Bijou Square asks: Where were you before you lived in Bridgeport?

Jessica: I have lived many places before, and one of my favorites was Charlottesville, Virginia. It had recently undergone a sort of revitalization. I loved the city-ness of Charlottesville and also the easy access to services like parks, restaurants, libraries, etc., often without much need to drive. Most recently I had lived in Monroe, CT.

Peter: I grew up in Chicago, but lived in Fairfield County for most of my life. Prior to opening Epernay Bistro, I owned Winfield Deli in Norwalk, which I operated for 16 years.

Bijou Square: What brought you here?

Jessica: I moved here after a divorce. I had spent a lot of time down here with friends at the Baldwin Green Concert Series on Thursdays, running at Seaside Park, and my kids attend Arabic school on Saturdays on Clinton Avenue at the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center. I liked that I could do all these things in my own neighborhood. Coming from Monroe, I was looking for more cultural diversity for my kids as well. I love all the little ethnic groceries here and the ability to pick up ingredients for my Indian cooking right down the street.

Peter: I moved into the apartment on the third floor above Epernay because I knew I would be spending large amounts of time here while I was building the restaurant. We love the vision of improving Bridgeport and making it a destination. It feels good to a part of such a wonderful city with so much potential. Our neighborhood really has a family feel and it's been fabulous to have neighbors become friends who we look forward to seeing and to see smiling faces every day!

Bijou Square: What do you do here?

Jessica: We own Epernay Bistro and Wine Bar on Fairfield Avenue. Peter is the chef and I am the General Manager. I met my husband when he was in the process of building the restaurant. We were both tenants above the restaurant. I lived on the second floor and he lived on the third floor. We went to Cafe Roma for drinks one night and the rest is history! In any case, our restaurant is casual french, and our wine list is extensive but value-oriented (most of our list is under $35 bottle). I am awed by Peter's natural talent at combining quality ingredients in their purest form and creating a truly unexpected dining experience. I knew the first time he cooked dinner for me in the third floor apartment that he was something special. We have wonderful customers who appreciate the experience we offer here and are pleased with the changes they see in Bridgeport. Most of our customers come from surrounding communities including Fairfield, Trumbull, Stratford and Westport.

Bijou Square: What's one spot you could be in Bridgeport all day and why?

Jessica and Peter: We especially love St. Mary's-by-the-Sea. We love to take our dog, Mickey, for walks there. I love running there. We love the view of the lighthouse at Seaside. We love walking to Harborview for coffee after our walk. We love the houses in that neighborhood and we love the salty air. We love the huge old trees and the monk parakeets.

Bijou Square: What do you think we're missing here?

Jessica and Peter: We would appreciate having a grocery store downtown. Even a large 'international farm market' like the one on Main. Something within walking distance that we could get to for last minute groceries for the restaurant without having to drive. A nice wine shop would also be great. We are hopeful that the community garden plans will be expanded so that more vacant properties could be used to create fresh food for Bridgeport's residents.