McCarthy’s Law: Never Say Die

McCarthy’s Law: Never Say Die

Brick oven pizza maker reinvents business after fire disaster

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

8/8/11

Black Rock, CT – “Large pizza to go,” said Marty McCarthy to his cook, his cousin Freddy, after receiving a cell call while standing in front of Acoustic Café on Fairfield Avenue in Black Rock.

This spot had become a regular one for him Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to bar close – Marty, that is, and his 25-foot long, candy apple red pumper fire truck that he had outfitted with a wood-fired pizza-making brick oven.

With the truck parked curbside and two long tables – one with pizza on platters ready to serve up slices and a second with pods of dough in a tub, he was a full-service mobile pizzeria.

This was not McCarthy’s first venture. In fact, he has been well known as the neighborhood pizza guy for a decade, when he first opened Marty’s Pizza at 2804 Fairfield Avenue. He operated that business, which was primarily take-out and delivery, for nine years, building a loyal following. He sought to expand to include a bar and sit-down tables.

So, in February 2011, McCarthy officially opened Marty’s Brick Oven of Black Rock Restaurant and wine bar at 2914 Fairfield Ave., two blocks down the road from the original business.

The business had a promising start and the neighborhood was welcoming. All seemed bright moving forward.

Then the unthinkable happened. On the morning of Saturday, March 19, Marty got a phone call from the chef at the time saying there was smoke coming from the basement.

“I rushed right over, knocked on the doors of the apartments above the shop first, to clear out any residents, and then came down, just as the fire department arrived,” he said.

The fire department set up, went in and did what they could in the tight space. Unfortunately, it was all for naught.

“It burned all damn day,” said McCarthy, with disgust. “There was tons of smoke. It was a total loss, only six weeks after we’d opened -- $200,000 in damage for me, another $500,000 for the building, residents in eight units suddenly homeless. It was complete devestation. It was my dream, and I was done before I’d even gotten out of the box.”

The so-called “Luck of the Irish” had visited McCarthy before and, actually, was what steered him into pizza-making in the first place. “I was a volunteer firefighter for six years before starting the pizza business, and the only reason I did that was because I couldn’t pursue a career as a firefighter, due to a severe motorcycle accident in which I snapped my left femur,” he said. “That was days before my agility test, one of the last steps to being a full-fledged paid Fairfield firefighter.”

With the fire disaster, McCarthy was left to think about how he was going to keep his name out there – as well as keep food on the table. “I was recently married and had a nine-month-old new baby daughter,” he said. “Mobile food isn’t anything new, so the challenge was to come up with something unique and that incorporated the pizza.”

Talk about irony: McCarthy hatched the idea to buy a firetruck – a 1985 International from Vernon, CT, through Craig’s List – and outfit it with a brick oven. “I worked closely with my oven importer, Tuscany Fire, out of New Haven,” he said. “It was a first for them. They’d already done a couple mobile units, for other types of businesses. The conversion process took two months.”

The opening gig with the truck was on Black Rock Day this past June. “It was great for me and a great day for Black Rock, showing the resiliency of the community to bounce back from tragedy,” he said. “Congressman Jim Himes had one of the first slices of pizza… other councilmen and Mayor Bill Finch were also there. There was a lot of support.”

At present, McCarthy and his Fire Engine Pizza truck maintain a presence in Black Rock a couple weekend nights every week, as well as do private parties and festivals, like the MTK Music Fest in the Hamptons August 13 & 14, as requested.

Looking to the future, McCarthy says he hopes to be back in his space in three to four months. Monday, August 1 was the scheduled demolition start date, to rip out all the burned interior and ruined equipment. Then an engineer will visit to see about reestablishing the floors, and the landlord will deliver “four walls and ceiling in September.”

Optimistically, McCarthy said, “We’re looking at a potential grand re-opening end of October, which will include the debut of an added 50-seat party room.”

Reflecting on all that has transpired, McCarthy said, “You can’t lie down and die. They say moss doesn’t grow on a rolling stone. You’ve just got to keep fighting.”

To order a pie or inquire about private party services or support for an event function, visit www.FireEnginePizza.com or call 203-257-8007 – “anytime” says Marty.

Talk About a Great Neighborhood!

Talk About a Great Neighborhood!

