There's a certain kind of Saturday that only really happens around here. You run out to Stew Leonard's in East Norwalk for milk, and the parking lot is fuller than usual. There's a line stretching past the entrance and it turns out Ben Stiller is inside meeting fans and pouring his new soda. That was the scene on Saturday, August 22, when Stiller stopped by the Norwalk location to promote Stiller's Soda, his low-sugar drink brand that launched last fall in Root Beer, Shirley Temple, and lemon-lime flavors.
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It wasn't Stiller's first stop at a Stew Leonard's for the soda — he'd made a similar appearance at the chain's Yonkers location back in December. But there was something fitting about this one landing in Norwalk, a few minutes from Westport, in a part of Connecticut where a genuine A-lister showing up at the grocery store isn't exactly shocking. Plenty of well-known names live in or pass through this stretch of Long Island Sound's Gold Coast.
Stew Leonard's Has Always Been More Than a Grocery Store
None of this happens by accident. Stew Leonard's built its reputation over decades by turning a grocery run into an event — animatronic characters, live music, seasonal festivals, and now, apparently, celebrity meet-and-greets. It's the kind of place that gives a Tuesday errand the energy of a Saturday outing, which is a big part of why it's stayed a fixture for local families for so long.
Stiller, for his part, is no stranger to reinventing himself between projects. Beyond the comedies he's best known for, he directed the first two seasons of "Severance," is producing an HBO documentary on the Knicks' championship run, and is still expanding the soda brand that brought him to Norwalk in the first place.
The Kind of Thing That Makes This Area What It Is
Moments like this are small, but they add up to something. Fairfield County doesn't need a tourism campaign — it has Compo Beach, The Westport Playhouse, the Westport Farmers' Market, a walkable Main Street, free summer concerts at the Levitt Pavilion, and, evidently, the occasional afternoon where a movie star is handing out soda samples at the store you already had on your list. It's the texture of ordinary weekends here that tends to surprise people who haven't spent real time in the area — and it's a big reason families who move here end up staying.
If You're Thinking About Making the Move
If stories like this make Westport sound like the kind of place you'd want to plant roots, Westport Family Homes has a property currently on the market: 5 Baldwin Place, a new-construction, family-centered home in Westport's Long Lots neighborhood.
You can view the full listing here or reach out directly to learn more.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Stew Leonard's near Westport, Connecticut?
The closest Stew Leonard's to Westport is the East Norwalk location on Westport Avenue in Norwalk, a short drive from Westport.
What is Stiller's Soda?
Stiller's Soda is a low-sugar soda brand from actor and director Ben Stiller. It launched in the fall of 2025 in Root Beer, Shirley Temple, and lemon-lime flavors.
What is there to do in Westport, Connecticut?
Westport has Compo Beach, the Westport Country Playhouse, the Westport Farmers' Market, a walkable Main Street, and free summer concerts at the Levitt Pavilion.