By Ken Valenti

WESTPORT–Caterer Nikki Glekas passed the first of three hurdles to set up concessions at Compo Beach, Longshore Pavilion and the Halfway House at Longshore Golf Course when the Board of Finance unanimously approved a four-year lease last night, subject to minor tweaks in the agreement.

The lease will now come before the Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday and finally, the Board of Selectmen later in the month, as the town hopes to grant approvals in time for Memorial Day weekend.

Erik Barbieri, director of parks and recreation, said Glekas, doing business as NG Entertainment LLC, was chosen as the better of two good proposals. Glekas clinched the contract with her experience with concessions and with handling a high volume of customers, as well as her enthusiasm, Barbieri said during the Zoom meeting. Then there was the food brought in for a taste check, which Barbieri said was “unbelievable. Off the charts. I can tell you as far as I am concerned, it was all very good.”

Glekas, a Westport resident who heads the Nikki Glekas Collective of restaurants, concessions and catering services, said she hoped to build on her successes in her other businesses in her new concessions.

“I’m going to bring a little bit of a Mediterranean beach flair to the Compo location so that we can bring in a little bit of a beach vibe,” she said. “We’re going to have all the staples for the kids – chicken tenders, smash burgers, fries, all of that. But for adults, I really want to bring dinner at the beach. So, we’re going to have lots of salads, grilled chicken, salmon (and) lobster rolls.”

Also, gyros and chicken souvlaki.

“That’s our background,” she said. “We’re Greek, so we thought people would really love that.”

The town was left rushing to find a concessionaire after buying out the previous vendor, Hook’d on the Sound, earlier this year because of complaints.

The Board of Finance members, after examining various aspects of the 35-page agreement, made three changes:

• Clarifying that refreshment delivery by golf cart would be made only at Longshore Golf Course and not Compo Beach.
• Removing a provision restricting pinball machines.
• Permitting the concessionaire to post catering signage.

Some members were concerned that a $10,000 security deposit was too low. But the board left it as is. Board chair Danielle Dobin said she felt comfortable with the amount because of Glekas’s reputation.

“She manages a number of businesses locally and has been doing so for a decade,” Dobin said. “I can’t imagine there would be damage beyond $10,000 – that the premises would be left in such disarray.” But, she added, “it’s not necessarily setting a precedent for other leases.”

The P&Z meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom. The commission reviews lease proposals for consistency with planning and zoning considerations. Public comments may be submitted to PandZ@westportct.gov by noon Wednesday for members to receive them before the meeting. 

The final approval would come from the Board of Selectmen at 2 p.m. May 21 in the Town Hall Auditorium, 110 Myrtle Ave. The meeting agenda will be published on the Town’s website under “Meeting List and Calendar”

Public comments may be submitted to: selectman@westportct.govAdditional meeting materials, Zoom links, agendas, and updates will be posted on the Town of Westport website under “Meeting List and Calendar”.

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.}}