Ripka’s Bridgeport Market Opens New Café in Downtown

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Aug. 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Bridgeport, Conn., Aug. 13, 2013 – Ripka’s Bridgeport Market, a provider of fresh grocery, baked goods, produce, meats, seafood and cheese in downtown Bridgeport, announces the opening of The Café at Ripka’s Market, a first-of-its kind bistro in that locale where diners can feast on a variety of fresh soups, salads, entrees and sandwiches from a menu that is refreshed daily.

The Café at Ripka’s Market, located in the historic Bridgeport Arcade building at 1005 Main St., will have regular happy hour offerings such as “Wine Down Wednesdays,” with special prices on a great selection of wines, and “Raw Bar Thursdays,” featuring the freshest clams, oysters and shrimp as well as drink specials. The Café serves a full range of wine, beer and spirits, and features a rotating selection of craft beers on tap.

The café’s kitchen is overseen by Chef David Johnson, the former owner/chef of Backstreet in Darien, CT. Chef Johnson’s influence is obvious in every menu item in the café. He utilizes a variety of products available to him from the market’s own butcher, seafood monger and baker.

The café hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The market is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Having a café on the premises was part of the vision of owner Clyde Ripka, who also operates cafés and markets in Norwalk and Stamford, and opened the Bridgeport market in June. It has proven popular with residents and downtown workers since its opening, and employs 45 people locally.

“We want to make this a place where people who live, work and visit downtown Bridgeport and the surrounding area can come out to buy a great variety of fresh foods from the market and also enjoy a fine meal and a drink in the café,” said Ripka. “This type of venue was something that was lacking in the area for a long time, and we’re glad to be able to fill that void. We see our market and café as part of the ongoing renaissance of the downtown area, making it once again a destination locale in upper Fairfield County.”

“Clyde Ripka and Ginsburg Development Companies have made a significant investment in downtown Bridgeport, with the opening of the neighborhood’s first grocery store in decades and now with the opening of The Café at Ripka’s Market,” said Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “Congratulations to Clyde and his entire staff for opening another outstanding establishment. The opening of the café adds another venue to Bridgeport’s diverse dining scene where residents, visitors and employees can visit for lunch or dinner and enjoy all that the city has to offer.”

 

About Ripka’s Bridgeport Market

Ripka’s Bridgeport Market is a provider of fresh meats, seafood, baked goods, grocery items, vegetables, fruits and cheeses in downtown Bridgeport, at the historic Main Street arcade. It offers local and area residents and workers a place to shop without having to leave the downtown area, fulfilling a need that had been unmet in the city for decades. It also includes The Café at Ripka’s Market, offering a selection of fresh salads, soups, entrees and sandwiches. For more information, call 475-422-9000, or visit their website at www.RipkasMarket.com. Like Ripka’s Bridgeport Market on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RipkasBridgeportMarket