Tag Archives: Barnes & Noble

Roundup: Dogs And Wheels …

Posted on November 30, 2025 | 25 comments

A number of social norms have been broken lately.

Public language is coarser. Dress codes for Broadway shows are looser.

And dogs are having their day.

We see them everywhere: Stores. Supermarkets. Even restaurants.

(And no — they are not all service animals.)

Most are on the small side.

Some are not.

This was the scene yesterday, at Barnes & Noble:

Let’s crowd source this.

What’s the appropriate etiquette for dogs in public indoor spaces? Does it vary by size, or type of establishment? Why do owners want to bring their dogs everywhere? Why would others object? And who should make the call?

Click “Comments” below. Please use your full, real name — and let us know whether you own a dog, or not.

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Speaking of dogs: Cat Malkin writes, “Yogi Bear enjoyed seeing Santa and eating delicious treats at Earth Animal yesterday. He (Yogi) supported supported their holiday wreath sale — with 100% of the proceeds going to CT Foodshare.

“Yogi wants all pet-loving Westporters know they can bring pet food — and old towels and blankets — to Earth Animal. They’ll make sure it goes to pets in need.

“You can also bring dog and cat food to the Homes with Hope food pantry (Gillespie Center on Jesup Road, behind Barnes & Noble) and the Connecticut Humane Society (now at 863 Danbury Road, Wilton).

“Yogi says, ‘Woof, woof, woof. Happy Holidays to all!'”

Yogi and Santa. (Photo/Cat Malkin)

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Speaking of Santa: The transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas occurs smoothly.

And everywhere.

This was the scene yesterday, at Compo Beach:

(Photo/Regi Kendig)

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Last month marked the 5th anniversary of Wheels2U service.

From its beginning in 2020 during the early months of the COVID pandemic — serving a handful of riders in a portion of Westport — it has grown to cover the entire town, providing a record 3,069 rides in October alone.

Wheels2U is projected to book over 31,000 rides in the fiscal year ending June 30.

Commuters to and from Westport, seniors and families across Westport rely on it every weekday.

For just $2, the service offers curb-to-curb and curb-to-platform transportation to destinations including the Saugatuck and Greens Farms train stations, Senior Center, Jesup Green and Imperial Avenue Farmers’ Market.

Key features include:

  • Seamless technology: An app-based booking system allows riders to schedule trips and track vehicles in real time.
  • Sustainability impact: Transitioned in November to more comfortable and fuel-efficient vehicles, saving an estimated 4,100 gallons of fuel and reducing 80,000 pouds of CO₂ emissions annually (equivalent to the yearly energy use of 5 homes). A switch to electric vehicles this spring will further reduce emissions
  • Expanded service hours: Extended morning service to and from the 2 train stations to 10:30 a.m., and evening service to 9:30 pm.  Added service Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to downtown locations.
  • Exceptional rider satisfaction: Maintains a 4.9/5 average ride rating, with 95% of all reviews at 5 stars. The average wait time for a pickup is under 12 minutes.

Wheels2U

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Oyster Turkey tail mushrooms make their first appearance in our “Westport … Naturally” series today.

Nancy Axthelm spotted these edible fungi at Winslow Park.

(Photo/Nancy Axthelm)

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And finally … you may have guessed this was coming:

(Yogi Bear says, “You don’t need to be smarter than the average bear to help ‘06880.’ You just need to click here, to support the hyper-local blog that every person and dog loves. Arf!”

 

25 Comments

Posted in Beach, Local business, Transportation, Westport life

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Big Y Coming To Town?

Posted on January 23, 2024 | 24 comments

Amazon Fresh may be stale.

But a new tenant may replace the never-opened “zombie” store at the site of the old Barnes & Noble.

NBC Connecticut reports that Big Y plans to open at 1076 Post Road East — the plaza apparently abandoned by Amazon Fresh.

Before Barnes & Noble, that space was occupied by another supermarket chain: Waldbaum’s.

Big Y — headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts — is the second largest supermarket chain in southern New England, after Stop & Shop.

No further details are yet available.