“TV Neighbors” book about Westport/Weston-based TV personalities debuts at WHS

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Westport News)

8/5/11

Westport, CT – There are neighborhoods… and then there are neighborhoods. Few compare with some of the extraordinary communities in Westport and Weston, which have counted --- and continue to count – as residents some of the most leading stars of television.

These residents are the subject matter of “TV Neighbors”, a new book originally begun by the late Thomas DeLong and completed by Wally Woods, who serves on the advisory council of the Westport Historical Society. The book was introduced at a dedicated gathering at WHS early Thursday evening, at which Woods said a few words about the project and signed books, and which was attended by several featured TV personalities.

“Tom started the project in 2003 but passed last July before he could complete his work,” said Susan Gold, WHS’ executive director, who introduced Woods and coordinated the gathering, which included a generous offering of food catered by Christie’s Country Store on Westport’s Cross Highway. “His wife Cathy found the manuscript, turned it over to Wally and Wally took the initiative of completing it and getting it printed. This is a celebration of the completion and opening of a related exhibit.”

Sitting at a table in the Sheffer Gallery, stacked with copies of the book, Woods gave some background about how he and DeLong became associated and the project developed.

“We first met in 1996, when Tom came to the Society with an idea to celebrate the 95^th birthday of Francesca Lodge, wife of former Connecticut state Governor John Davis Lodge,” Woods recalled. “We collaborated on an exhibit. Then he had the idea of having an exhibit highlighting the starts of stage and screen who lived in Westport and Weston in the 20^th century, which we debuted in 1998. In 2000, we collaborated again, on an exhibit marking the 70^th anniversary of the Westport Country Playhouse.”

Around that time, the Sheffer Gallery – a then-new extension of the Historical Society – was being constructed. Its inaugural exhibit was focused on TV Neighbors, with photos, scripts, vintage TV sets, advertising and more, related to the many Westport/Weston residents in the TV entertainment business.

That exhibit inspired DeLong to think about creating a book around the same subject matter. “In 2008, Tom called me with the idea of turning the exhibit materials into a book,” Woods said. “He and I were going to get together and do that. My wife Denise, who’s a techie, was going to scan everything and Tom and I were going to do all the chapter headings, etc.”

Tragically, that game plan was interrupted when, in July 2010, Tom’s wife Kathie called Woods to say that Tom had had a stroke and died. “He was a dear friend,” said Woods. “I asked Kathie if she minded if Denise and I finished the book. She agreed and gave us boxes of all of Tom’s files. We went through everything, categorizing and formatting. Then we contacted the publisher, Bear Manor Media, who gave us a greenlight. It was printed last month and is being introduced here today.”

One of the TV personalities on hand for the reception was actor/writer David Rogers, with wife June Walker Rogers, Westport residents since 1967. Rogers’ TV experience includes four episodes of “Law and Order”, writing for the Carol Burnett Show and supporting Jackie Gleason. Rogers is a founding member of the Theater Artists Workshop as well.

“Many actors have lived here and still do,” said Rogers. “One of the main reasons is the convenient commute to New York, where much of the business is based. Christopher Plummer still lives in the area, and Eartha Kitt. This is a creatively stimulating area. Our Artists Workshop has helped carry on this tradition.”

Sitting nearby, in the Gallery space, actor Martin West shared his thoughts, as well as his own connections to the industry. “My first TV show was ‘Have Gun Will Travel,’” he said. “I played different character roles, from 1961 on, for several years. Then I had a seven-year run on ‘General Hospital’, playing character Phil Brewer. From 1978 to 1980, I played Don Hughes, one of the Hughes brothers in ‘As the World Turns.’”

Martin had been living in California during his career start, but then relocated to Westport in later year. About being featured in the book, he said, “I’m overwhelmed and didn’t know it was going to happen. And it’s great to see so many familiar faces here.”

Many around town may not know, or recall, the role Westport’s First Selectman, Gordon Joseloff, who was in attendance, played in the industry. “I was with CBS News, in both TV and radio, from 1975 to 1991, as a writer, producer and correspondent,” he said. “As a correspondent, I was on-air, on TV, in New York, Moscow and Tokyo.”

