Although the economy is grim, and Bridgeport has a history of failed economic development plans, there are signs of optimism in the Park City as Mayor Bill Finch sets forth for his second term.
It”™s true there are closets in City Hall filled with blueprints for much ballyhooed development projects that never got past their initial press conferences. Remember the casino? Remember when Norwalk”™s Fat Cat Pie Co. was going to open a restaurant in downtown Bridgeport? Remember Magic Johnson”™s wonderful plans for the site of the razed Pequonnock Apartments? Where is Magic Johnson today? Oh, that”™s right. He”™s trying to buy the Los Angeles Dodgers. I guess he”™s forgotten all about little old Bridgeport.
According to the mayor”™s office, three small businesses recently opened here, all of them restaurants:
Bare Tapas & Vino at 269 Fairfield Ave. downtown is the second establishment opened by Joe Tiago, who also owns Tiago”™s Bar and Grill at the corner of State and Broad streets.
Peroni”™s Joint at 2804 Fairfield Ave. in Black Rock is owned by Metin Durmus, who previously owned restaurants in New York City, West Palm Beach, Fla., Newport Beach, Calif. and Spokane, Wash.
Tomatillo Taco Joint at 960 Main St. is the second downtown Bridgeport establishment opened by restaurateur Moe Gad who also owns Moe”™s Burger Joint across the street at 977 Main St.
It”™s no secret many businesses have failed in Bridgeport and the euphoria of the grand openings is far too often replaced by the stillness of an empty storefront. How, then, to make sure these new establishments survive?
It”™s simple ”“ shop locally, eat locally and buy locally. Obvious, but true.
One disciple of this school of thought is Paul Timpanelli, CEO of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council. Timpanelli recently issued a public statement to this effect. Here are some of his thoughts: “There is one thing that all of us can do to help strengthen our regional economy … If we each acted on it, I am convinced that our regional economy will get a fabulous jolt. It”™s simple, but it”™s critically impactful. It”™s buying locally.
“With the holiday buying season now upon ”¦ remember local merchants and local service providers. We don”™t really need to make all of our buying decisions in favor of China, Korea and Taiwan. We can make decisions to favor Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Trumbull.
“In our region, there are an untold number of great eating establishments, all of which provide gift certificates and all of which are, to some degree, currently struggling. If each of us made at least one of our holiday spending decisions in favor of a local restaurant gift certificate, can you imagine the impact that would have on our regional economy? It”™s staggering.”
Timpanelli is right. With a little imagination, all of us can get most of our holiday shopping finished within a few miles from our doorsteps.
Rob Sullivan is the publisher and executive editor of the Bridgeport Banner daily website ”“ www.bridgeportbanner.typepad.com ”“ and monthly print edition. He is a special correspondent for the Business Journal.
