At Westport Ale House, business is looking up — to new rooftop deck

The owners of the Westport Ale House picked a prominent Westport spot for their upscale sports bar, partly because they could add a rooftop deck.

The restaurant and bar opened in mid-March at 4128 Broadway, former home of Streetside Records.

The rooftop was scheduled to open in the summer. But owners Zach Marten and Bret Springs ran into some structural issues putting a deck atop a 1947 era building. That pushed the opening back to the fall and the debut during the World Series.

The rooftop has three large screen TVs, as well as a 15-foot projector screen brought in specifically for the World Series. The deck was at capacity during a soft opening on Oct. 21.

After the World Series it will be open only during the weekends through November, weather permitting. Then the owners plan to enclose part of the area so it can be used year-round starting next spring.

Westwood floral shop

Chuck Matney, who owned and operated Matney Floral Design in Fairway for 25 years, and Leslie Brett, wife of George Brett of the Kansas City Royals, plan to open their new Westwood Hills shop on Nov. 5.

The Little Flower Shop, 5006 State Line Road, will sell fresh cut flower arrangements and offer floral design services for parties, weddings and other events. The shop also will sell a selection of containers, holiday decor, candles, home accessories, jewelry, greeting cards, books, hostess gifts and baby gifts.

Matney and Leslie Brett first teamed up on a gala for George Brett’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 and have remained friends since.

“They were great clients of mine, and then we established a friendship,” Matney said.

Leslie Brett had worked in retail before marrying George.

Now, she said, “Our youngest son just left for college, so the timing was right to have a creative outlet.”

Annedore’s Fine Chocolates had occupied the spot for five years but has moved to the former Absolute Florist spot at 5000 State Line Road, more than doubling in size. Customers can now look through a window in the retail area to watch production in the kitchen.

Annedore’s also has launched a line of macarons, a French meringue-based confection, and plans to offer gelato starting in spring 2015.

This story was originally published October 27, 2014 at 8:00 PM with the headline "At Westport Ale House, business is looking up — to new rooftop deck."