Lines Return to Trader Joes
With a possible holiday rush of customers planning to remain home this New Year - the outdoor, socially distant queues that became a symbol of life during the pandemic returned to Trader Joe’s today as the maximum indoor capacity for the grocery store had been reached.
Weston’s Cobb’s Mill Inn Opens Once More for Estate Sale
Laura Pappalo Friedman, Owner, sits in what used to be the historic Cobbs Mill Inn upper dining room as a sale of her and her late husband Drew Friedman’s estate takes place.
For the past few weeks, and through Saturday, the historic Cobbs Mill Inn on the Saugatuck River in Weston has opened its doors once again to the community - bringing life back into the shuttered Weston local business. Although the famous restaurant has taken the form of a large private estate sale, many former customers and community members could be found perusing the several floors of items as memories of dinners, weddings, and other occasions in the riverside institution flooded back.
The main floor dining room.
The Inn was purchased by the late Drew Friedman, a Westporter, in 2011 while in foreclosure. After renovations and updates, Friedman re-opened the Cobbs Mill Inn restaurant with live music throughout the week, as well as educational series, forums, and other community based events. The Inn closed down in 2016 after the death of Friedman, and has remained mostly quiet since.
“He loved conversation and education” Laura Friedman said of her late husband, whom she had married in 2013. Laura walked the restaurant dining rooms while talking with customers, listening to stories of anniversary dinners or weddings that they had attended in the space decades earlier over the sound of the waterfall that cascades along the building.
The property has had dozens of owners over the past 200+ years, but began truly as a restaurant in 1934 under the leadership of Alice DeLamar and Jacques DeWolfe. DeLamar’s father was in the salvage business, which allowed her to procure the original pewter bars from the sunken French passenger ship The Normandie, two of which still remain in the restaurant today. The property’s namesake, Frank Cobb (Editor of the former New York World Newspaper), acquired the property in 1912 as a summer retreat.
The waterfall-viewing bar on the lower level of the Cobbs Mill Inn. The bar was salvaged from the sunken ship The Normandie in 1942, and is one of the three surviving Parisian made pewter bars moved to Weston by Alice DeLamar in 1946.
Even with its vast history, the future is unknown for the property. “There’s been a lot of interest in the property the past few weeks” Laura Friedman said when asked about what may happen to the property, although there’s no word on whether the interest is in continuing with its food & hospitality tradition, or using the space for other ventures.
The entrance to the main dining room at The Cobbs Mill Inn.
The Friedman family estate sale, organized by Westport-based Deering Rose Organizers, will continue Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at 12 Old Mill Road, Weston, or online. After Saturday, it’s unknown when the historic Cobbs Mill Inn may open its doors again.
Modern Grocery Store, Big Changes to the Former Barnes & Noble Space
A digital rendering of the plaza’s planned grocery store tenant in what was Barnes & Noble Booksellers . (Frederick William Hoag Architect, Planning & Zoning Application).
Customers were met with signs of closure.
Customers noticed this week that Barnes & Noble’s anticipated move downtown had started when they found the bookseller’s doors locked. Today workers moved quickly to remove the lettering from the front of the building, which according to Planning & Zoning applications, is slated to be completely remodeled; the front of the building demolished.
The Post Plaza at 1076 Post Road East has been owned by The Field Group family since 1972 and will undergo many modernizations in the next several months. According to Alix Field, “Our family has owned Post Plaza since 1972 and we’re pretty excited about the renovations and property work to be done there in 2021. We have always enjoyed being a part of the Greens Farms neighborhood and are proud to bring about the first upgrade of the plaza since 1997. We know our community will be thrilled with the changes.”
The Barnes & Noble lettering was removed today in anticipation of the facade’s upcoming demolition.
The application includes architectural designs prepared by Westport’s Frederick William Hoag Architecture firm. The plan shows a new grocery store will be replacing the book store, with local rumours being that Amazon Fresh will be the new tenant. The plaza will also receive new landscaping, pavement, lighting, as well as electric vehicle charging spaces among other updates.
Basso Restaurant: Hopeful Opening This Week Brings Nightlife to Jesup Road
Co-owner Gilda Scorza, left, stands with Co-owner and Chef Renato Donzelli in their newly finished restaurant space at 33 Jesup Road, the former home of Matsu Sushi. They are hopeful to open this week to the public, pending their liquor license approval from the State.
