If there’s one thing that unites Westporters today, it’s the past.
From this blog’s “Friday Flashback” and “Then & Now” teardown features, to comments from readers, we think of our town in terms of landmarks that no longer exist.
Relative newcomers do it too. In just the past couple of days, I’ve heard folks lament the loss of Saugatuck Sweets and Carvel. (No one mentioned Savvy Smoker. Go figure.)
(Photo/Jennifer Izzo)
This summer, MoCA\CT examines the past.
And Westporters are invited to play a key, fun — and very interactive — role.
Inspired by the new exhibit “Looking for History,” featuring Ellen Harvey’s “The Disappointed Tourist” — with themes of memory, loss and place — a special program on July 16 will look at our own history.
Harvey created 4 new paintings, based on local submissions: The Remarkable Book Shop, Cedar Brook Café, Bloodroot and Allen’s Clam House. They’ll serve as starting points for a broader community dialogue.
The Remarkable Book Shop
On July 16 (at MoCA\CT, 19 Newtown Turnpike), “06880” founder Dan Woog will chat with Harvey, and Westport preservationist Ed Gerber. We’ll talk about the cultural and emotional significance of lost places. It’s called “The CORA Foundation Community Conversation with Ellen Harvey + Dan Woog.”
And we’ll include your favorites. Or the ones you miss the most.
We want you to submit your choices in any or all of 4 categories:
- Gone Too Soon
- Place You Thought Would Last Forever
- What a Cool Hangout!
- Just One More Bite.
Email your choices (and, if you’d like, a story to go with them) to 06880blog@gmail.com.
At the end of the evening the audience will vote, to crown one favorite missed location.
See you on July 16. Don’t “miss” this!
(Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on July 16. The program begins at 6. Click here to register.)
Allen’s Clam House
Is that a 1950 Chevy parked by Carvel? I used to go to that Carvel a lot. Thanks for sharing and I’m sure many remember it.
Does anyone have a picture of the original Saugatuck Rowing Association “club” house, the predecessor to the current clubhouse?
The Ships, Oscar’s, Klein’s, Max’s, Country Gal, Onion Alley, Mario’s, Peter’s Market
Soup’s on..
Chubby Lanes, the Ocean House,le Chambord
Mario’s and The Peppermill I thought would last. They were great places!
The Red Barn is at the cutting edge of community memory and erasure explored by the MoCA\CT exhibit.
In the announcement of the Red Barn Ice Rink planned by the Westport Weston Family Y, did you notice how it never said whether the building will be torn down, or even whether it still exists?
Instead, it referred to “the Red Barn site.” Aside from the merits of the planned ice rink, notice the elision in this PR work of art: “The Red Barn was a place where Westport came together for decades. Now it will be again.” The Y successfully got headlines about an ice rink, without getting headlines such as, “Y proposes to tear down beloved Red Barn restaurant.”
Perhaps the Red Barn isn’t even there anymore? It may exist only in community memory.
Links:
https://06880danwoog.com/2026/06/11/y-unveils-plan-for-red-barn-site/
https://redbarnicearena.com/
https://06880danwoog.com/2021/04/18/opinion-wondering-about-the-red-barn/
Will there be a zoom link for the program??
Is this only for food establishments?If not, I would say Westport Lanes and Westport Golf Range and miniature golf could be included. However, they didn’t exist after 1983.
Big top and dairy queen and ships corner!
Ace Hardware!
Westport Community Gardens.
All the Westport movie theaters + Garden Cinemas.
Restaurant Zanghi.
Mario’s
Kleins and The Selective Eye
I miss Bill Meyer behind home plate.
Places come and go, it’s the people.
Soups On!
The Olde Bridge Grill & Dave Reynolds
Players Tavern
The Ships Lantern
The Red Galleon
all died🥲
Allen’s Clam House was murdered‼️💀☠️
Lobster Bisque at The Ships .
I’m excited to hear about all these places — if you have stories you’d like to share about the places I painted — The Remarkable Bookshop, Cedarbrook Cafe, Allen’s Clam House and Bloodroot, do please send them to me and I’ll put them on the website for The Disappointed Tourist. You can also still submit sites to be painted. . . .https://disappointedtourist.org/submit-a-site/