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Local To Market — the food/coffee/gift/gift basket/and more shop that opened a few months ago in the former Talbots/Remarkable Book Shop prime space at the Main Street entrance to Parker Harding Plaza — is closing soon.
Whether it’s temporary or permanent is uncertain. And, in a way, up all of us.
Owner Chris Marcocci must move out by April 30, because the building was sold.
He has not yet found a new location. “We may have to hit pause,” he says, “but hopefully not for too long.
“Bringing Local To Market to Main Street was an amazing experience. My wife Rita, general manager Jon Clement and I are grateful for the wonderful community support, especially our loyal customers and amazing Connecticut suppliers.
“Bringing in the Art Collective of Westport for our art gallery, featuring local musicians and giving back to local charities made this very worthwhile.
“We wish to remain in Westport, and hope to be open again soon with an even wider assortment of products and services. We are looking for our next location, and possible partners to add a café and more.”
If you’ve got a lead, contact him directly: chris@localtomarket.com.
The Local to Market patio.
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Almost two dozen Y’s Men spent yesterday serving the community.
Joined by 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker, they gathered with bags, gloves, coffee, donuts and homemade matzoh bark at the Baldwin Parking Lot. They spent hours gathering trash — cans, paper, cigarette butts, even a tent from — from the periphery.
Dewey Loselle, head of the group’s Community Service, organized the event.
Y’s Men of Westport/Weston includes almost 400 retired men. They meet weekly from Labor Day to Memorial Day, sharing coffee and donuts and hearing speakers.
Activities range from bridge. boating, golf, tennis, hiking and walking to a global issues discussion group, dining and field trips.
Meetings are Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. at the Saugatuck Congregational Church. Click here for more information, or email
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker (6th from right) and Y’s Men at the Baldwin Parking Lot.
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The New York Times describes a new musical in the works. “Everyone Comes to Elaine’s” is based on the Upper East Side spot that for decades attracted celebrities from Frank Sinatra, Woody Allen and Truman Capote to Joe DiMaggio and Keith Richards.
The creators optioned the rights to the 2004 book “Everyone Comes to Elaine’s.” It was written by A.E. Hotchner, a Westport resident and Elaine’s regular. He died in 2020, at 102.
They added Hotchner’s son Timothy, who grew up here, as a creative and business partner. Click here for the full Times story. (Hat tip: Fred Cantor)
A. E. Hotchner, in Westport. (Photo/Fred Cantor)
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Congratulations to April’s Staples High School Students of the Month: seniors Emma Londoner and Rachel Greenberg, juniors Carine Rosado and Ian Patton, sophomores Sacha Maidique and Nicholas De Munck, and freshmen Brady Dennett and Shelby Weisman.
Principal Stafford Thomas said they were chosen for helping make their school “a welcoming place for peers and teachers. They are the ‘glue’ of the Staples community: the type of kind, cheerful, hard-working, trustworthy students who keep the high school together, making it the special place it is.”
From left: Shelby Weisman, Ian Patton, Sacha Maidique, Carina Rosado, Brady Dennett, Rachel Greenberg, Emma Londoner. Missing: Nicholas de Munck.
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The Westport Police Department will be out in “force” next Saturday (April 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Stop & Shop), collecting food for the Gillespie Center and Westport Human Services food pantry.
The event is co-sponsored with the Westport Rotary Club, and Westport Woman’s Club. They ask for non-perishable items only — and no glass!
Items needed for Saturday’s food drive.
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Yesterday’s Roundup included a video with what I was told were the sons of Plácido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli and Luciano Pavarotti’s.
Nope. The trio are called Il Novo, and though they are extremely talented, they have nothing to do with those three stars. One more reason to remember that, as Abraham Lincoln once said, “you can’t believe everything you see on the internet.”
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There’s always something happening at the Senior Center. Including — this time of year — magnificent spring colors.
Today’s “Westport … Naturally” image was captured beautifully by Molly Alger.
(Photo/Molly Alger)
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And finally … until yesterday, I’d never heard of Art Rupe.
But without him, chances are I’d also never have heard of the music I love.
The founder of Specialty Records, he brought rhythm and blues — formerly “race music” — into the white mainstream. He jump-started the careers of singers like Little Richard and Lloyd Price. Hearing those artists influenced groups like the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Animals.
Art Rupe died on Friday at his home in Santa Barbara. He was 104. Click here for a full obituary. (Hat tip: Michael Taylor)
Just read Hotch’s …Paul and Me. Great read. I worked for him for a couple of years. He was great.
Hate to see Local To Market leave the corner…some crappy retailer will redo the space and make the wonderful “Patio” area unattractive, no doubt.
Hope they find a great, new location.