24 Comments

Posted in Local business

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Roundup: Minute Man, Barnes & Noble, Brrrrrr …

Posted on December 25, 2023 | 4 comments

If it’s Christmas, the Minute Man must be wearing a Santa Claus cap.

(Photo/Matt Murray)

Now, please: Spare us the hand-wringing comments calling this “disrespect,” or a “desecration.”

The Minute Man — and his compatriots on Compo Hill, along with all the other patriots 250 years ago — fought for freedom.

Freedom from the British. For themselves. And for the right to put a Christmas hat, Easter Bunny ears, COVID mask, or anything else, on this iconic symbol of Westport, any time of year.

Okay, maybe that’s not why they fought.

But no one in Westport disrespects the Minute Man. We love him. And we love what he stands for.

If the Minute Man were to suddenly appear today, he might — after gaping at the changes that have come to the beach, and everywhere else — very well appreciate this warm, welcoming gesture.

And after learning about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, he might not mind seeing those holidays celebrated at his monument either.

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The Saugatuck Congregational Church’s peace sign — last night’s “06880” Pic of the Day — has been appreciated by many Westporters.

Far less visible is Rindy Higgins’ sign.

Tucked away on a Saugatuck Shores side street, it nonetheless conveys the same important message.

Rindy has posted a sign like this — in one form or another — at her home for decades.

“To me it’s what the holidays are all about,” she says.

“Especially now more than ever.”

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Sure, we all love the holiday lights — thanks, Al’s Angels! — on the Cribari Bridge.

But nearby in Saugatuck, at the marina by the train station, stands this very intriguing tree.

Mary Sikorski spotted it last night, after dinner at Tutti’s.

(Photo/Mary Sikorski)

Just call it the “height” of holiday happiness.

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Meanwhile, this was the scene at Barnes & Noble a couple of hours before closing time yesterday — Christmas Eve:

(Photo/Jonathan Alloy)

The checkout line stretched the length of the store.

Looks like someone — well, many someones — left a bit of shopping to the very end.

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Andy Berman spends countless hours supporting Catch a Lift, the fitness program for wounded veterans that has been embraced by Westport.

But yesterday, he took some time for fun.

If, that is, your idea of fun is swimming at Compo Beach the day before Christmas, when the temperature hovered just above freezing.

Andy’s Catch a Lift pal Adam Vengrow, and a number of other hardy folks, joined the festivities.

Adam Vengrow (standing, far left), Andy Berman (blue hat), and friends, just before they themselves turned blue.

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There’s something new at Quality Towing.

The heap of crashed cars, tow trucks and other vehicles that fills the automotive repair service lot on the Post Road just east of Saugatuck Congregational Church — often blocking the second exit from the Playhouse Square shopping center — has been cleaned up.

(Photo/Molly Alger)

It’s unclear whether the clean-up is permanent or temporary.

One thing is certain, though: It’s a Christmas miracle.

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature heads indoors.

Scott Brodie sends an image of his mother’s “Christmas cactus” plant. They bloom once a year, around the winter solstice, he says — just in time for Yule.

(Photo/Scott Brodie)

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And finally … on this day in 1815, The Handel and Haydn Society gave its first performance, in Boston. It is now the longest serving performing arts organization in the United States.

Among the works by George Frederick Handel that may have been performed that day: the “Hallelujah Chorus.”

We don’t have a recording of that event, 208 years ago. So here is the next best thing: the Staples High School Candlelight Concert, from 2012:

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Posted in Beach, Local business, Saugatuck

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Roundup: Last Push For Lyman, Eversource Slammed, Main Street Meathead …

Posted on December 25, 2022 | 11 comments

Less than 24 hours remain, to reach our goal of $250,000!

That would help rebuild every home and apartment in Lyman — our Ukrainian sister city — that can be salvaged. It would give them each a generator. It would provide a water filtration system for the town. (Click here for the first story about Westport and Lyman, with important details.)

It would get them through a dark, dangerous winter. Those brave, embattled men, women and children need to know that they are not alone.

They already know that Westport has their back. They are very, very grateful for what we’ve done.

