Joey's Closes At Compo Following Rent Dispute With Town

WESTPORT, CT — Joey's By The Shore, the longtime concessions stand at Westport's Compo Beach, will no longer operate at the park due to failure to pay the full rent, Westport Parks and Recreation Director Jennifer Fava announced Wednesday. The move is effective immediately.

The food service business also will no longer operate the concessions at the town's Longshore Pavilion and the Longshore Halfway House.

"Regrettably, Mr. Romeo has advised us that he will not pay the full rent due in 2019 under his lease, nor is he willing to fulfill his remaining three years under the lease," Fava said. "We have made every effort to negotiate mutually acceptable terms, but we have not reached an agreement with him."

Joe Romeo, owner of Joey's, could immediately be reached for comment.

The town will begin an effort to bring in a new concessions operator, according to First Selectman Jim Marpe, but how that process will play out, and the time frame for when a new food service company will be selected, was not disclosed.

"We appreciate the many years of service Joey has provided to the community, especially at Compo Beach, providing food for our beach goers and jobs for some of our young adults," Marpe said. "We will be working to get a new concessionaire in place to meet the needs of our residents and users."