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Historic Restaurant to Become Chabad House

The Hour

The former Three Bears Restaurant has new tenants.

The former Three Bears restaurant, a town landmark since the 1900s, is poised to change hands and become the new home of Chabad Lubavitch of Westport, CT.

Currently under contract to be sold, the property, which boasts 9,180 square feet and sits on 2.73 acres, has been listed for $1.95 million for nearly two years. Over that time period, Real Estate Broker John Zervos of DVB Commercial Realty, LLC said he has had several offers on the property, which includes sections that date back to more than two centuries old when it was used as a stage coach stop.

“It’s a shame to change since it’s been a restaurant for so many years,” Zervos said. “But they’re not planning on changing the outside and the inside works really well for them with the big open spaces of the dining rooms.”

Zervos said while Chabad Lubavitch has already moved their office into the new digs, they still have to apply for permits with town officials to use the space as a religious institution in order to officially close the deal.

But apparently, the deal has already hit a snag.

According to Planning and Zoning Director Laurence Bradley, the department received a complaint on Jan. 4 from a neighbor regarding activity taking place at the former restaurant. In response, Bradley sent an inspector to check out the space on Jan. 11, and allegedly found work being done on premise without permits.

“So, we sent a letter on Jan. 13 citing them for violations of the zoning regulations,” Bradley said. “Then, their attorney, Larry Wiseman sent a letter back on Jan. 19 requesting a 30-day abeyance for more time to submit the required application.”

Bradley said the abeyance was granted and the group now has until Feb. 23 to file appropriate paperwork.

“We don’t have any plans, so it’s hard to say what they’re doing (in there),” Bradley said. “But they have been working and doing things without a permit. It’s been a restaurant since probably before there was zoning, so if they want it to become a synagogue, they will have to go through an extensive review and public hearings.”

Ken Gruder, an attorney for Chabad Lubavitch insisted that “nothing substantial” has been done inside the property and that the group is on the cusp of filing its application.

“We want to be an excellent neighbor and satisfy everyones needs and concerns,” Gruder said. “Our position is that we will be much less contentious than the last use of the building as a restaurant seven days a week. I don’t believe any non-profit can even utilize the space to that degree.”

What the space will be used for, according to Gruder, is more of an outreach group that includes prayer services, educational programs and religious discussions.

“It’s not a synagogue in the traditional sense, it’s so much more,” Gruder said. “The location is great and our number one goal right now is to get in the space and settle there for many years.”

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9 Comments

  • Milhouse

    “Sacrifice their good name”?! What are you talking about? Who thinks less of them, apart from some petty tyrants on the council? And who cares what they think? It’s their property, why shouldn’t they do minor work inside it? Who made it the town’s business what you do inside your own home? Where in the Torah, or the US constitution for that matter, is government authorised to poke its nose into such things? There is no obligation to obey the law, and no normal decent person thinks less of someone for ignoring it. Every normal person ignores these laws whenever they can anyway. When’s the last time you refrained from jaywalking because “it’s the law”?

  • Milhouse

    #1, If they wait until all the I’s are crossed and all the T’s dotted, how long will it take? And how many yidden will miss out on torah and mitzvos in the meantime? What if they are denied the permits and end up having to go to court? How long with the geulah be delayed? Why are you making an avodah zarah out of “the law”?

    #5, It’s called lechatchila aribber. Have you never heard of that? Change the status quo in your favour.

  • to 12 & 13

    From time immemorial it has been a strict policy of the Rebbe that EVERYTHING be done ACCORDING TO the prevailing laws and rules.
    There have been HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS of answers – both written & verbal (can be confirmed by Leibel) – that the Rebbe CLEARLY instructed that things should be CHUKI-ACCORDING TO LAW!
    There were countless times people asked if they should do such-and-such, even though it meant “bending” the law(s) – and the Rebbe CLEARLY and UNEQUIVOCALLY stated; ABSOLUTELY NO!
    Lechatchila ariber DOES NOT MEAN TO BREAK EVERY law and ordinance – because you are interested in pushing through your OWN (NOT THE REBBE’S) agenda.
    P.S. Fighting with Shea H, and Levi S – and having workshops to show and tell EVERYONE else just how to fight turf-wars – ALSO does not hasten moshiach’s arrival!

  • dan lkaf zchus - or is that too much?

    just because the media says they were doing work illegally… you believe the shluchim are 100% wrong. When we bought our place we needed to put normal windows into the “sun porch” because we wanted to use it as a room for an office… our neighbor – an anti semite – complained that we were illegally remodeling our house. did you know you need permits to change your windows??????/ we didn’t know that!! there are many laws that you would have no idea – no one is trying to bypass the law here!

  • Milhouse

    #7, the whole existence of Oholei Torah is not “chuki”! So don’t tell me any mayses.