Westporter Brian Mayer (right) and his on-the-ground support team of Richard von Groeling and Liz Olegov flank Lyman Mayor Oleksandr Zhuravlyov. Brian, Richard and Liz wear protective equipment, because they’ve just been outside. The Ukrainian and Lyman flags will soon be joined by one from Westport.

Now, on Christmas Day, let’s give them everything they need.

$250,000 sounds like a lot. But it breaks down to just $10 for every resident of Westport.

Can you spare that? If not, no worries. Someone who can, will cover you. Right?

Just click here for the credit card “Donate” button. Click the “I want to support” box; then select “Support for the City of Lyman.” You can also scroll down on that page for other donation options (mail, wire transfer and Venmo.) Or you can donate directly, via Stripe (click here). 

Meanwhile, our online auction for an oil painting of Marigny — our other sister city in France, which joins us in helping Lyman — ends at 11:59 p.m. We began the bidding at $1,000. It is now up to $1,500. Email 06880blog@gmail.com, or click “Comments” to bid; you don’t need to fill out your real (but please include your email).

This Marigny scene is being auctioned to the highest bidder.

Westporters have been supremely generous so far. We are nearing our audacious — but crucial — $250,000 goal. Every dollar helps our sister city of Lyman. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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Eversource earned props for putting crews on the road early during Friday’s wind and rain storm. The number of outages in Westport was halved throughout the day, from 700 or so to about 350.

Their performance since then has been less praise-worthy.

An “06880” reader wrote last night, just before midnight:

“I am spending the holidays with my 92-year-old homebound mom on Bayberry Ridge Road. Power has been out for the whole street since 4 a.m. Friday. Despite 40-plus hours elapsing, Eversource still has no projection for repair, citing ‘To Be Determined’ as the date when one inquires.

“They no longer even list Westport on the updated outage report, because over 99% of homes have power. This is cold comfort to residents on this street, who cannot get any information out of this vastly overpaid and underperforming public utility. With zero communication since the beginning, we worry that they’ve forgotten about us entirely.”

The reader responded at 1:04 a.m. that his power was back on. He doesn’t know if it was the result of his phone call, Tweet, or because they were about to do it anyway.

I’m keeping his complaint up though, because it’s not isolated. I’ve heard from other readers in the north end of Westport, who also had issues with Eversource.

Most seemed to understand the severity of the problem. What bothered them was Eversource’s lack of communication about when power was expected to return.

“We just want to be able to plan,” one reader said.

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Compare the situation in Lyman (top story above) with the behavior of one Very Entitled Driver downtown yesterday.

He ignored several “One Way/Do Not Enter” signs. He headed past all the cars, on 2 sides of the street, facing toward him.

Drivers stopped. One rolled down his window, and explained the driver was going the wrong way.

He couldn’t be bothered. Perhaps backing up was too difficult or time-consuming. Maybe doing so would be admitting wrongdoing, or a blow to his masculinity.

So he got out of his car. He had angry words with one of the right-way drivers.

Then he got back in his vehicle, swerved around a couple of cars, and kept driving.

All the way to the Post Road.

Very Entitled Driver — after already being told he is going the wrong way on Main Street.

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Also downtown: Our own Barnes & Noble was featured in the opening seconds of Yahoo News’ recent feature on the chain’s resurgence.

Young readers in particular have driven the opening of new (and newly designed) stores.

CEO James Daunt was interviewed by Dave Briggs. The Yahoo journalist knows what he’s talking about — he lives here in Westport, just a couple of miles from one of those slimmed-down, brighter, more open and less “library-looking” Barnes & Noble’s than the previous one.

Click here for the full Yahoo story.

Screenshot of the Yahoo story

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The Burying Hill High Tide Club has earned an “06880” mention — and props — for weekly swims at that Greens Farms beach, all the way through fall.

Now another group is earning even more awe (and raised eyebrows).

Nico Eisenberger reports: “This year we spawned a crazy cousin of the High Tide Club. Inspired by some of the hardy originals, and carried forward with an unreasonable and illogical vigor, is Club Plunge.

“We’ve done it every week since early November. It’s amazing and wonderful — and makes you think that maybe the extremophiles one sees on YouTube are really on to something.”

