“06880” reported yesterday that Greens Farms Spirit Shop was for sale. It was right there online, with an MLS listing.
Yesterday afternoon, owner Nick Conti emailed:
“Been hearing a lot of chatter today about my store being for sale. I can personally tell you: ‘The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.’ The store is not, in fact, for sale. I have had the store for almost 4 years now and couldn’t be happier in Westport. It’s a tremendous community!”
It seems a broker Nick had not met before misinterpreted an offhand remark, and posted — without his knowledge — an item about the sale. (“The MLS is a strange place to market a business,” Nick adds.)
So, not only is Greens Farms Spirit Shop not for sale. But the store was just recognized as one of the nation’s Top 100 retailers, by Beverage Dynamics magazine.
It’s all good. Party on!
Not for sale!
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Alert — and thirsty (though not for alcohol) – “06880” reader Mark Lassoff writes:
“I get off I-95 at the Southport exit yesterday, on my way to my Westport office.
“The Maple Avenue Dunkin’ Donuts was shuttered, without warning.
“The ‘New Dunkin’ opening in 3 days’ sign in Compo Shopping Center had not changed in a week
“Coffee An’ is closed for vacation.
“And Mrs. London’s Bakery is closed and locked, with no lights on and no sign on the door.
“I was forced to get coffee at Manna Toast ($5.19, from a thermos).
“When will the new Dunkin’ open? Downtown office workers are having a coffee crisis!”
Too bad, Mark: You should have looked more closely (or perhaps driven by a few minutes later).
Westport’s newest/most recently relocated Dunkin’ opened yesterday. Enjoy!
(Pro tip: Park in the back lot. There’s plenty of room. Unlike, ahem, the front.)
Closed for vacation!
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Everyone continues to rave about Old Mill Grocery — the newly reopened deli/market on Hillspoint Road.
And by “everyone,” we mean all kinds of people.
And their pets.
With plenty of dog treats on the shelf (courtesy of Earth Animal), we’ve seen lots of tail wagging — inside, and out front.
Bobo, at Old Mill Grocery. (Photo/Sunil Hirani)
Cathy Malkin sent this photo of Yogi Bear, and says he gives the new place “2 paws up”:
(Photo/Cathy Malkin)
Meanwhile, Maggie Moffitt Rahe reports — happily — “the line was out the door. One can only say ‘thank you” to the donors for opening the doors again. It’s bustling, and beautiful.”
Old Mill Grocery. (Photo/Maggie Moffitt Rahe)
Classic scene is back. (Photo/Patty Gabal)
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Not far away at Compo, every Tuesday during the summer, the Y’s Men picnic near the cannons. Once a year, they use it to raise funds for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
This week’s hot dog cookout for the camp was the most successful ever
Several dozen Y’s Men and spouses — plus frequent Y’s Men speaker and loyal supporter 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker — enjoyed hundreds of dogs. They were donated by Y’s Man David Kalman, and grilled by members Roy McKay and Larry Licht.
1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker drops a contribution in the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp bag. (Photo/Bob Mitchell)
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Also at Compo: For a few weeks after it was installed, the new electronic sign notifying beachgoers of the parking situation sat idle.
Yesterday, it worked.
Well, if you disregard those diagonal black lines everywhere.
(Photo/Matt Murray)
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Flyers distributed yesterday in Saugatuck announced a state Department of Transportation “I-95 Resurfacing and Median Reconstruction Project, to begin July 2022.”
The bridge over Saugatuck Avenue will be replaced, using “Accelerated Bridge Construction Methods called Lateral Slide, which minimizes the disruption to I-95 commuters.”
In addition, the I-95 bridges over Franklin Street and the Saugatuck River will undergo concrete deck repairs, replacement of expansion joints and installation of new standpipes.
A portion of the structure will be replaced over a weekend, with 2 lanes of traffic in each direction.
Other work includes:
- Reconstruction of the center median and right shoulders along with resurfacing of the highway mainline and ramps at Interchanges 16 and 17.
- Median will be reconstructed consistent with other stretches of I-95 to provide a 6-foot-wide capped concrete barrier section.
- Wider left and right shoulders where possible.
- Improve drainage by replacing and re-routing drainage structures
- Replacement of the existing highway illumination system
- Install new realigned Incident Management System (IMS)
- Install new guide rail
- Utilize wet retroreflective pavement markings to provide increased visibility of pavement markings in wet conditions.
(Hat tip: Ken Stamm)
I-95 bridge over the Saugatuck River. (Drone photo/Brandon Malin)
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Matthew Hooper and his wife live near downtown. On Tuesday night, walking in that often bustling area, he spotted 2 deer.
One was happily hanging out at the Millman & Millman law office. Moments later it as joined by another, strolling right down the yellow line on Main Street.
Whether they were looking for legal advice, or perhaps a gelato, they captured Matthew’s attention. And he captured one on camera, for “Westport … Naturally.”
(Photo/Matthew Hooper)
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And finally … Mark Lassoff may not be able to find a cup of coffee. But if he’s lookin for java:
Obviously something fishy going on in realtor land. Unless that particular strip center is a condo — unlikely — it’s impossible to sell or buy a single store location, as it’s part of a building belonging to the landlord. Sounds like someone was misusing the MLS system, perhaps trying to harm the store’s reputation.