Joseloff added, “I knew Tom (DeLong) for years and worked on the original exhibit with him. This book puts into words and pictures a bit of history about Westport and memorializes the great artistic heritage our community has.”

Offering another perspective was Sandy Stumberger, who funded the establishment of the library space at the Historical Society. “In the late 1960s, there was no Sunday matinee on Broadway, so all the actors would gather on Compo Beach,” she said. “I would go with my sons to the beach and all around us would be TV and theater people. It was a Who’s Who of show business… quite unique. We had come from Cincinatti and there was nothing like that there.”

Noted Westport/Weston TV personalities from the period 1946 to 2003 featured in “TV Neighbors” include the following… Pioneers: John Lodge. Drama: Bette Davis, Joanne Woodward, John Malkovich, Alan Arkin, Mia Farrow, Tina Louise, Christopher Plummer, Michael Douglas, Mariette Hartley, Jack Klugman, Paul Newman. Comedy: Christopher Lloyd, Madeline Kahn, Brett Somers, Marlo Thomas, Eva Gabor, Imogene Coca. Soaps: Martin West. Music & Dance: Eartha Kitt, Neil Sedaka. Hosts: Don Imus, David Susskind, Phil Donahue, Rod Serling, Martha Stewart. Broadcast Journalists: Harry Reasoner, Gordon Joseloff. Sports: Brent Musberger, Bob Costas, Jim Nantz. Sitcoms: Come to Westport, I Love Lucy, Bewitched (originally titled “The Witch of Westport”).

At the Top of His Game: First Person Sports’ Keith DiBuono

At the Top of His Game: First Person Sports’ Keith DiBuono

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

7/27/11

Fairfield, CT – Armed with AK-47s, the squad split into two and fanned out… three guys crept right, making their way around cement barriers, looking through their gun sights, index fingers ready to squeeze off a round… three guys crouched and headed left, stealthily darting from one point of coverage to another. Suddenly, a flurry of shots ring out and someone cries, “Casualty!” Man down… but, surprisingly, not out.

This was a simulation after all, of a firefight between opposing teams of commandos in a post-apocalyptic abandoned airport terminal setting. And the firearms rely on infrared light technology instead of live ammo. Most surprising, the terminal sits in the middle of Fairfield.

All this action – and more – can be found at First Person Sports in its 4,200-square-foot arena located within the Sportsplex complex at 85 Mill Plain Road. Opened this past May, the facility is drawing teens, young adults, dates, families and party groups eager to experience combat – and video gaming – from a first-person perspective.

Thirty-five-year-old owner Keith DiBuono established the business as a mobile opportunity initially, in Westchester County, NY, in 2008. While the physical combat activity doesn’t employ lasers, it is popularly referred to as Laser Skirmish. Wearing military-grade tactical hydration vests, opponents aim high-tech weapons at each other and “fire off” shots with the goal of scoring hits on one of three sensors – one on the tagger gun itself, two on a player’s vest. Overall registered hits are tracked to determine which team is the winner in a battle. Rounds last around 10 to 15 minutes and limits are set on ammo and “lives”.

DiBuono’s brother-in-law, who was attending the University of Central Florida at the time, first played a version of Skirmish in Orlando, and suggested to Keith that he start a facility like it in the Northeast. DiBuono was working for a party facilitator as a costumed Elmo muppet character and wanted to break out on his own.

The type of laser gameplay that most people are familiar with is Laser Tag. It’s often played in a darkened room with neon vests, rudimentary weapons and a scoreboard. Laser Skirmish takes the experience to the next level in that the equipment is more sophisticated, can be taken outside and has a very long range – the smallest guns can tag up to 300 feet; larger guns up to 600 feet. DiBuono works with a distributor in Australia, one of only two manufacturers in the world that make the type of advanced equipment they use, DiBuono claims.

In its initial mobile form, First Person brought the weaponry and inflatable “speed” and “deluxe” field obstacles to the end-user. This would often be teens celebrating birthdays and looking to live out action movie fantasies or combat video game scenarios.

As Westport-based developer Hal Fischel was expanding Sportsplex, he reached out to DiBuono and invited the young entrepreneur to become a tenant. First Person made a good fit in a facility menu of businesses that already included rock climbing, archery, indoor skating and gymnastics.

