Thursday, March 11, 2010
The Planning & Zoning Commission is likely to approve a resolution for Burgers, Shakes & Fries to begin revamping its restaurant on the Post Road, at the site of the former Bruegger's.
There are few places in Darien to grab a burger, but before the year's close, residents may well see Burgers, Shakes & Fries open its doors on the Post Road. The restaurant, its current location in Greenwich, specializes in fresh beef patties, hot fries; and yes—diners can get a shake with that too.Owner of the Greenwich restaurant, Kory Wollins, came before the Planning & Zoning Commission on Tuesday evening. His current location is too cramped to meet his customers' cravings, he said. He's planning to move in to 800 Post Rd, the site of the former Bruegger's, which closed just months after its opening last July. "What we lose in our present location is the ability to eat in. We want to keep the industrial feel but to also meet and exceed…
41.078821
-73.468333
Bruegger's Baked Fresh
800 Post Rd
Burgers Shakes & Fries
/articles/new-burger-joint-coming-to-downtown
15628
/locations/305416
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
The coming months will see a number of Post Road restaurants open for business.
Harper's, 319 Post RoadOpening: Late AprilIt's 'Ciao Centro,' and 'Hello Harper's,' for Darien, as restaurateur Joseph Sandolo plans to open his new American restaurant and bar at the former Italian restaurant's Post Road location in late April. The property at 319 Post Road was built by Sandolo's father in the 1970s, and operated as Harper's Restaurant in the 1980s under different tenants. When Centro's lease ended last fall, Sandolo decided to open his own restaurant in its place. Harper's, circa 2010, will serve up fresh, high quality American food like steaks, salads, and fish, said Sandolo; plus the "best margaritas in town." Renovations to the inside of the building are well underway. Most of what was Centro's has been gutted, and …
41.08694
-73.460219
/articles/sneak-peak-dariens-new-restaurant-lineup
/locations/305417
41.076243
-73.471216
/articles/sneak-peak-dariens-new-restaurant-lineup
/locations/305418
41.077847
-73.469571
/articles/sneak-peak-dariens-new-restaurant-lineup
/locations/305419
41.074741
-73.472724
1077 Post Rd
Cava Wine Bar
/articles/sneak-peak-dariens-new-restaurant-lineup
/locations/305420
41.090618
-73.455491
71 Post Rd
Chipotle Mexican Grille
/articles/sneak-peak-dariens-new-restaurant-lineup
/locations/305421
Monday, March 8, 2010
A new American bistro and bar is on track to open for business in just over a month.
The sign may still read "Centro Ristorante & Bar," but inside, little remains of the former Italian restaurant. "Different, right?" said restaurateur Joseph Sandolo, on a walk through the Post Road property. "Beautiful, right?"The walls, once bright blue and yellow, now wear a lick of rich crimson; tiles give way to dark wood floors, and the split-level dining room is a thing of the past. Soon too will the outdoor signage change, said Sandolo, as Harper's, an American bistro and bar, is on track to open for business in late April."That's the plan," said Sandolo, "But you know—I know—some things take longer than anticipated."And Sandolo would know. The restaurateur owns four restaurants in Stamford and Greenwich: John the Baker, Luigi's, …
41.08694
-73.460219
Centro Ristorante & Bar
319 Post Rd
/articles/ciao-centro-hello-harpers
14955
/locations/303112
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Shaw's sale to Stop & Shop might rekindle plans to revamp the commercial district on Heights Road.
When Shaw's wheels its shopping carts out of the Goodwives Shopping Center and Stop & Shop moves in, perhaps little will change: a new sign will go up, and Darienites will have the luxury of stopping and shopping on two sides of town. Or, perhaps, the Noroton Heights commercial district will finally see the beginnings of a major makeover that some officials say is long overdue.Owner SuperValu Inc. announced last Friday plans to close and sell all 18 Connecticut Shaw's supermarkets. Darien's location in the Goodwives Shopping center is one of five in the state that will be handed over to Stop & Shop this spring. The grocer giant now boasts 89 Connecticut shops; with the transaction, two will serve Darien. It's news that public officials say…
41.069102
-73.494067
Stop & Shop Florist
148 Heights Rd
/articles/supermarket-sale-brings-possibility-of-noroton-heights-revamp
14745
/locations/274928
41.07851
-73.466889
Shaw's Supermarkets
25 Old Kings Hwy N
/articles/supermarket-sale-brings-possibility-of-noroton-heights-revamp
14828
/locations/274929
Sunday, February 14, 2010
News of a statewide closure and sale of Shaw's supermarkets brings new prospects to the property at Noroton Heights.
