For nearly two weeks last fall, Stonington Borough was transformed into the fictional town of Hope Springs, Maine. Noah's Restaurant on Water Street became the Nor'Easter Diner for several days last October.
"It was very exciting," said Lisa Coleman, manager at Noah's Restaurant. "They were normal people, they were in character."
Tommy Lee Jones and Meryl Streep dined at the restaurant, not as Tommy Lee and Meryl, but as Kay and Arnold. The couple traveled to the town of Hope Springs, Maine in the movie to rekindle their struggling marriage.
"It was great to see Meryl Streep up close and personal. She's very friendly, very sweet, and just waved to everyone," Mary Tucciarone recalled, "She was very nice."
Tucciarone offered up her store Tucci Design for the filmmakers and though they used it for several shots they didn't make the final cut.
Stonington is no stranger to Hollywood. The 1988 flick "Mystic Pizza" still brings throngs of summer tourists to the restaurant in the Mystic portion of Stonington.
Stonington wasn't the only town featured in "Hope Springs". Crews shot scenes in Darien, Milford, and Guilford.
On the Guilford Green, the Guilford Food Center and Breakwater Books are featured in the movie.
"We had to close the store down for the day. People around town were buzzing trying to get a peek at Meryl Streep," Guilford Food Center deli manager Jackie Peters said.
Breakwater Books and the Food Center hosted a premier party with a red carpet, wine, food and raffles before the movie opened at the nearby Madison Art Cinemas on Wednesday.
"It's very exciting. Everyone around town is talking about it," Peter's said, "In the trailer you can visibly see the Food Center and Breakwater Books people are excited. It's fun!"