In addition to the combat arena, First Person’s space includes a game lounge with modern couches, five monitors – four 42” LG’s and one 82” Mitsubishi rear-projection screen – and Xbox 360 game systems that play over 75 video game titles including Halo Reach and Call of Duty.

DiBuono designed the facility himself, including the arena and its features, which incorporate concrete, sheetrock and plywood, based on a battle mission setting. “I wanted to create a more immersive, multi-player battle experience like ‘Call of Duty, which is the most popular game among first-person simulations, wherein the user navigates a fight from the perspective of the soldier, staring right down the barrel of the gun and through the gun sight. The company name reflects that.

DiBuono has been a long-time gamer. “I started with Atari, went to Sega, Genesis, Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Playstation, Playstation 2, then Xbox,” he said, then added, “My brother, Eric, is a video game collector who owns every system that’s been put on the market. He just graduated from Fullsail University, in Orlando, which is basically a media university – music and film to video game design and modeling. He earned a degree in 3-D modeling and just finished rotoscoping the movie Captain America, taking frame-by-frame video footage and converting it to 3-D.”

As to other family members, DiBuono said, “My folks are very happy with what the business has become. I’m the first generation to spread my wings as an entrepreneur. This is the only facility of its kind in Connecticut, and the only facility in New England that has gone to this extent. We’re on the leading edge of this technology and I’ve thrown myself in completely. There are only 50 fields across the U.S. that use our level of equipment.”

DiBuono said Laser Skirmish is still relatively new. “It’s starting to roll out and become more popular and video game industries are learning about our equipment. It’s the future of the business.”

First Person Sports is located in the Sportsplex facility at 85 Mill Plain Road. For more information, pricing and/or membership packages, call 1-888-FPS-1337 or visit www.firstpersonsports.com online.

An Oasis with European Flair

VAn Oasis with European Flair:

Pia Lauren’s Spa Di Bellezza provides perfect pampering for health-conscious 

relaxation seekers

By Mike Lauterborn

(Posted to Fairield.Patch.com 8/5)

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

8/4/11

Fairfield, CT – Soothing music, inviting spa beds and ceilings hand painted with images of clouds, the sun and birds. The environment transports visitors from a busy thoroughfare in Fairfield to a setting that might overlook the shimmering Ionian Sea in Italy’s Reggio di Calabria.

Most likely, that’s the intention, given the owner’s roots. Pia Lauren, of Spa Di Bellezza at 1828 Post Road, hails from that idyllic part of the world and has incorporated its ways and flavors into her popular, full-service, edge-of-downtown spa business.

“My mom is Greek and my dad is Italian,” said Lauren, flashing a heart-melting smile and shaking her long mane of brown hair, her skin radiant in early morning sun streaming through the shop’s street-facing windows. “I came alone to the U.S. at 16, settling first in New York, for a year. Then I was in Scarsdale, New York, with family that was already here. Ultimately, I moved to Westport in 1985.”

Professionally, she initially started designing clothes for boutiques. Along the way, she got married, had kids, divorced and, needing to stay home with her three boys, went into the skincare business.

“I worked out of my home for 10 years, from 1985 to 1995,” she said, leading this reporter to one of five treatment rooms, all located on a second level. “Then I rented a space in Westport, calling it Pia Lauren. ‘Lauren’ was a stage name I had adopted that fit the business well.”

That first space was only 500 square feet and she decided she needed more room as her clientele expanded. So, in 2002, she moved to her current location, which is 2,000 square feet. When she took over the building, it had been a real estate office and, before that, a private home built in the 1940s. Now the spa retreat is maintained by five staff members and offers everything from massages and facials to body care, manicures, pedicures and waxing.

“My clients are predominantly women, though the last couple of years, many men have started to come in,” she said, having this journalist lay back, shirtless, on a spa bed while she arranged equipment to provide both a facial and a foot massage.

“Men are becoming more conscious about taking care of themselves,” she added. “They are married for the most part. Their wives, who are already clients, encourage them to come in.”

Among men, massages and pedicures are the most popular, according to Lauren, “though facials are becoming more of an interest.” A facial moisturizes a person’s skin by removing the top layer / dry skin. It helps increase circulation and makes skin look younger, Lauren explained.