The group includes 8 regulars.

“We try to stay in for at least 3 minutes,” Nico says. “The screaming subsides after 1 minute, then picks up again after 2.”

No word on “weather” they ventured in yesterday.

Club Plunge at Burying Hill Beach.

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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo shows how a gifted decorator can transform beautiful plants and flowers into something even more stunning.

This is the holiday table at the home of Elena and Richard Nasereddin. She’s Catholic. He’s Muslim.

Both wish everyone in the “0688o” community — in Westport, and cyberspace — “happy holidays, and many blessings in the new year.”

(Photo/Maria Elena Nasereddin)

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And finally … Christmas music ends tonight. Whether that’s good or bad depends on your threshold for jinglyness.

But before we say goodbye (till next year) to Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Bobby Helms, Bing Crosby and Gene Autry, let’s tip our Santa hat to Johnny Marks.

He lived for many years on Green Acre Lane, off South Compo. He died in 1985 from complications of diabetes. His son still lives here.

Who was Johnny Marks?

Just the guy who wrote “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

And “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” “Run, Rudolph, Run.” “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas.” And many others.

Not bad for a Jewish kid from Mount Vernon, New York.

Merry Christmas! Oy!

 

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Posted in Beach, Downtown, Local business, Media, Politics, Transportation, Weather

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Photo Challenge #384

Posted on May 8, 2022 | 7 comments

Whatever goes around, comes around.

Westporters have watched for months, as the former Barnes & Noble on the Post Road is transformed into an Amazon Fresh grocery store.

The mid-gut interior was the subject of last week’s Photo Challenge. Fred Cantor, Will Gibson, Elaine Marino, Lynn Untermeyer Miller, Bobbie Herman, Clark Thiemann, June Rose Whittaker, Brooks Sumberg and Barbara Phillips all quickly identified Betsy Pollak’s photo. (Click here to see.)

Lynn added this great factoid: The site of a future supermarket started out — before Barnes & Noble — as a Waldbaum’s.

Meanwhile, who remembers that this Post Road location was actually the second for Barnes & Noble? The bookstore’s first Westport outlet was less than a mile east, in the space currently occupied by Bev Max.

Before that, it was a Pier One. And — waaaaay earlier — it was a bowling alley.

Unlike Amazon Fresh, that space is unlikely to return to its original roots.

Here’s today’s Photo Challenge. If you know where in Westport you’d see this intriguing sight, click “Comments” below.

(Photo/Bob Weingarten)

 

 

7 Comments

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Main Street: One Real Estate Firm’s View

Posted on July 19, 2021 | 14 comments

They’re not the Trump Organization, the mammoth real estate company. They’re not Empire State Realty, which own the Empire State Building — and commercial real estate on Westport’s Main Street.

But Admiral Real Estate Services is no slouch. The commercial real estate company focuses on retail sites in the tri-state area. You’ve seen their signs on vacant storefronts around town.

If they have their way, you’ll see fewer in the future. Admiral is bullish on Westport.

The last couple of years have not been easy, notes president and CEO Jonathan Gordon.

Norwalk’s new SoNo Collection mall — “the newest and shiniest project out there,” Gordon admits — “sucked a lot of the energy out of downtown.”

COVID brutalized merchants and landlords. Downtown Westport — and similar markets like Darien, Greenwich, Rye and Scarsdale — saw shoppers flee to online.

But as the nation emerges from the pandemic, Gordon says, “retailers are returning our calls.”

Part of the reason, he believes, is “internet fatigue. Millennials want a more experiential shopping experience. Retailers see a need to be downtown.”

One empty storefront is among the most visible in all of downtwn.

“Downtown” draws more than Westporters, Gordon says. It’s a destination for many area residents. Within a 15-minute drive, Admiral’s website says, “the  population jumps to over 150,000 with an average income exceeding $170,000, resulting in total buying power for in-store retail goods (excluding food and drink) of $4 billion+.”

One thing that Westport has over some other affluent suburbs is that while residents leave in the summer for vacations (and vacation homes), they’re replaced by equally affluent summer residents. That’s attractive to Admiral — and the properties they represent.