The MLS does not allow a listing to go on-line unless a signed listing agreement is filed as part of the process.
The picture of the Compo parking sign has those diagonal lines are because my phone catches the LEDs as they scan across the the display. To the naked eye, the refresh rate is too fast to see the black areas of the display. Drive by and you will see what I mean.
When you drive by and see this grossly ugly Stew Leonard’s type sign which is totally unnecessary you will not see the entrance flagpole which it blocks as well as destroying the visual beauty of the hard work of the many volunteers who maintain the gardens. This sign is a travesty and whoever dreamed it up and authorized the spending of the money should be fired immediately
Agreed
Tucked quietly away at the end of this round-up is a list of CTDOT to-do’s that Westport’s residents, businesses, restauranteurs, and officials ought to take note of.
We are about to experience years of unmitigated loud construction to make an already harmfully noisy highway a lot noisier.
What is not on the list is sound barriers. A recent comment noted that outside dining at Saugatuck restaurants is impossible due to noise. Let’s add dangerous, too.
Westporters should insist that sound barriers be installed to protect Westport’s residential and business neighborhoods.
In Greenwich that what’s happening: https://www.riversideassociation.org/new-page-1
I think you are referencing my comment. Yes, excellent point, there should be sound barriers as a part of the project. Also, I still dont understand, all of these years of traffic, rebuilding roadways and bridges, why not bite the bullet and add a lane or allow drivers to use the shoulder during peak times like many states already do?
Mike Calise posed three important questions worthy of an answer:
1. Who promoted the necessity of that disgraceful sign,
2. Who approved it, and
3. How much money is it costing Westport residents to spoil the ambiance and obstruct the view?
How in the world did we ever manage to find a place to park during the past 3/4 century?
After all the fanfare and hype what is the true Mrs London story?
It’s quite good.
Arline, for one thing, I’m happy to report that my wife and I drove by a little while ago and it is indeed open. Also, we have ordered lunch and dessert items from time to time via curbside pickup—i.e., they bring it out to us by the front door since I have a dysfunctional immune system—and we have been very pleased with the quality. Two thumbs up!
Who thinks it’s perfect that the new hideous, electronic sign that welcomes you into the jewel of Westport, Compo Beach, has the ill-conceived owner’s name right on it? Perhaps our tasteless Recreation Department thought that the bright green letters goes well with the bright green algae that’s coming out of the freshwater dock valves at both Longshore & Compo’s marinas. Speaking to fellow boaters, I’ve been told that the Rec department’s been aware of this known health risk for years now, and it’s my guess, that it’s only a matter of time before someone gets sick. BTW. Telling me that, “It’s my new hose”, when the visible algae is pervasive throughout both marina’s freshwater systems, is a deliberate attempt to pass the buck. Clearly the town’s money could be better spent than to erect the ugliest sign yet at the beach. Take the sign down, and address the fresh water problem at the marinas! If you don’t know how to fix it, call the dock systems manufacturer. They do!
Joshua, you are correct, there are no signs anywhere, at either marina, warning the hundreds of people who may not be as wise as you that the town’s warer supply could make them ill. FYI. When I contacted the dock system manufacturer, a 20+ year employee said he it was a serious problem that should be quickly addressed properly. He went on to say it was highly unusual to have so much algae coming from a chlorinated puplic water supply. He suggested that it was likely the result of improper repairs, using the wrong plumbing materials that are causing the health hazard.
Like to see the speed signs on North actually work most of the time and be effective. Most cars speed up now when they see them. No enforcement, nobody pays any attention.
To all in search of a good, hot, fresh, reasonably priced cup of coffee….stop by Calise’s – a full service deli ! We open at 6:00 am and the coffee is ready to go ! AND…. a small cup of coffee is $1.80, a medium cup is $1.95 and a large is $2.20 ! We’ve been in town since 1955. You’ll probably run into someone you know and if not you can meet Carmine, the owner – he always has a smile on his face and is ready to help!
Maybe Mark , get a coffee pot there are some really cool ones out there, sayin’
To put it bluntly, the sign is hideous and not at all in keeping with the natural beauty of our beloved Compo Beach. And shouldn’t we be trying to REDUCE our energy consumption?
While I, too, question the need for such a sign, if one is truly needed a much more charming and beach-appropriate version would be a simple cedar-wood sign with “Open” and “Full” painted on interchangeable wooden boards hung on nails hammered into the sign. It could be made even more charming and evoke that small town, beachy vibe by asking kids to use their creativity to paint the “Open” and “Full” signs and rotate them throughout the season.
Would it be too much work for a beach employee to manually change the signs as needed? Seems like it would take about 5 minutes, tops, for each sign change, which doesn’t sound too onerous to me.
In any event, I just called Parks and Rec (203.341.5088) to voice my strong opposition to the sign and request that it be removed, and will be following up with an email to Jen Fava, Parks and Rec director (jfava@westportct.gov). I hope others will, too.