In June 2024, Westport’s Planning and Zoning Commission, or P&Z, approved a text amendment in Residence B Zones. Westport defines the purpose of this zone as being for single-family residences with a minimum size lot of 6,000 feet. This document was last revised on November 19, 2017. Old Mill Grocery and Deli, or the Grocery, which is over 100 years old and beloved to the town of Westport, is located in this zone.

 In Aug. 2024, Mary Young, Zoning Director at the time, approved the Grocery’s liquor license. Shortly after, three lawsuits were filed against the liquor license by plaintiffs Robin Tauk and Ellen van Dorsten who live within 100 feet of the Grocery. The Grocery was not originally named in the Summons and Complaint because the lawsuit was on the signing off of the liquor license. However, they intervened in the case because the decision of the case would directly affect their license.

The Grocery itself is historic, having undergone many sales and name changes, and is currently owned by the Soundview Empowerment Alliance, or SEA. The SEA is a non-profit with two stated missions: to help job-train disabled adults and preserve what they call a historically significant building. 

The plaintiffs claim in their brief that the liquor license has made the issues of verbal abuse, noise into the evening and blocked driveways due to inadequate parking worse. They also claimed that the grant of the liquor license has decreased the value of their properties. They argue that the liquor license is non-conforming to the regulations put in place, and therefore should not have been approved by Young.

“The Plaintiffs are also classically aggrieved, by virtue of the fact that the Board’s Decision will specially and adversely affect their personal and legal rights and interests,” reads the plaintiff’s brief. 

In September 2024, after the license was approved, the Plaintiffs filed a petition against this, which was denied in November 2024. The Plaintiffs “commenced this appeal,” and claimed in their brief that the decision was “illegal, unlawful, arbitrary and capricious.”

“When Mary Young signed the liquor permit, the P&Z had already passed a new zone text amendment,” Ira W. Bloom, town attorney of Westport wrote to the News in an email. “Therefore, it was legal when she signed it.” 

When asked if Young needed to balance the needs of the business vs. those of the neighboring homeowners, Bloom said that it wasn’t Mary Young’s job to balance anything when she signed it because as previously mentioned, it was legal at that time per the zone text change.

Bloom added that there was a restaurant in the same zone as the Grocery many decades ago. 

“There is evidence that beer was sold there decades ago. Again, the P&Z changed the regulations to allow the sale,” he said in an email to the News

“The cases are not settled,” Bloom wrote in response to a question on whether or not the cases are being settled. “There will be an administrative trial after briefs are filed…The judge will hear arguments, limited testimony and decide the cases based upon the record of proceedings and the legal arguments in the brief.” 

An article on Dan Woog’s blog, 06880: Where Westport Meets the World,, titled “Don’t Kill Old Mill,” a slogan used by the Grocery’s supporters, defends the store and condemns the lawsuits against it. 

The blog had a comment thread, in which many people, along with someone named as Jim Hood wrote. Hood is a founder of the SEA. He has worked tirelessly to support the Grocery during difficult times and is passionate about keeping it open to Westporters. Hood is devoted to non-profit work. While 06880 states that “all commenters must use full, real names,” it was not verified that the commenter was truly Hood. 

One comment published on June 27, 2025 by Jim Hood, in response to other comments about the case, Plaintiffs and their objections said, “Just shining light on the FACT that two very unneighborly people (one who tries behind her LLC’s) are trying to impose their own, selfish will on that of some 4,000 people who love Old Mill Grocery & Deli.” 

Because the Grocery is loved by many Westporters, they have been fighting to try and help the Grocery. One way is through a petition, with signs around Westport and in front of people’s houses, featuring the slogan “Don’t Kill the Old Mill” with QR codes to the petition. As of August 25, 2025, the petition contains 3,632 signatures. The petition describes this as a “battle for the soul of our community” and that “it’s an assault on memory, accessibility, and belonging. And it’s bleeding our nonprofit dry.” The petition says to “join us and demand” the following: “An end to these lawsuits. Protection for community-backed zoning amendments. Support for SEA’s mission and the Romanacci team’s right to operate in peace.”

Chris Tait, a founder of the SEA declined to comment, citing litigation. Van Dorsten did not comment when reached out to. 

The Old Mill Grocery and Deli is located on 222 Hillspoint Road, Westport.

This article was written for the Yale Daily News’ 2025 Summer Journalism Program for high school students.