“I grew up on the water in Italy and was often in the sun all day long,” she recalled. “My mom always made us wash our faces when we got home and had her own recipe of olive oil and other ingredients, and would make us put it on our faces every morning and night. I have incorporated that ‘recipe’ into my own products.”

With a mix of both sadness and fond memory registering on her pleasant face, Lauren continued, “My mom died at 89 but, to that day, she never had a wrinkle, and was in the sun all day long every day. She loved to swim and be in the water.”

Lauren started in with the facial treatment, first conducting a cleanse, with a seaweed product. A scrub / exfoliator followed, to remove dry skin. All the while, a silent machine pumped out a jet of steam, to help open pores.

Black head extraction was next in the process, wherein Lauren used gloves and cotton balls to pinch areas of the skin to push out dirt from clogged pores. Using a diamond tome, she then gently removed the top layer of skin, which had dried from exposure to sun and winter weather.

Lastly, Lauren applied an enzyme peel, made from papaya and pineapple, into which her mother’s facial oil had been mixed.

“In the winter, mom and dad would go to the beach and fill huge jugs with salt water, bring them home, mix them together with regular water and make us bathe in the mixture,” she said. “It would help us to not have any dry skin or blemishes and breakouts. Leaving dry skin on the body is not good. Pores have to breath, to eliminate toxins. It’s important to use good products.”

This journalist’s feet were the next area the spa matron focused on, her firm hands applying an expert touch. As with the face, the process began with a scrub – a sea salt mix. Then, a callous remover was introduced, followed by an indulgence body cream – all organic – rubbed into the skin.

Switching gears, Lauren returned to the face, removed the enzyme peel, which had dried, with a warm wet cloth. She worked in a signature crème – containing collagen, shea butter, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, pomegranate and grape seeds – to heal, protect and stimulate the skin and help restore and rebuild collage.

“This is good for sun damage, wrinkles and blotchiness,” Lauren remarked, applying oil de bellezza, her mother’s moisturizing oil.

A textbook of knowledge in the beauty / skincare field, she added, “We have seven layers of skin, and as we get older, between exposure to the sun, winter and free radicals, it gets thinner and ages. By removing dry cells and replenishing the skin, we help maintain collagen and elasticity.”

Imparting her general theory, Lauren said, “You have to pamper yourself. Our bodies need it.”

Spa Di Bellezza is located at 1828 Post Road, Fairfield. To schedule an appointment, call 203-254-8308 or visit www.pialaurenspa.com

Fairfield Arts Center Drawing Up New Programming

Fairfield Arts Center Drawing Up New Programming:

Summer workshop for teens first of many classes to come

By Mike Lauterborn

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com)

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

7/28/11

Fairfield, CT – Sitting on the ground against trees and brick walls, cross-legged with pads in their laps, they studiously sketched away, capturing from their own perspectives the layout of the Town Green.

The Wednesday July 27 afternoon session was the fourth of a five-week Drawing Workshop for Teens offered by the Fairfield Arts Center, 70 Sanford Street. Designed to enhance students’ creativity and artistic confidence, each of the five 2 ½ hour classes was dedicated to a different drawing activity, including still-lifes in pencil, figures, abstract shapes and textures, drawing on location and drawing animals. Stephanie Peterson, a certified art teacher at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, is the instructor, providing guidance on drawing techniques like lines, spacing, shading, volume, individual expression and imagination.

“Our teen drawing class is an inaugural program targeted to the teen segment of our constituency, which in its broadest sense is the town of Fairfield,” said Kristin Fox, who has held the role of Executive Director at FAC for the past year now. “About 10 students are enrolled in the class. We had to turn away half a dozen more, which leads me to believe that there’s a need for this programming in the community.”

Fox said the goal is to lay a foundation for future artists, while providing a vehicle for self-expression. “This is all part of our mission to integrate the arts into the lives of Fairfielders,” said Fox. “The drawing class is part of the educational component of our mission.”

Fox said the class has been very well received and, based on its success, the Center is going to explore other genre-based workshops – watercolors, painting, sculpture, etc.

“I work in developing programming with Stephanie,” Fox said. “The next program may be as early as September. “We’re determining best scheduling, especially with the return to school.”

For more information, contact the Fairfield Arts Center at www.fairfieldartscenter.org or call 203-319-1419.

