In walkable cities around the world, bridges connect one side of a waterway to another.
Venice’s Rialto, Florence’s Ponte Vecchio, Pari’s Pont Neuf, and just about any bridge in Amsterdam, are wonderful connections for strolling, shopping and dining.
In Westport, the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge might as well be the George Washington or Triborough, in terms of pedestrians’ willingness to cross it.
It does not unite the two sides of the Saugatuck River. Instead — in our minds, at least — it separates them.
The Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge spans — but does not really connect — two sides of the river. (Photo/Harrison Gordon)
Try this test: When you hear “downtown,” what comes to mind? Main Street, Church Lane, Parker Harding Plaza, the Library — right?
You probably don’t think of the west bank, just a few yards away.
However, a few recent developments might bring a new focus to the other side of the river.
Stephen Kempson is expanding. The British custom tailor is adding 700 square feet, in space previously occupied by Age of Reason.
Several years ago, Kempson inquired about the property. Then COVID hit. As parents searched for educational toys for their homebound children, business boomed.
But in April, after 40 years, owner Nina Berger closed her store.
Kempson is now adding a custom women’s collection, with exciting colors and textures. Renovations should be completed by mid-September.
Post Road West, reflected in the Stephen Kempson window. (Photo/Dan Woog)
A replacement for Winfield Street Delicatessen, next door to Stephen Kempson, will open before that.
The owners of Arezzo — the Italian restaurant around the corner — were eager to take that space. They’re adding salads, sandwiches, paninis and more to the breakfast and lunch menu.
That’s not all. Bella Bridesmaids took over the place next door to it. The Lifeworx eldercare agency expanded too.
Westport River Gallery and Laura Bazante Stylist continue to thrive. So does Noya Jewelry, across Riverside Avenue.
Across the street, work continues on National Hall. The former site of several restaurants — before that, a boutique hotel, furniture store, and (much earlier), a bank, newspaper office and the town’s meeting hall — will soon become corporate offices for AIG.
That won’t bring anyone through its doors. But it will provide a steady base of customers for businesses nearby.
National Hall (Photo/Dave Dellinger)
The changes on the west bank of the Saugatuck River are exciting. They’ll be followed (at some point) by new parking options at the Parker Harding and Jesup Green lots.
Will all that be enough to entice folks to walk a few yards over the Saugatuck River bridge — about the same distance as from Anthropologie on Main Street, to Cold Fusion?
I don’t know.
And I know the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge will never be as beautiful as the Rialto, Ponte Vecchio or Pont Neuf,
But it’s a lot nicer than the George Washington or Triborough.
(Every day, “06880” covers Westport retail, restaurants, real estate and more. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Will humans follow dogs across the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge? (Photo/Maxx Crowley)
