Popular Local Pizzeria Celebrating 50 Years In Westport

WESTPORT, CT – Considering its coastal New England roots, it may not be all that surprising to hear Westport is a town full of history. According to the town website, Westport's history can be traced back as far as the 1648, when the five original "Bankside Farmers" settled what is now known as Green's Farms.

Names such as Saugatuck, meaning mouth of the tidal river, and Compo (Compaug), meaning the bear's fishing ground, come from the early Paugussett tribe, meaning some residents are speaking town history in their daily life without even realizing it.

Westport's modern history can be found in a number of places around town, including in businesses that have been established for decades and become town staples. One such place is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, and residents are invited to help celebrate.

Established in 1968 by the Mioli Brothers, Joe and Mel, Westport Pizzeria & Restaurant is one of the town's oldest pizzerias. According to their website, the brothers decided to open an "authentic, local family restaurant" in downtown Westport after visiting the town a number of times.

In their minds, Westport wasn't too different from Sicily, another small town on the sea shore. Using their mother's recipes as a guideline, they opened the restaurant on Columbus Day (Oct. 12), 1968.

To celebrate five decades of serving Westport's hungry residents on Friday, Oct. 12, the pizzeria will be rolling back its prices on everyone’s first slice and drink to $0.25 and $0.15 respectively, the same prices as in 1968.

"As the years have gone by there have been many changes in the pizza business, but we stick to the traditional ways of doing things," the pizzeria's website states. "We do so because we believe that it produces the best food, food that people can understand and enjoy."

Will you be making a trip to Westport Pizzeria & Restaurant on Friday, Oct. 12? Patch would like to hear from you; what is your favorite place to eat, shop or relax in Westport that has been in town for at least a decade? Let us know by sending an email to rj.scofield@patch.com.

Westport Trivia

Around what year did artists discover Westport and turn the town into a "nationally known beehive of cultural activity?" See answer below, but no peeking!

Upcoming Fun Things To Do In Westport

While eating pizza is always a good way to pass the time, its not the only thing going on in Westport this weekend. Here are some of the fun things coming up in Westport, according to the Westport Patch calendar:

• Saugatuck StoryFest - Friday, Oct. 12 at the Christ & Holy Trinity Church, Seabury Center
  
  • The inaugural Saugatuck StoryFest is a three-day celebration of writing that combines a town-wide multidisciplinary literary festival with a craft-focused, workshop-based writers conference. The Saugatuck Storyfest weekend kicks off with two headline events. Click here for more details.

• Bettman & Halpin Open Voices Cafe's 8th Season - Saturday, Oct. 13 at Voices Cafe
  • Americana folk duo Bettman & Halpin comprised of singer/fiddler Stephanie Bettman and multi-instrumentalist Luke Halpin have been wowing critics across the country. Their shows are a combination of charm, humor and unforgettable original music. Click here for more details.

• A Bradbury Evening: Performances and Stories - Saturday, Oct. 13 at Westport Woman's Club
  
  • The Saugatuck StoryFest celebrates the enduring legacy of literary legend Ray Bradbury with “A Bradbury Evening: Performances and Stories.” Play With Your Food, Westport’s popular play reading series, will begin the evening with a staged reading of "Kaleidoscope," and authorized Bradbury biographer Sam Weller will also give a talk. Click here for more details.

• Pillow Concert with Victor Correa-Cruz & Paloma Gonzalez - Sunday, Oct. 14 at Suzuki Music School
  
  • Suzuki Music Schools’ “Pillow Concert“ series continues with violinist Victor Correa-Cruz and pianist Paloma Gonzalez on October 14th, 2018. Tickets are free, but must be reserved in advance for entry. Click here for more details.

In Case You Missed It: Recent Westport Patch Headlines

• Man Called Woman 15 Times, Charged With Harassment: Westport PD
  
• Westport School To Host Distracted Driving Event
• Westport Announces Schedule For Tree Maintenance In Town
• Staples Stays In Control of Field Hockey Poll
• $110,000 Found In Backpack During Drug Bust: Westport PD
• Absentee Ballots Available In Westport

Trivia Answer

According to the town website, the year was 1910.

To sign up for Westport breaking news alerts and more, click here.

Photo credit: RJ Scofield