Pressure from more competitive grocers is pushing Shaw's shopping carts out of Connecticut.Owner of the supermarket chain, SuperValu Inc. of Minneapolis, announced Friday its "difficult decision" to sell all 18 Connecticut Shaw's stores this spring, marking the end of a 15-year empire in the Nutmeg state. At the peak of the chain's success, Supervalu saw Shaw's customers cruising the aisles at 26 Connecticut locations; but fierce price competition from grocers like Stop & Shop and the newer Whole Foods has moved the company to sell less profitable stores. Last year, Shaw's closed in both Bristol and Shelton. All 18 remaining Connecticut shops, including Darien's own location in the Goodwives Shopping Center, are due to close within the …
41.07851
-73.466889
Shaw's Supermarkets
25 Old Kings Hwy N
/articles/stop-shop-to-acquire-dariens-shaws-a-developing-story
14828
/locations/275553
41.069102
-73.494067
Stop & Shop Florist
148 Heights Rd
/articles/stop-shop-to-acquire-dariens-shaws-a-developing-story
14745
/locations/275554
Friday, February 12, 2010
In the week leading up to Valentine's Day, we'll bring you seven simple sweets and treats for Valentine's Day; that's one love-bite for every day of the week.
For all of you romantics with an appetite for love, here are my top seven local picks to set the mood:Love Bite #6 The retail section of Good Food Good Things is bursting with Valentine's goodies. My pick? Chocopologie Chocolates by Knipschildt Chocolatier: the best dark, milk, spiked, salted, and filled chocolates outside of New York. Consider the a mini box of truffles for a family member of friend, or the slightly larger "Sweetheart Collection" for that someone special. The dusty-pink, heart-shaped box is treat in and of itself, so once the chocolate has been devoured she'll still be left with a little memento.The back of the shop is full of good food. So if you promised to cook dinner, don't panic. Diane Brown Catering will send you …
41.078021
-73.469377
Good Food Good Things
865 Post Rd
/articles/love-bite-good-food-good-things
15215
/locations/273440
Thursday, February 11, 2010
In the week leading up to Valentine's Day, we'll bring you seven simple sweets and treats for Valentine's Day; that's one love-bite for every day of the week.
For all of you romantics with an appetite for love, here are my top seven local picks to set the mood:Love Bite #5Sweet little Valentine's Day favors are at the heart of The Rainbow Shoppe, Darien's go-to shop for all-things party. This charming shop on the Post Road allures with a hot pink front door year-round, and this time of year, shelves brim with heart-shaped confections like conversation hearts and heart-shaped chocolates.It's a fun place to browse and scoop up some hopelessly hokey but irresistible Valentine cards and decorations. So before you head to a national chain to pick up your V-Day staples, show your local Rainbow Shoppe some love, and leave happy. Missed Wednesday's love bite? Read the story here: Love Bite #4: The …
41.07849
-73.468615
The Rainbow Shoppe
836 Post Rd
/articles/love-bite-the-rainbow-shoppe
14761
/locations/273439
Friday, February 5, 2010
A California body products company takes Darien-based Parfums de Coeur Ltd. to court for trademark infringement.
Things are heating up for Parfums de Coeur Ltd., a perfume company headquartered on Old Kings Highway North in Darien. According to a recent Business Week report, Pipedream, a Los Angeles-based body lotion and intimacy oil company, has sued the Connecticut company for trademark infringement; they claim Parfums de Coeur's Body Heat is a rip off of their own Body Heat products; and the confusion, they say, has cost them "substantial" profits.Pipedream registered Body Heat with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in 1997. In a complaint filed Feb. 2 in federal court, the company alleges no such registration exists for the Parfums de Coeur's Body Heat; selling the new fragrance is a "blatant disregard of Pipedream's rights," they say.The …
41.084706
-73.461043
Parfums de Coeur
85 Old Kings Hwy N
/articles/body-heat-battle
15311
/locations/268235
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
A local aspiring interior decorator makes beach-themed home deco.r
Escaping to warm weather is on everyone's minds these days. But for those who can't jet off to sandy beaches, Liz Orgera brings the shore to them. "Beach shabby chic" is how Orgera, 25, describes the beach-themed items she makes and sells under her brand Shorely Chic. "Growing up around here in Stamford, I just always loved going to beaches, to unwind, relax, and forget abut everything," she said. "I love the beach house feel, the light, the bright colors, sea shells, turquoise... all of that." But Orgera didn't pursue her artistic interests immediately after graduation from Fairfield University in 2006. Despite her passion for the beach, an art history degree, and an internship experience at Christie's Auction House, she a took job in …
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Davis has been a Darien institution since the 1940s
If you walk into Fabricare Cleaners in Noroton Heights, look past the cashiers and you'll find Gardtrell Davis sitting near a window with his ancient Singer sewing machine, a small transistor radio playing tunes. Born in 1928, Davis had a thing for sewing ever since he was little. "As a child, my mother said I always had a needle in my hand. I'd be sewing my brother's socks and my sister's socks, my socks, my daddy's socks," he said. Davis took a sewing class when he was at Stamford High School, and never turned back. At fifteen, he began working at the Kingsbury Shop, a dry cleaning and tailoring store in Darien. The owner, Mr. Terzian, treated Davis more like a son than an employee. "He said I was about one of the best young men he'd …
41.069269
-73.4969
Fabricare Cleaners Darien
312 Heights Rd
/articles/tailor-gardtrell-davis-loves-his-job
15006
/locations/239033
I love Chipotle and can't wait to try Cava too! more ›