Sometime in late fall of 1999, a group met at the Benedum Civic Center to discuss the revitalization of Bridgeport’s downtown. Not that the downtown was a disaster, but there were some eyesores, several vacant buildings, and not a whole lot of reasons to venture there other than to drive through it.

 

Backed with the support of Bridgeport City Council, $15,000 was provided to install new water fountains in front of the Benedum Civic Center to “kickoff” the revitalization. That was followed by the first of several federally funded grants to redo the city’s sidewalks and install decorative streetlights.

 

The hope?

 

To get existing businesses to dress up their property and ultimately lure new businesses to the city’s Main Street corridor. Nearly 25 years later, it is safe to say the hopes have been realized.

 

Empty storefronts are rare. Dilapidated buildings are essentially non-existent. Unique businesses are on nearly every block. People and businesses noticed the changes and they bought in.

 

Among the first to do it were James “Jim” and Patti Oliverio Simon. They saw what was taking place and an idea was born.

 

The idea was Almost Heaven Desserts & Coffee Shop. On Monday, it celebrated its 20th anniversary of business downtown, on the corner of West Main and Center Streets. Patti said she was aware of what was starting to take place and wanted to be part of it.

 

“I remember the sidewalks going in,” said Patti, who along with husband Jim are the coffee shop owners. “That was a few years before we started, but we could see it happening and wanted to be part of the growth. Now, I feel like downtown is a destination location with all of the shops. We’re happy to be part of it.”

 

Almost Heaven is actually a big part of it. And it happened because of a name familiar in downtown Bridgeport as the name Oliverio.

 

“My brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mark and Judy Bonamico, bought the building we’re part of the year we opened. They got it for Judy’s hair salon (Expressions, which is also still open today), and they approached us about putting a little shop in that location, the one we’re in now,” Patti said.

 

That is where it began. Suddenly, downtown Bridgeport was about to have a coffee shop under the Oliverio family name and Mark Bonamico, Patti said, was doing all the renovations.

 

All was going well in those early stages. There was, however, a hiccup. It was a hiccup Patti Oliverio Simon knew not to ignore.

 

Her father, the late Sonny Oliverio, was questioning the project the Simon family was embarking on. It was not because he believed what his daughter was involved with could not work, but it was something a little more touching.

 

“When I graduated high school and decided to go to culinary school, he just didn’t want to see his little girls involved with it because he knew the work and the commitment from being in the business his entire life,” Patti said. “He wanted me to be anything else, such as a lawyer and go to law school.

 

“He was just wanting the best for me and when we were renovating that building, he couldn’t see the vision,” she continued. “I am certain he would be proud of what it has become.”

 

What it has become is one of downtown’s business beacons. While there were plenty of businesses in place prior, an avalanche of businesses has come since – along with millions of dollars in renovations, expansions, and new construction. 

 

Still, Patti said her and Jim were not sure if things would progress. Despite the success they see now, they were not sure at first where things were headed.

 

“Any time you start a new venture you never know how it’s going to turn out. There is some sort of doubt in your mind,” she said. “At that time, downtown Bridgeport was struggling a bit, but it changed. We feel good that the revamping of that building was kind of near the starting point when the downtown turned into what it is today.”

 

That building today houses the coffee shop and hair salon along with Studio 9 Dance Academy. It is no longer old and worn out, but fresh with the building’s history and character still intact.

 

“We did do some changes … The old beat-up floors are the same floors you see today that are redone. We did not do too much to the block walls. The character of the building is part of what we like,” Patti said.

 

The roughly 2,000 square foot business, with inside and warm weather outside dining. Along with the namesake coffees on the menu, there are plenty of pastries, cookies, cheesecakes, sandwiches, salads, and more. The business is currently ramped up with Christmas cookies and orders right now.

 

“We offer a little bit of everything,” said Patti. “It’s been working.”

 

Apparently so. Along with the business lasting for 20 years on Main Street, there is also a second location in Cheat Lake that Patti said was not spur of the moment, but something envisioned early on. There is also the bakery that is located on Wonder Bar Road.

 

“As for future expansion, we’re satisfied now. Any future growth will be our daughter Victoria’s decision,” said Patti. “She’s very involved and she’ll have to decide about the work and effort needed if there is any future expansion.”

 

After 20 years, Patti said she would like to join Jim in retirement. She said they have had several adventures together, but she would like to have time to do more.

 

“He’s really enjoying his retirement. I want to retire soon as well, but I always feel the need to be at the business. It draws me back in, and most of the time, I enjoy that,” she said.

 

Until then, Patti and the rest of the staff – that numbers above 40 at all locations – will keep the business going. And the business has been good because of a dedicated customer base.

 

“We couldn’t survive without our regular customers. We have a couple that have been there practically every day for 20 years, and they’re such a big part of our business,” Patti said. “Hopefully, even when I retire, I can come back and see those same faces 20 years from now. That’s our hope.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photos shows James "Jim" Simon and wife Patti, while the rest of the photos show interaction and food items available at the Main Street shop (as well as their Cheat Lake location).