Despite an upturn in commercial real estate activity, there are still a number of empty storefronts. For Admiral, that includes 2 properties at the Post Road/ Main Street intersection, and 4 others on the river side of Main Street (one is the long-vacant 2-story restaurant most recently occupied by Boca and Acqua).

Boca restaurant closed in 2018. The Main Street property has been empty ever since.

Admiral also represents 2 properties on Post Road East, near Balducci’s.

For retailers looking for a new location, Gordon says, Westport’s competition is “really Greenwich.” It’s a “formidable” location, with a “nice, long retail strip, close to New York City.”

So, he says diplomatically, he tries to sell both locations.

In terms of Westport, Gordon says, “we view Main Street as one entity. Our goal is to find retailers that help other retailers be successful.” La Fenice gelateria — an Admiral tenant — is one such place.

“People who get a gelato will go next door to shop,” Gordon notes. “If they come at night, they’ll go window shopping.”

The new Barnes & Noble — not an Admiral property — is another example of “exactly what downtown needs.”

27 Main Street is another Admiral property.

So how tough a sell is Westport?

“Everything is tough these days,” Gordon says. “We may drag people there by the scruffs of their neck. But we show them the free parking lots. We give them marketing materials, with specific breakdowns of population, income and consumer purchases. We help them assess the viability of a site. Seeing downtown is more powerful for them than anything.”

In the past, he notes, potential retailers have been “surprised at the disconnect between the number of vacant stores, and the potential.”

Coming out of COVID, he hopes, those numbers — and that disconnect — will diminish. In their place will be a new mix of retailers, and eager shoppers from far and wide.

14 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Local business, Real estate, Restaurants

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Roundup: Pops, Pride, Paw Prints …

Posted on June 6, 2021 | 2 comments

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In many ways, yesterday was the first “normal” day in nearly 15 months.

Hundreds of people gathered at Jesup Green for a joyful Pride celebration. hundreds more swarmed Compo Beach, or took boats out on the Sound. At night, the Levitt Pavilion opened its gates for the Westport Schools’ annual Pops Concert.

The previous night’s show was moved by weather to the Staples High auditorium. But last night was as close to old times as anyone could hope for.

The crowd was limited to smaller numbers than usual. But everything else was the same: spectacular music, of near-professional quality. An appreciative, picnic-toting audience.

And, yes, pride and joy, in celebrating our kids, and our town, together again.

Last night at the Levitt Pavilion. (Photo/Dan Woog)

Candi Innaco conducts the band for the final time. She is retiring after 36 years as a music instructor. (Photo/Jerri Graham Photography)

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Speaking of Staples: On Friday, the school held its first-ever LGBTQ Art Show.

Two dozen works of all kind were displayed prominently in the main hallway.

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Tim Lukens was enjoying yesterday’s weather, listening to music and quietly weeding his flower garden, when he came “literally 6 inches — nose to nose” — with the black bear wandering through Westport’s woods. This encounter was near Wilton Road, just north of Merritt Parkway Exit 41.

Here’s the aftermath:

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Barnes & Noble’s Westport store is internationally famous.

Well, at least it got a shoutout in the Financial Times.

A long profile on James Daunt — the Briton who rescued the small Waterstones book store chain from Amazon, and is attempting to do the same now for B&N — mentioned our local shop.

Daunt used the pandemic to rearrange layouts. Stores — including the newly opened one downtown — look less like “libraries”; round tables make them more browser-friendly. Click here for the full story. (Hat tips: Henry Engler, Jon Fraade)

Barnes & Noble Westport: now browser-friendly.

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If you’re like many Westport families, you’ve got a few basketballs lying around the house (or garage).

Staples High School sophomore (and player) Zach Brody wants them. He’s organized a collection for Full Court Peace, a non-profit that brings hoops and equipment to communities that need them.

Basketballs will be collected this coming week (June 7 to 14), in a bin in Staples’ main hallway.

Can’t make it to the high school? Email zbrody52@gmail.com to arrange for pickup.

 

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Speaking of sports: The Staples High School sailing team completed another successful season. The varsity had a 5-0 sweep at the Silver cup, and tied Greenwich for 3rd at the state regatta.

