From city Communications Director Brett Broesder:
Bridgeport Lobster and Shellfish is back, serving lobster rolls, fish tacos and the freshest seafood around. It’s also creating jobs in a neighborhood being revitalized by the creation of a new park with waterfront access.
Owner Roy Poon said he only sees it getting better after the neighborhood institution reopened in late November after a several-month hiatus.
“People were knocking on our door asking when we were going to reopen,” said Roy Poon.
The business had been an institution in Bridgeport’s East Side for about 15 years before it closed and reopened under new management.
Click here to see via video the creation of a lobster roll: bit.ly/1cjGYLs.
Last weekend, Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal stopped in for lobster rolls and to welcome back a local business that provides fresh seafood for people around Fairfield County.
“Nothing is more important than small businesses and creating jobs,” said Senator Blumenthal.
Click here for a photo of the visit: bit.ly/1uv4ql2.
Click here to read and see more: .
Roy Poon said he expects business–and the neighborhood–to get even better this summer when the final touches are put on Knowlton Park across the street.
“We have high hopes for that,” he said. “The city has been great letting people know that we are reopened. Soon, people can walk along the boardwalk and have a picnic by the water. We are already planning for lunch specials.”
Under the Mayor Finch, the city launched the first master-plan in a century to maintain, revitalize and create new parks.
“We have a plan to march to the ocean, march to our rivers to open it up to build access to parks and to make life better every day for the residents of Bridgeport,” Mayor Finch said.
A study conducted by Fairfield University reports that a property’s value increases the closer it is to a park. In fact, the study found that residential properties within a 10th of a mile from a park in Bridgeport have an 8 percent higher value on average than properties in the next 10th of a mile away, the study showed. Commercial properties showed an 11 percent increase compared to the second 10th of a mile away.
Roy Poon stated that he has seen his property value increase with the development of Knowlton Park.
Mitchell Clyne–a nearby property owner who runs a distribution center for Snapple and other beverage companies–said of the Knowlton Park: “It has absolutely enhanced our property value.”
Click here to read more: bit.ly/1yI2SUM.
Bridgeport Lobster makes its lobster rolls the old fashion way, using fresh lobster tail with sprinkles of garlic, salt and pepper that is sautéed in a little butter.
“It doesn’t get any fresher than this,” said Mayor Finch.
I see the non-Vietnam Vet Blumenthal is in what is just a photo-op as lobster isn’t kosher.
How many times are they going to “highlight” this particular business?
If they keep giving Finch free lobster rolls, it will go on forever.
Andy, that was too funny!!!
That was a hard roll to swallow. Bill is a real fishmonger.
Finch very soon. “I’d like to thank Mr. Poon for his very generous donation to my re-election campaign.”
Absolutely beautiful park. I can see it looking like total garbage in two years. Not because of the specific neighborhood, but because Bridgeport’s upkeep or lack thereof with our parks. The beautiful park they constructed up on Madison at Veterans Park is a disgrace. The park was half-assed to begin with and the fields are absolute garbage now. What a joke.
As a Vietnam Veteran, I’m appalled at the condition of Veterans Park on Park Avenue. It’s a disgrace. Ten years ago I walked its interior a couple of times out of curiosity and saw nothing useful to the citizens of Bridgeport. There was a car wreck, broken liquor and beer bottles and an abandoned homeless living site. The walking path was overgrown and neglected and there was graffiti on the deteriorating small dam there.
The wooded area has gone through a complete transformation with the disc golf course. Many people frequent the woods now for good things unlike the ’90s and earlier. That is all done by volunteers.