, and the Mobil station in the distance is Vineyard Vines. Note the stoplight and 2-way traffic.
Susan Malloy — a long-time resident and philanthropist — has created a lively 4-color map. It depicts a downtown Westport filled with locally owned shops and restaurants. The map is spiced with quotes from people who remember that time fondly.
Susan will be at Saturday’s party. Guests — which the WHS hopes will include newcomers as well as old fogeys timers — can chat about yesterday and today, and put their thoughts down in a special book.
In the meantime, to get the recollection juices flowing, here are a few names from the map:
Shilepsky’s Clothing
Country Gal
Rico Beauty Salon
Townley Restaurant
Tracy’s Menswear
Hartman’s Hardware
Oakes Automotive Service
Barnum Travel
Melody House Music
Dress Box
Westlake Restaurant
Swerdling’s Bakery
Welch’s Hardware
Westport Food Center
Greenberg’s Department Store
Economy Liquors
Ben Franklin Store
Pickwick Gift Shop
Isabel Eland Shop
Dorain’s Drugs
Town & Country Shoes
Charles Food Shop
Linen Closet
Bill’s Smoke Shop
Westport Hardware
Country Bazaar
Gristede Brothers Grocers
See you Saturday — right across from the Dress Box.
The much-loved Remarkable Book Shop (now Talbots). This shot is from after the 1960s -- the adjacent Record Hunter (left side of building) has already closed, and the cars look relatively modern.
Saugatuck is losing 1 of its favorite pizza places.
Four Brothers Pizza — part of a small local chain — is moving east. It will take over the spot near Fresh Market recently vacated by Mike’s Pizza, the very brief successor to Martha’s Pizza, which replaced some other place that replaced something before that.
But the Four Brothers spot near Dunville’s will remain a restaurant. The new place will be…Mexican.
No word on whether it will be called “Cuatro Hermanos.”
Comments Off on 4 Brothers On The Move
Posted in Local business, Restaurants, Saugatuck
Tagged Four Brothers Pizza, Saugatuck
Blockbuster is closing hundreds of stores — over 500 this year, on top of 374 last year. In the most recent quarter the once-swaggering company lost $435 million — on top of a $360 million loss a year ago.
I hadn’t thought about Blockbuster in years — in today’s world there’s Netflix (the old-fashioned mail way, plus its streaming service), Hulu, and 5 new technologies that were announced just last night — but the news made me think about my old (very old) friend on the Post Road. It shrunk to half its size last year, ceding the east end to a big-and-tall clothing store (not my cup of tea).
I couldn’t imagine Blockbuster’s business model working in Westport anymore. Particularly when the library offers DVDs for the fairly low price of free.
I called the Westport store. A chirpy voice answered — a ringing phone was probably the most excitement she’d had all day.
“Blockbuster is shutting lots of stores,” I said. “Is Westport one of them?”
“We’re fine,” she replied.
“Well, how’s business?” I asked.
“Do you need something?” she countered.
“Like someone else I can talk to there?” I said. I was thinking like, you know, a manager.
“Like a DVD?” she wondered.
No. I did not need a DVD.
And I don’t know anyone else in Westport who still needs anything from Blockbuster.
Which is why I’m not sure business really is fine, over at the local “video rental store.”
Posted in Library, Local business, technology
Tagged Blockbuster, Hulu, Netflix, video rental, Westport Public Library
A mass in honor of Lou Santella is set for Saturday, March 27 — 10:30 a.m., at the Assumption Church, 98 Riverside Avenue in Westport.
“Restaurant Week” — a blah-ly named but nonetheless welcome Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event — kicks off tomorrow.
Twenty eateries will offer special prix fixe lunch and dinner menus, through March 6. Prices range from $15 lunch and $25 dinner (casual restaurants) to $20 lunch and $35 dinners (higher end). Select wines are available for $5.
The restaurants include Acqua, Balducci’s, Bertucci’s, Black Duck, Bombay, Blue Lemon, Bobby Q’s, DaPietro’s, The Dressing Room, Dunville’s, Finalmente, La Villa, Manolo, Mansion Clam House, Matsu Sushi, River House Tavern, Rizzuto’s, Splash, Tarantino’s, and Tavern on Main.
What? No Five Guys?!
Whatever. Westport’s newest hot spot will be packed all week, prix fixe or non.
Pass the peanuts.
Bon appetit!
Posted in Organizations, Restaurants
Miggs Burroughs has done it again.
The talented artist — who designs logos for every important Westport event — has created a handsome look for the celebration of Longshore’s 50 years as a town park.
The “Longshore 50th anniversary” logo will soon be seen all over town. A book, a video — and of course many special social events — are in the works. All will be adorned with:
For nearly 2 weeks we’ve watched snowboarders soar, speed skaters fly, and curlers do whatever it is they do.
It’s been a great spectacle — particularly if you enjoy watching sports several hours late on tape delay, even though they are being held on the exact same continent where you live.
But exciting events are not confined to athletics. Five Staples students discovered that last Sunday — in the regional FIRST Tech Challenge robotics competition, at Pace University.
All day long the 5 — Haris Durrani, Jehangir Hafiz, Eric Lubin, Todd Lubin and Tim Yang — struggled. They faced — and overcame — a variety of mechanical and technological challenges, and finished the qualifying rounds in 4th place.
