Downtown's Cocoa Michelle Closing

Downtown Westport will be losing a locally-owned business when Cocoa Michelle, a European-style coffee cafe on 190 Main Street, closes its doors tomorrow.

While people have said they are sad see it go, some are wondering about the broader implications of another "mom and pop" store leaving the downtown area.

Damon Itin, co-owner of Mirabelle Cheese Shop, began working at the store at about the same time neighboring Cocoa Michelle opened in 2006.

"We're sad to see them go, definitely," he said. "It's not a good situation for the community here that we're losing another store."

He noted there has is nearby retail space that has been vacant for two years.

The owner, Michelle Weber, could not immediately be reached for comment because she is on vacation. She also operates a second shop at 54 Railroad Place. The shops sell artisan truffles and chocolates, and also serves cappuccinos, lattees and other hot beverages.

Westport has a committee devoted to implementing suggestions to the downtown area that were made in Planning and Zoning's 2007 Town Plan of Conservation and Development. The committee has been looking at ways to spur on activity in the area while tackling long-term problems, such as the availability of parking.

"There are fewer and fewer reasons to hang out downtown," said Jonathan Steinberg, chairman of the committee. "You have to believe that has some kind of effect on businesses like Cocoa Michelle that rely on that traffic."

There are plans and ideas to reinvigorate the downtown, such as the one presented last week by an architect who believes downtown should be designed pedestrians and not cars. There are talks of creating some sort of movie theater or film series, as well. Changes in zoning regulations were made earlier this year to liven up Westport by permitting bars to be located close to each other. Previously, they had

"At least the building she had doesn't lend itself to some big chain coming in," Steinberg said.

Bob LeRose, president of the Downtown Merchants Association and owner of Bobby Q's Barbecue and Grill, believes that the problem isn't necessarily with all of downtown Westport, but that the northern end of Main Street is less travelled by shoppers.

"I do think that particular place of downtown doesn't reap all the benefits of being downtown," he said. "People tend to think business ends at that stop sign [on the corner of Main Street and Parker Harding Plaza]."