Segment 4: Postwar Growth and The Pier Restaurant

In August of 1945, the war was over. After a combined fifteen years of Depression rolling into the horrors of World War II, Americans were ready to embrace life and the boundless opportunities the country offered. The rapid growth of pleasure boating was one such way.

Lou moved his boating business down to his Water Street property and went on a tear developing Rex Marine. The former Sealshipt building became the headquarters for Rex Marine Basin, as it was known until around 1960. The two story, clapboard sided building was home to boat sales, the new store and parts department, and office staff. Lou and Beryl had their offices there as well.

Over the next twenty five years, Lou continued adding to the site. What began there grew into six or more additional buildings, including a boat showroom and various service areas. No architectural awards, and no debt, but they got the work done.

Rex continued to expand, and so did the Pier Restaurant. Around 1940, though the exact date was not recorded, Lou and his friends of the Lyons family opened a restaurant in the Sealshipt building known as the Lyons Pier Restaurant. The Lyons family operated the business until the early 1950s, when Lou engaged a series of managers to operate it.

At this time, Lou bought the second parcel of Rex Marine, adjacent to the north side of the property and bordering what is now the Ischoda Yacht Club property. It included the building of the defunct shellfish concern of David Decker, often cited for successfully converting existing sailing vessels to steam power, which revolutionized and disrupted that industry.

Around 1955, Lou and his men more than doubled the size of the Pier Restaurant, enlarged the store and parts department, and also created two boat showrooms when he bridged the two buildings to create one much larger structure.

The most remembered manager of the 1960s was E.C. Jones, known as Jonesy, who with his parrot, Betty the hostess, and a rotating cast over the years would come to Norwalk each May to operate the Pier Restaurant. They lived in a late eighteenth century house on site. After The Pier closed each Columbus Day, they would return to operate a restaurant in the Miami area.

Finishing up the Pier Restaurant story, around 1970 Lou leased the business to Tony Karadimas and Jim Koutroubis, who operated The Pier until its closing around 1985. The building never had heat, air conditioning, or a fire sprinkler system, and being more than one hundred years old, its wooden support pilings had suffered from sea worms and age. It was ultimately deemed not in compliance by the Fire Marshal, and The Pier closed.

It was a sad ending after more than forty years of fond memories for so many diners from near and far, who arrived by sea as well as by land.

Up Next: The Start of Norwalk Cove Marina, Ascension Beach & Pools, & More Rex Expansions