Petition And GoFundMe Efforts Launched To Assist Westport Deli In Legal Fight

WESTPORT, CT — A petition and a GoFundMe campaign have been launched to help Old Mill Grocery & Deli in Westport, as the store, which is near Compo Beach, faces legal challenges over its serving of beer and wine.

Some neighbors of the store filed lawsuits over the town granting a provisional liquor permit, the Westport Journal reported. They argue, in part, that the Zoning Board of Appeals and others acted improperly by allowing the permit.

The grocery store and deli is run by Romanacci, the popular restaurant group with locations throughout Fairfield County.

"These legal actions attack not only the store and its operators, but also the Town of Westport, the Soundview Empowerment Alliance (SEA), and the heart of our community itself," the petition reads. "They aim to overturn decisions made by our Planning & Zoning Commission, deny the community-supported right to serve beer and wine, and strip away the neighborhood-friendly outdoor seating that has existed for generations."

As of Monday, the petition has garnered more than 3,400 signatures. The GoFundMe effort, which was launched to help the deli with legal expenses, has raised more than $10,300.

To view the petition, click here; to view the GoFundMe effort, click here.

Read the Westport Journal story.