By Brian Lockhart, Staff Writer, Connecticut Post
BRIDGEPORT — Its fans would say Bloodroot vegetarian restaurant fed the stomach and the soul.
Since the feminist establishment’s closure in December after 48 years, the eatery’s cuisine is no longer available. But the 1.7 acre property, prime waterfront land in the popular Black Rock neighborhood, may still wind up providing servings of inner peace.
That is if the local Aspetuck Land Trust strikes a deal to acquire the site and maintain it as a natural area for the public.
“We’d love to preserve the land and name the property after the restaurant and just honor all the work and effort and integrity of what they put in there all those years,” said David Brant, Aspetuck’s executive director. “They were ahead of their time.”
He said the organization has had “in-depth” discussions with Bloodroot co-founder Noel Furie. Her business partner, Selma Miriam, died in February 2025.
But in an interview last November after the closure was announced, Furie said ideally the mostly undeveloped acreage would be preserved “in some way for public use” and Bloodroot’s clapboard, 1950s-era structure saved. She emphasized she did not want the site to wind up “overbuilt.”
The restaurant was founded in 1977 along the short residential Ferris Street by Black Rock Harbor. Its property on the face of it seems desirable for developers. Located on the Fairfield border, suburban Black Rock is known for its waterfront access, impressive and expensive homes, and its restaurants, bars and boutiques.
According to Bridgeport’s land use regulations, allowed construction styles at Bloodroot’s address include a storefront building and a single or collection of residential homes that can include commercial uses.
Brant emphasized talks with Furie are ongoing and no formal deal has been struck.