The bad news: Weston Center lost its only restaurant a year ago.
The good news: It now has a dive bar.
So far, The Chase seems to be doing better than its predecessor, The Lunch Box.
Both are owned and operated by the husband-and-wife team of Josh and Jessica Tolk. And both are examples of the changing tastes and demographics — and the effects of COVID — on Weston.
Josh and Jessica Tolk.
Tolk — a commercial realtor — has worked with Weston Center since 1990. He and his wife bought the popular Lunch Box restaurant — the only place to eat (besides Georgetown or Westport) in 2014. They served breakfast, lunch and dinner, 7 days a week.
2019 was their best year. Then came the pandemic — and new arrivals, from Manhattan and Brooklyn.
“People’s eating habits changed,” Josh says. “They’re willing to hop in their car, and spend more money in fancier places. That’s why the Sherwood Diner closes early now.”
Three years ago, the Lunch Box ended breakfast.
Tolk — who grew up in Trumbull, and wrestled at Fairfield Prep — fondly remembers Westport bar/restaurants like Masters and Pumpernickel Pub. The only similar place now, he says, is the Black Duck.
He and Jessica missed those places. So they decided to recreate one, right there in Weston.
They spent 9 months making design and structural changes. A new entrance now directly faces Weston Road (Route 57).
On Memorial Day weekend, The Chase (named for the Tolks’ dog) was ready.
It wasn’t even a soft launch. The owners opened the doors, and hoped people would come.
They did.
Inside, they found the the trappings of a dive bar: beer cans from Tolk’s decades-old collection. Neon signs. A juke box. TVs in front; video games in back. Pizza and fried food. (The menu will be expanded soon.)
Beer cans galore …
It’s almost all bar seating, and high tops. There are 3 regular tables.
The only things lacking from a true dive bar, Tolk jokes, are “sawdust and filthy bathrooms.”
Soon, people were 3 deep at the bar.
… and a down-home vibe.
They keep coming.
They’re all ages — parents looking to socialize after the kids go to bed. Older folks happy to hang out. Restaurant workers from Westport, Norwalk, Bethel, Redding and Ridgefield, unwinding after their own places close.
The Chase opens at 3 p.m. Many patrons are there at last call — anywhere between 12:30 and 1:30 a.m.
On a recent night, Josh says, it was filled with “local families with kids, landscapers and a Hell’s Angel. I’d accomplished what I wanted!”
People “were caught off guard” when The Chase opened, Josh notes. There was some negativity on social media, but many more positive comments.
“It’s still early,” the owner says. “We’re going to grow organically.”
Meanwhile — with the Lunch Box closed — Westonites are clamoring for breakfast again. (Go figure.)
A new spot may open up nearby.
Watch this space — and, from a spot at The Chase, Weston Center — for news.
(Click here for The Chase website. Click here for the Instagram: @thechasebar. Click here for the Facebook page.)
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The Weston Lunch Box was a cherished tradition for decades.
When I had a Summer job at what was then called Harpers Weston Service Station, they would let me come in the back door where the kitchen was and get a cheeseburger for lunch, which I would eat even though I was covered with motor oil and grease. Now you can’t get breakfast at the Weston Center, either at Lilys (formerly Peters Market) or at The Chase, which is ridiculous. Friends and neighbors used to stop by for breakfast after dropping their kids off at school and could talk over coffee and eggs. People on the Ambulance Crew or the Fire Department could get breakfast sent to the Firehouse when they had to refill the Ambulance or pack hose back on the trucks after a fire. People who had been around town for years – since WWII – could meet for company with people of similar age for conversation. If The Chase wants to open a dive bar, then in addition to the awful bathrooms and the sawdust on the floor, they need to add a beat up old pool table, like the Horsehoe in Fairfield, a true dive if I’ve ever seen one!
Surfside, the Bridge, the Duck and the Saloon! Good luck Josh!
This betrays my lack of Weston “situational awareness” but I am wondering if anything “situationally appropriate” has been done with the former Cobb’s Mill Inn.
Lily’s now has the freedom to expand to a daily Breakfast menu without restrictions. Hopefully they will take advantage of the opportunity.
What is this restaurant fascination with standing up at tall tables? Why not sit at a normal table while enjoying one’s meal instead of shifting from one foot to another. Just wondering….
I’m almost walking distance from The Chase, and I couldn’t be happier. I loved The Lunch Box and was sad to see it go but it was clear that change was needed. Josh has poured his soul into decorating The Chase from his personal collection and Jessica must be loving the freed up space at their home. After a dozen visits, I’m still finding cool stuff in the nooks and crannies. iIt’s a great vibe and I plan to be a regular!
I really wanted to like The Chase because everyone in Weston wants this location to succeed. The Lunch Box had been part of the town for generations, and while it certainly wasn’t perfect, it filled an important role. It was the place where families grabbed a casual meal, kids met after school, and neighbors ran into each other. When it closed, Weston didn’t just lose a restaurant—it lost its only everyday gathering place.
The Chase has done a nice job updating the exterior of the building, and I appreciate the investment they’ve made in the property. Ironically, other businesses in the same development haven’t been allowed to make similar exterior improvements. Unfortunately, the inside experience doesn’t live up to the fresh new look.
The biggest disappointment is the menu. Marketing yourself as a dive bar doesn’t mean the food has to be an afterthought. In fact, some of the best dive bars anywhere are known for having outstanding burgers, wings, sandwiches, chili, and other simple comfort food. A great dive bar serves food people crave.
Instead, the menu is very limited, the prices are high compared to many pubs and neighborhood bars nearby, and the food I tried was honestly a significant step down from what The Lunch Box served. This was such a great opportunity to create a simple, modern menu that people would come back for over and over again. Great burgers, crispy wings, fresh salads, sandwiches, and a handful of signature items would have gone a long way. Instead, you get things like cheesesteak egg rolls that don’t really give the restaurant an identity.
I also don’t think COVID was ultimately what doomed The Lunch Box. Like every restaurant, they struggled when people couldn’t gather, but many restaurants adapted incredibly well. They pivoted to takeout, family meals, meal kits, and even sold ingredients directly to customers. Places like Little Pub sold uncooked burger patties, fresh salmon, salsa by the pint, wine, and other staples to keep customers engaged. Just as importantly, they stayed connected with their customers through weekly emails promoting specials, holidays, sporting events, catering, and community happenings.
The Lunch Box never seemed to embrace that kind of marketing or evolve with changing customer expectations. The food had become mediocre long before COVID, and without giving people new reasons to visit, it slowly lost relevance.
That’s why The Chase feels like such a missed opportunity. This wasn’t just another restaurant opening—it was a chance to create the neighborhood pub Weston has never really had. The town still needs a place where people can grab a great meal any day of the week, not just a bar that opens at 4 p.m. and stays open until 2 a.m.
I genuinely hope The Chase succeeds because Weston deserves a thriving local business in that space. But success won’t come from calling it a dive bar. It will come from becoming the place people think about when they want a great burger, excellent wings, a fresh salad, or an easy family dinner. That’s the kind of local spot this town has been waiting for.
And for the love of this community and for taste in general, please do not get an embalming table for customers to eat and drink at. That is just too creepy and icky even for a dive bar.