The Wreckers compete against other Fairfield County high schools, both private and public. Cedar Point is the host club, and provides the boats.

The Staples High School sailing team.

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While a Netflix movie is being filmed in Westport, the Country Playhouse parking lot has been rented to the production crew. It serves as a staging area, through June 16.

Most Winslow Park dog lovers realize it’s a private lot, and heed the signs and staff. Some, though, ignore them, and park anyway.

WCP general manager Beth Huisking says, “We love Westport, and want to be a valued member of the community. To be reciprocated with disrespect from some community members is disheartening.

“When we close the lot it is because we need the space (the hour or so before a performance), or because something is going on that requires us to use all spaces.

“In the case of the production crew, with large trucks and vans pulling through the lot, we want to make sure everyone (people, animals, even cars) are safe. So please, until June 16, park at the Winslow lot on Compo Road North. Thank you.”

One of the many trucks in the Westport Country Playhouse parking lot. (Photo/Dan Woog)

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And finally … today is the 63rd anniversary of Prince’s birth. The singer-songwriter and producer died in 2016, at 57.

https://vimeo.com/fourthrowfilms/review/559173229/e9a3ef9587

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Posted in Arts, Environment, Local business, Sports, Staples HS, Teenagers, Westport Country Playhouse

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Barnes & Noble Back In Business

Posted on February 24, 2021 | 6 comments

Less than 2 months after closing their Post Plaza location, Barnes & Noble is back.

The new site — the former Renovation Hardware — is smaller than the previous store, a couple of miles east.

Restoration Hardware was the previous tenant, for 20 years. For 80 years before that, this was the Fine Arts movie theater.

But there’s plenty of room for books of all types, games, puzzles and the like. The space is bright, fresh and airy. The shelves — as a press release noted — are “bespoke oak.”

There is no café. “There are plenty of good places for coffee and food downtown,” an employee says. “We want to be a good neighbor, and help everyone.”

Around noon, a steady stream of customers enjoyed downtown Westport’s newest retailer.

(Photos/Dan Woog)

 

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Roundup: Celestial Convergence, Barnes & Noble, Downtown Employees, More

Posted on December 22, 2020 | 3 comments

It was a bit too cloudy and foggy yesterday to really see the convergence of Saturn and Jupiter. It’s been nearly 400 years since the planets passed so close to each other, and nearly 800 years since their alignment — seeming to form one “Christmas star” — occurred at night.

But that didn’t stop a number of Westporters from heading to Compo Beach to look.

Jo Shields reports, “I heard someone say there was a lot of applause and cheering on South Beach. But then someone said it might have just been a plane.”

Here’s what she saw, on the jetty:

(Photo/Jo Shields)

It’s official!

Barnes & Noble signed its new lease yesterday, for the former Restoration Hardware site. “06880” reported that the deal was imminent last week. The opening is slated for February. David Adam Realty was the realtor.

Restoration Hardware moved out in June. Soon, Barnes & Noble will move in.(Photo/Chip Stephens)

Last summer, as the pandemic (first) raged, the Westport Downtown Merchants Association partnered with ASF, on a fundraiser to support local businesses. The community helped raise over $2,700.

Last month, the WDMA asked retailers to nominate employees who have gone “above and beyond.”

There were many stories about heroes who put in extra hours, offered creative ideas to keep businesses afloat, provided extraordinary customer service, or remained strong in uncertain times.

Now the WDMA has awarded 26 of those very deserving employees $100 Downtown Dollar eGift Cards. Congratulations and thanks go to:

Karyl Scott (Massage Envy)
Kimberly Lavigne (Sorelle Gallery)
Francisco Moreno (Winfield Street Deli)
Henry Potter (Athleta)
Ellyn Weitzman (Franny’s Farmacy)
Stephanie Soares (Don Memo)
Alba Antun (Don Memo)
Zach Hinman (Don Memo)
Owen Wiseman (Kawa Ni)
Kelly Clement (Kawa Ni)
Marco Almanza (Kawa Ni)
Lux Bond & Green Team
Paulino Garcia (The Whelk)
Lupita Cristostomo (The Whelk)
Matt Balga (The Whelk)
Julie Cook (Savannah Bee)
Will Newman (New England Hemp Farm)
John Vaast (Walrus Alley)
Patricia Andrade (Splash of Pink)
Isabelle Johansen (Cotelac)
Jinkuk Hong (Manna Toast)
Victor Mejia (Manna Toast)
Jessica Zito (Manna Toast)
Karen Martella (Catherine H)

The ink is barely dry on the new federal COVID relief package.