Basso Restaurant and Wine Bar has been a 15 year veteran on the food scene of Norwalk, and with the passion of owners Gilda and Renato - the renowned mediterranean cuisine and live music will now fill the Jesup Road area of Downtown Westport. The husband/wife duo began work on the 33 Jesup Road space in the early Fall, renovating and remodeling the former sushi bar with interior architectural design by Stamford based CPG Architects.
The space includes a main level with dining room seating as well as a full bar overlooking the large copper pizza open, a loft dining space, a small private dining room, and outdoor dining along Jesup Road. Scorza added that they were finalizing plans to extend their outdoor seating into the alleyway between the restaurant and next-door 23 Jesup Road - allowing more customers to enjoy the outdoors in warmer weather.
Chef & Owner Renato Donzelli tends to the wood-fired pizza oven.
Cuisine will be a warm mix of mediterranean style meals designed and prepared by Chef Renato, who is Venezuelan and Italian, and will include favorites from their former Norwalk location. Some of the favorites include authentic Napoletana wood-fired pizza, Tapas, seafood dishes, Italian pastas, and signature salads. Meals will be available dine-in or take-out.
Although restaurants are currently bound to State COVID-19 restrictions, Basso has applied for hours that will go until 2:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays with live music until midnight, when the restrictions are lifted. They hope to be open by New Year’s Eve, however if not, plan to be open by the first week of 2021.
Learn more about Basso at their website: bassobistrocafe.com
Busy Day for GG & Joe
GG & Joe, a locally owned coffee & health foods shop, was busy this afternoon as a line was maintained outside for hours as locals opted for healthier options today.
Good Outdoor Dining Day
Relatively warm temperatures and sunshine filled up the outdoor dining section of Rye Ridge Deli this morning.
Bel Mondo: a Home Away from Home while Shopping Local
Last minute shoppers are happy to find a home-away-from-home at Bel Mondo home center at 993 Post Road East, across from Starbucks. The shop is locally owned by Heidi Thrun, who started the business eight years ago to blend her passion for interior design and wanting to give customers a warm, inviting place to shop and decorate their own homes. Thrun said she was inspired by her mother’s 45 year run of owning her own design business, and is grateful for the support of locals supporting other locally owned shops like hers. “Without the support of the community, I think a lot of the local shops wouldn’t be here still” she said regarding the Spring season, which closed her shop for three months. “We’re all really grateful.”
Bel Mondo, 993 Post Road East, will be open today until 3:30 today for any last minute shoppers, and online at belmondowestport.com.
Age of Reason: Westport’s Oldest Locally-Owned Toy Store
Opened in 1983, Age of Reason toy store has been serving the Westport community for decades, and generations. Located at the end of the Post Road Bridge, 4 Post Road West, the shop features smart toys and a specially curated selection of games and activities for kids of all ages and interests, including many classic options.
Owner Dina Burger has run the shop for its nearly 38 years of business - which she believes makes the store one of the oldest locally-owned businesses in the community, and certainly the oldest locally-owned toy store. She was excited to talk about her connection to generations of local families as she explained that “some parents who used to shop here for their own children now come back to shop for their grandchildren - their children’s’ children - years later.” When asked about business this holiday season, the former Westporter explained a scenario known by many Mom & Pop shops this year, saying that “shopping has changed. It’s been slow - many choose to stay home and shop instead” while adding that some come in when their online orders weren’t correct, or simply weren’t delivered on time.
Dina Burger’s toy shop, Age of Reason, will be open on Christmas Eve until 4:00 PM for all last minute gifts, including private appointments and home deliveries.
Plumed Serpent Wins Best Decorated Window Display
The holiday window display at Plumed Serpent, which won the Grand Prize for Best Decorated Window in the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce townwide contest. Photo by Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce.
The Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce and Westport Downtown Merchants’ Association announced the 2020 winners for Best Decorated Window Display. The townwide contest was judged by the public through online voting.
Results:
Best Mom & Pop Shop Window: The Plumed Serpent Bridal and Evening Wear
Best National Chain Window: Anthropologie
Best Restaurant / Deli Window: Joe's Pizza
Best Non Retail Window: Artistex Salon and Spa
Grand Prize for Most Overall Votes: The Plumed Serpent
Stocking-Up on Farmers’ Market Finds Before the Holiday
The Westport Farmers’ Market was open today due to Thursday’s holiday for those stocking up on their favorite farm-to-table finds. The vendors were busy today, like Seacoast Mushrooms based out of Mystic Connecticut. The Farmers’ Market will be open next week on its usual day, Thursday, in the Gilbertie’s Nursery Greenhouses.