Countless Westport families grew up with the Old Mill/Compo Beach treasure most recently known as Elvira Mae’s and, for 23 years before that, Elvira’s. Sadly, every few years there’s talk our beloved café/deli/market will be torn down and replaced by a spec house.

A group of forever and almost forever Westporters -- Jim Hood, Ian Warburg, Chris Tait, Tommy Febbraio and Emily Ashken Zobl (with something like 250 years of Westport-ness between us!) -- came together with a plan for the community to buy this 94-year-old market, preserve it forever, and seek nonprofit status so we can add an important social mission to this beloved, neighborhood gem. (Stay tuned!)

We are 75% of the way there! We have raised $975,000 of our $1.3 million goal. We need to raise another $325,000 before the end of April. Please help us preserve forever the oldest, continuously operating café/deli — and friendly gathering place — in Westport. As we have seen far too often in Westport, once special places like this neighborhood treasure are gone, they are gone forever.

Thank you so much for your support. We look forward to seeing you for coffee (and much more) this summer!