Serendipity Magazine Stages Casting Call at Fairfield Pinkberry

Serendipity Magazine Stages Casting Call at Fairfield Pinkberry:

Dozens of children line up for a shot at the limelight

By Mike Lauterborn

(Posted to Fairfield.Patch.com)

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

8/3/11

Fairfield, CT – One and all they came -- boys, girls, triplets, teens – all looking for a shot at fame, or at least to be featured in the pages of a magazine.

Serendipity Magazine that is, a lifestyle publication circulated in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, geared to families with content that includes travel, food, style, health and fitness. This summer, the magazine decided to conduct several casting calls at ice cream and yogurt places in their focus areas. Pinkberry Fairfield, the only Pinkberry in the state, is a client, so it was a given that it would be a stop when staffers came to town Wednesday afternoon.

“This has been a 14-week effort,” said Dana Jevarjian, marketing events director for Serendipity. “Pinkberry and Serendipity go hand in hand in terms of target audience, life, fun and health. It’s a perfect marriage.”

The recruits the magazine sought were girls and boys ages 4 to 16. A photo of each was taken, personal information captured and the details catalogued as ongoing model resources for the publication’s style sections.

“We want to give back to the community and use real kids – our readers’ children,” said Jevarjian. “Our slogan is ‘Your Town, Your Style, Your Magazine.’ This is a perfect illustration of that idea.”

Filling out a form secured to a clipboard near Pinkberry’s front entrance at 1512 Post Road, Fairfield mom Shreya Patel, with her sons Jaden, 5, and Kalen, 4, clutching at her dress, said, “I thought it would be fun for my boys. They have never done anything like this before. I wasn’t familiar with Serendipity, so I’m looking forward to reading it as well.”

Fellow Fairfielder Linda Smith showed with her daughter Madison, 4, saying she’d learned about the event through SuzySaid.com. “Madison is a natural born ham,” Smith said. “She loves to be photographed. I thought it would be a great opportunity… and, who knows, it may be a launching point for a modeling career. Every time I take her to a show, I say, ‘Do you want to go see this?’ and she says, ‘No, I want to be in it.’”

Soon to be a fourth grader at Osborne Hill Elementary, nine-year-old Samantha Galluzzo was ready for her fifteen seconds of fame. “I think I might like to be a model,” she said. “It seems very glamorous.”

Mom Sarah remarked that this was new to Sam and that it was an easy way for her to get some exposure, versus going into the city.

Twenty-three-year-old Anggy Young, who could easily be mistaken for a potential recruit given her girlish look, had brought her six-year-old daughter Angela to the audition after seeing it advertised in the Pinkberry store.

“I’m here three to four times a week, saw the sign, told Angela and she said, ‘ok’”, said Anggy. “She hasn’t done any modeling but is very photogenic, and watches a lot of fashion shows.”

Chirped the youngster, “I love chocolate Pinkberry, with strawberries. It’s so yummy!”

Twelve-year-old candidate Avery Bebon was practically a modeling veteran compared with many of the other children. “I like modeling and acting and I thought this would give me a head start on what I want to do career-wise,” she said. “I tried out for a few acting roles in the past – I was on the Disney Channel for one small contest. It was really exciting. Who knows how this might go? This could be my big break.”

Stepping up to a long table that magazine staffers had set up curbside were four-and-a-half year-old towheaded triplets Dylan, Charlie and Shawn, from Rye, N.Y. Their proud mom had also heard about the event through SuzySaid.com and figured they had nothing to lose. “This is a good age to try this I think because they are more cooperative than they were when they were little, and they love getting their pictures taken,” she said.

While Serendipity captured great attention, the Pinkberry brand would not be repressed. A comparable line led through the front entry right up to the counter, where Pinkberry fans placed their orders and counter people – correct that, “Goodness Guides” – like Cassie Voley, 19, delivered the goods, passing off delicious concoctions with a “Enjoy your Pinkberry” salutation.

Bravo for Nuvo

Bravo for Nuvo:

Former restaurant owner Mike Constand leads new nightclub venture

By Mike Lauterborn

© 2011. All Rights Reserved.

8/3/11

Fairfield, CT – A native son who earned his restaurant management stripes as a college student in Florida, Fairfielder Mike Constand has put a tough incident behind him to lead operations at one of the hottest new nightlife spots in town.