But this afternoon (Tuesday, December 22, 2:30 p.m.), Congressman Jim Himes and officials of the Small Business Administration join a live Zoom discussion to explain it. Click here for the link; the passcode is 509950.

Congressman Jim Himes

Jewish Senior Services is located in Bridgeport, but its Westport roots are strong and deep.

Ken Wirfel and Alan Phillips are the 2 most recent board chairs. Dozens of Westporters are board members and/or supporters, including the Nevas, Kassen and Magidas families.

Scores of Westport relatives are in long-term care there, have gone through short-term rehabilitation, or utilize JSS’ home care or community services.

Yesterday, the first doses of Pfizer’s COVID vaccine were administered there, to nearly 300 people. CEO Andrew Banoff called it “a day we will never forget.”

Although JSS’s mission is grounded in Jewish traditions, well over half of the residents and clients are not Jewish. They are “the largest faith-based not-for- profit senior care community in Connecticut.”

Amy Schneider captured the winter solstice sunset — the first one of the season — last night.

Here’s the “bright” side to winter: For the next 6 months, every day there’s a little more light.

(Photo/Amy Schneider)

The Saugatuck River Dancers keep dancing — and keep raising funds for suicide prevention.

Suzanne Harvey’s latest choreography is Meghan Trainor’s “Holidays.” She created it to share the joy of dance and the holidays with others. Tomorrow (December 23) is the 28th anniversary of her brother Michael‘s death. He was just 15 when he took his life.

Hilary Solder, Jill Alcott, Deb Montner, Michael Chait and Eva Rawiszer joined Suzanne in dance. The video is below. Click here for a link to donate to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

And finally … on this day in 1984, subway vigilante Bernhard Goetz shot 4 would-be muggers on a Manhattan subway. Five years later, he was part of a Billy Joel song.

 

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Barnes & Noble Nears Downtown Move

Posted on December 14, 2020 | 15 comments

Growing up, Gordon Joseloff loved the Remarkable Book Shop. Klein’s books, too.

For years after the Main Street stores closed, he dreamed of bringing a bookstore back downtown.

Joseloff died last month. But now that’s almost a reality — in a building his family has owned for years.

Joseloff’s cousin Bruce Beinfield – an architect who also grew up here, and remembers the bookstores fondly — is handling negotiations for the Post Road East building.

For decades, it housed the Fine Arts Theater. From 1999 through last spring, it was Restoration Hardware.

Soon — perhaps right after the holidays — Barnes & Noble will move from its current location, to the downtown site. Earlier today, Beinfield confirmed that a deal is imminent.

Barnes & Noble is poised to move here …

The Barnes & Noble chain was acquired last year by Elliott Management Corporation. Their goal is to give local managers more leeway in operating each store.

At 10,000 square feet, the new Barnes & Noble will be smaller than its current store. It moved into the shopping center near Angelina’s after outgrowing its original Post Road location further east (most recently, Pier 1).

Beinfield says that once the deal is finalized, Barnes & Noble hopes to move as soon as possible. Applications for signage are already on file with town officials.

Plans for a new Starbucks café inside have not yet been filed. However, the back of the building will have food. As reported on “06880” last month, Basso Restaurant & Wine Bar will soon replace Matsu Sushi (the former Fine Arts 3 theater) on Jesup Road.

So what will become of the current Barnes & Noble location? There’s no official word, but rumors include Amazon Go — the high-tech, automated, geofenced app-driven store selling prepared foods, meal kits, groceries and alcohol.

If that happens, it would be a full circle of sorts. Before Barnes & Noble, that building was a Waldbaum’s supermarket.

… from here.

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