By Ken Valenti

WESTPORT–The Sandbar at Compo Beach hadn’t been serving smashburgers, chicken souvlaki and Greek salads for long when owner Nikki Glekas arrived to open it at 11 a.m. and found a crowd waiting.

Now she opens the concession stand at 10 a.m., and starts an 11-hour day offering not only food but bug spray, sunscreen and beach toys. She’s also added merchandise – T-shirts and hats, some that say “Straight outta Compo.”

“People really feel like it’s a destination,” Glekas said. “They really can get everything they need right here at the beach.”

Her company, Nikki Glekas Collective, took over operation of the stand shortly before Memorial Day weekend, after the town bought out the previous vendor because of complaints about service. As part of the agreement, Glekas also runs the Longshore Pavilion and the Halfway House at the Longshore Golf club. 

In recent days, she added a mobile cart at the golf course selling alcoholic beverages and other refreshments.

Westporter Jacob Robicheau has stopped at the Sandbar at the Beach four or five times and gives high marks to the food, especially the crab sandwich, which he rated “a 10 out of 10.”

The concession is much better than the previous vendor, he said, which is important because the stand is an “integral” part of the Compo scene. After roaming the beach, “you come back here and you have a bite,” he said. “It’s a complete experience.”

On Thursday, July 2, Glekas is stepping up the service to complement the town’s Independence Day celebration and fireworks, presented by Westport Police Athletic League. The Sandbar will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Extra employees will be on hand to move things along more smoothly.

They’ll set up a 5-foot-long grill for hot dogs and burgers.

In opening the Westport operations, Glekas expanded her network of restaurants, concessions and catering services, this time opening in the town where she lives. The stand’s Instagram page, @thesandbar06880, has almost 1,400 followers and some positive comments.

“The Sandbar is amazing!” reads one. “Great delicious fresh food, incredible salads & delightful staff, thank you!”

“First bite of my French fry I could tell the place had leveled up!” another Instagram poster wrote. 

Business started slowly on Memorial Day weekend, which was soaked with rain, but once Monday came, so did the crowds, Glekas said. Now, employees said, they often see lots of people during the week, and always on Saturdays and Sundays.

“Weekends are all really packed,” said staffer Pamela DeJesus.

Glekas hires about 30 people to cover all three locations.

At the beach, the décor is bright, nautical and beachy, with Greek influences – a tile pattern – plus rattan lightshades. The employees complete the friendly experience, they said. 

“The people who work on the register are always super talkative with the customers,” DeJesus said.

Glekas said the smashburgers especially are a hit, but the whole range of foods are popular including tacos, salads, breakfast sandwiches and kid-friendly items such as chicken tenders. The Greek specialties – inspired by Glekas’s heritage – include Greek salads, a gyro and chicken souvlaki.

This being New England, she also offers a lobster roll.

Glekas wants the Sandbar to be the place people come several times a day – for coffee in the morning, back for lunch and more. Employee Sofía Gómez says she sees families coming for dinner.

At the end of the day, ice cream becomes particularly popular.

“From eight to nine, we become like an ice cream shop,” Glekas said.

Whenever people come, Glekas wants them to feel like it’s more than another day at the beach.

“I want them to feel like they’re on vacation,” she said.

Ken Valenti

^{_{A career journalist and lifelong resident of the New York City region, Ken Valenti has enjoyed decades of reporting local, regional and national news in New York and Connecticut. Topics of special interest are development, the environment, Long Island Sound and transportation. When not reporting, he’s always on the lookout for the perfect coffee shop or used book sale.}}