Keeping watch on the crowd, shaking a hand or two and monitoring bartender activities, Constand, 42, leaned on the long bar at Nuvo, 238 Post Road, on a recent busy Tuesday night and spoke about the fledgling club he oversees and the path that brought him to its door.

Constand’s roots were simple, Fairfield-based and not oriented at all to his career choice. His dad, Bill, was a building manager for Scinto Development, while mom Cheryl ran Trinity Nursery in Southport. He was educated at North Stratfield Elementary and Fairfield Woods Middle School, and graduated from Andrew Warde High School in 1987.

It was his choice of colleges – leastways the location – that was the earliest influencer. “I went to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, where I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, in 1992,” he said. “FAU was in an area very heavily dominated by restaurants and bars.”

To put change in his pocket, he began working at Boston’s on the Beach, a restaurant in nearby Del Ray. “I was a clam shucker freshman year,” he said. “Then I started working all over southern Florida, serving as everything from bartender and doorman to waiter.”

With a developing interest in one day running his own place, he decided, “You have to get this type of experience, from all angles, to be in this business.”

After graduating, he returned to Fairfield, but pursued insurance, as a partner/broker, for Corporate Benefit Enterprises in Bridgeport. At the same time, though, he bartended, over a 10-year period. He worked at Fairfield restaurants Europa (now Bangalore Indian restaurant) and La Cucina (now Sweet Basil), and several places in South Norwalk, like Liquid and Rain.

Around 2003, Constand approached the owners of Rooster’s restaurant, on the Post Road in downtown Fairfield, and proposed that he help them solidify their business by serving as a majority owner and manager. “It was a three-year buyout deal wherein I basically paid off their debts,” he said. “In 2005, I assumed full ownership and sold my insurance business to complete the three-year deal.”

About that period, Constand said, “It was a big gamble to move from a cushy insurance job to a risky restaurant/bar business, but I thought the spot, which was a legend in town as Tommy’s for about 20 years, was ideal. I used to sit in there dreaming of one day owning the space. It was a lifelong dream fulfilled when I eventually did.”

The former owners had already changed the name from Rooster’s to Bravo, a name honoring Peter Bravo, a cop that helped them run out a former owner. “They were so grateful for his help,” said Constand.

New captain Constand put $100,000 into renovations, with a goal of bringing a fun singles environment to Fairfield. “I always felt the town didn’t have any action,” he said. “I wanted to inject a SoNo – New Haven atmosphere, which I did. For three years, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we were full to the gills with singles, while also serving a family crowd on weekdays and Sundays.”

He said Bravo became very popular quickly, with one of his strongest segments being the college crowd. “I had a college night on Tuesdays,” he said. “We had huge traffic and I was doing my diligence in terms of keeping things safe and fun. But then, on October 22, 2009, on one of these college nights, the Fairfield police and State of Connecticut Liquor Board conducted a raid and, of 200-plus people in the bar, half were caught with fake I.D.’s.”

Constand defends to this day that his door staff had done everything possible to check for underage patrons. “We scanned every I.D. with a video system that allows for comparing the I.D. to the person’s face,” he said.

“I was faced with some tough choices,” Constand reflected. “Do I continue to make a go of it or put it up for sale and check out. I did the latter, completing the sale February 15, 2010, to management that has since reopened the place as Old Post Tavern.”

Part of Constand’s sale agreement stipulated that he turn in his liquor permit, and he was not allowed to own another place for at least one year.

During the post-Bravo period, Constand was approached by Ron Gavern, who asked him to help design and manage his new nightclub Nuvo, formerly Lupita’s Mexican restaurant.

“Drawing on all my club experience, I developed a vision for a place that would appeal to a 21-35 crowd, with dancing and cocktails – an alternative to the basic dive bar.”

Nuvo opened in June 2010, starting with a loyal following from the Bravo days and steadily building on it.

Now, Nuvo showcases different local deejays Tuesday through Saturday, who spin top-40 tunes that fill the loungy space, which features chic pinspots, lighting effects and a New York feel.

“I want to provide a fun, safe place and alternative entertainment for people to enjoy themselves,” Constand said. “I’m committed to Fairfield and hopefully the town is committed to me.”