Make the Pledge

After Court Ruling, Westport Residents Launch “150 Heroes” Campaign to Sustain Old Mill Grocery & Deli

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Community pledge effort aims to secure year round support for the historic Compo Beach gathering place

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WESTPORT, CT - One month after a Connecticut Superior Court ruling affecting zoning amendments tied to Old Mill Grocery & Deli, the Soundview Empowerment Alliance (SEA) is turning to the community for support sustaining one of Westport’s most cherished neighborhood institutions.

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SEA has launched a campaign seeking 150 residents to Make the Pledge to support the historic market through the quieter months of the year, helping stabilize operations and protect the long-term future of the 107-year-old establishment on Hillspoint Road.

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“Our community stepped forward once before to save the Old Mill from demolition,” said SEA co-founder Ian Warburg. “Now we are asking people to step forward again to help ensure this place continues to thrive as part of the life and rhythm of Compo Beach. It’s an important cultural resource for Westport and neighborhood.”

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Old Mill Grocery & Deli was preserved in 2022 when hundreds of residents contributed to a successful effort to purchase the historic property and prevent its potential redevelopment. The site is stewarded by SEA and operated by the family-owned Romanacci Restaurant Group, who continue to serve the neighborhood with a full menu that ranges from breakfast sandwiches and coffee, to salads, sandwiches, pizza, entrees, prepared foods, and offers casual outdoor seating.

 

Like many businesses near the beach, the market thrives during the summer months but faces a significant seasonal challenge from mid-September through mid-June when fewer people are in the neighborhood.

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To address that reality, SEA is asking 150 residents to Make the Pledge by shifting $125 per month in spending to Old Mill Grocery & Deli, generating approximately $18,000 in additional monthly off-season revenue.

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Community members can Make the Pledge by opening a house account at OMG&D, committing to spend $125 each month.  Opening a House Account with $250 are receiving a gift of the signature Old Mill Grocery & Deli trucker cap to proudly show their support. SEA encourages residents to make Old Mill their “happy habit” by choosing the market first for coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, takeout, catering, and everyday gatherings.

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“This is about protecting something much bigger than a store,” said SEA co-founder Jim Hood. “Old Mill is one of the few true third places left in our town. It is where neighbors see each other, conversations happen, and community life unfolds. If we want that spirit to continue for another hundred years, we need people to make Old Mill part of their weekly routine.”

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“Never do we want to hear someone say, ‘I can’t believe we lost the Old Mill,’” Hood said. “That is not who we are as a community. When Westport cares about something, we show up.”

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Residents interested in participating can visit Old Mill Grocery & Deli on Hillspoint Road to create a house account and Make the Pledge.

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About the Soundview Empowerment Alliance (SEA)
SEA is a Westport-based nonprofit with the dual mission of preserving history and serving good.  SEA was established to preserve the iconic historic building and its use as a local market and deli, and with the additional commitment to providing job training opportunities for people with disabilities. Through stewardship of the Old Mill Grocery & Deli, SEA honors the community’s past while helping build a more connected and equitable future.

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Contact: Jim Hood - Co-Founder, SEA - jim@jwhood.com | https://www.soundviewempowermentalliance.org/