Tank Aaron (from left): Eric Lubin, Tim Yang, Todd Lubin, Jehangir Hafiz and Haris Durrani.
In the championship round, “Tank Aaron” — they named their team after the famous baseball player — faced a pair of New Jersey squads. The Westporters’ controllers began to malfunction. In the finals — a best-of-3-games series — they won their 1st game, then lost as the other robots ganged up on theirs.
In the 3rd game of the 3rd match, they had just 2 minutes and 30 seconds to fight their way to the World Championship in Atlanta — or go home. Tank Aaron was virtually scoreless the entire time, as their opponents fought to keep the high-scoring robot from shooting Wiffle balls into scoring areas outside the field.
As the clock hit 15 seconds, Tank Aaron shot from the middle of the field — a risky and seemingly impossible shot. Balls poured into the outfield scoring area for the next 5 seconds. The New Jerseyans were so shocked they forgot to maintain control of their robot, so Tank pushed closer toward the goal.
Even more balls scored in the next 5 seconds. By the final 5, the crowd was on its feet, screaming. Tank Aaron won — and they’re headed to The Big Dance in April.
Tank Aaron (right) beat that poser #3817, with plenty of balls to spare.
“It was too close for comfort,” Haris said a couple of days later — still stunned by the finish. The team had met for 7-8 hours a day — sometime until 2 a.m. — every day for the previous week.
Their hard work paid off. They even were named finalists for the Innovate Award for creative and consistent robot design.
Now the real work begins. Tank Aaron plans to improve the robot, from head to toe.
So the 5 robotics team members still won’t have time to watch even a minute of skiing, hockey or — damn it! — curling.
Who cares? Robotics competitions are far tougher.
And more dramatic.
Posted in People, Staples HS, technology, Teenagers
Tagged Eric Lubin, FIRST Tech Challenge, Haris Durrani, Jehangir Hafiz, robotics, Staples robotics, Tank Aaron, Tim Yang, Todd Lubin
Think you’ve got some hefty college bills? Meet Jody Brown.
Last spring the Westport single mother prepared for Staples graduation — of her triplets. Megan, Kyle and Tyler DeBussey were ready to enter college this fall.
Tuition costs — over $300,000 for 4 years — kept her up at night. The Barron’s guide, she says, made her sick.
All 3 of her kids had gone through Westport schools, from kindergarten through 12 grade. None had ever requested financial assistance. But each took on the task of filling out financial aid applications — including applying for Staples Tuition Grants.
Since 1943, the program has provided assistance to Staples seniors — and graduates still in college. Some are students like the DeBusseys (though triplets are a 1st). Others live in homes where 1 — or both — parents are seriously ill, or out of work.
Staples Tuition Grants is the largest single donor of financial aid in Westport. Last year the organization handed out $198,000 — 24 grants to seniors, 53 to alums. Awards range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, and are based solely on need.
Last year also saw a 35% increase in applications. Many came from graduates who had not needed aid as seniors, but because of changed family circumstances or college funding cutbacks, suddenly did.
The DeBusseys all qualified. Tyler is at the University of Wisconsin; Kyle attends the University of South Carolina, while Megan is at the University of Hartford.
Along with additional scholarships for academics and sports achievements — plus personal loans and campus jobs — all 3 are thriving.
This June Staples Tuition Grants hopes to award $200,000 to a new crop of seniors, and some familiar grads. As always, the committee relies on contributions from individuals, PTAs, civic organizations, local businesses and trusts.
But so far they’ve raised only half their goal. It’s time to step up for our own. Contributions may be made here, or by mail: Staples Tuition Grants, PO Box 5159, Westport, CT 06881.
(The deadline for students to apply for aid is March 15. Applications are available here.)
Posted in Education, Organizations, People, Staples HS
Tagged Kyle DeBussey, Megan DeBussey, Staples High School Tuition Grants, Tyler DeBussey
As 1 of only 4 folks left in town during last week’s school vacation, I had the roads to myself.
Enjoying the rare opportunity to look around at something other than cars zooming in and out of driveways, drivers dyeing their hair while writing novels on iPhones, and joggers using the center stripes as their own personal tracks, I noticed something odd: A lot of Westporters don’t know it’s almost March.
The reason I know this is because their Christmas wreaths, pine cones and whatnot still decorate their front doors, windows and fences.
It’s a good thing they don’t live in Aurora, Illinois.
Merry Christmas! It's almost March!
Government officials there — where apparently even less happens than here — are taking action against wreath vagrants. An ordinance limits outdoor seasonal displays to 60 days before and after the holidays — and that time is almost up. Violators will be fined $50.
Since the law was enacted in 2006, the city has issued 383 citations. Bah, humbug!
Though the ordinance “absolutely” raises free speech issues, a constitutional law professor says, Aurora has not faced any legal challenges.
What are the odds that — if Westport passed a similar law — it would sit, quiet as a partridge in a pear tree, on the books?
And that if 383 citations were handed out, not 1 person would sue?
That sound you just heard is hundreds of Westport husbands, telling their wives to stop nagging. The wreaths will stay up till Easter. Or Memorial Day. Hell, maybe longer.
Why? Because they can.
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