A longtime New Canaan resident and his wife, who recently purchased the Roger Sherman, say they’re looking to update the property while preserving its history.
Uanderson Benedetti said he and his wife, Brianna, “want the property to be a gathering spot for everyone in New Canaan, and even all of Connecticut and Northern Westchester.”
“My family loves this community, and we think the Roger Sherman deserves a special place in it,” Benedetti said. “We’ll try to update it as much as possible while maintaining its history and story.”
When asked by NewCanaanite.com why his company, 195 Oenoke Ridge LLC, purchased the property, Benedetti described it as somewhat of a “passion project.”
“It’s not something that we needed to do, but we wanted to,” he said. “I saw the value in reinvigorating the property to make it something that fills a gap in this community.”
Benedetti listed the following as ideas he’s had for potential renovations or business opportunities that could come to the Roger Sherman: adding hotel rooms, revitalizing the inside and outside of the restaurant, offering events such as pilates or movie screenings on the front lawn, expanding seating on the deck, and opening the restaurant for extended hours.
The Roger Sherman will partner with several local businesses and offer a variety of amenities, according to Benedetti.
“The goal is to make it a place of shared experiences,” he said. “It will be a place to have an amazing lunch but also a place to have a wedding or a christening. There aren’t many other large venues in town, so the Roger Sherman will bring an element that this community needs.”
The LLC is taking the preservation of the history of the Roger Sherman seriously, as Benedetti noted that he is looking across Connecticut to find the specific type of wood that it was built with.
There is no set timeline for the renovations, as progress will be gradual. However, Benedetti said that within 90 days, there will be “noticeable differences at the Roger Sherman.”
I’m so relieved to hear it was a local person and not Karp or some developer looking to raze it and build a bunch of cheap housing.
So we’ll said🥰
I think this is a wonderful endeavor and to preserve our history is one of the greatest gifts to each and everyone of us. It would get great if the community could donate antiques for the Inn.
Good luck, Uanderson and Brianna. Can’t wait to sample the new Roger Sherman!
Thank you for saving this awsome Fairfield County landmark.
Phew!
So glad someone who cares about the place bought it!
In related news, please keep the cool, old-school, wooden bar /dining area the same! And if you can turn back time to make the main dining room look as cool as it used to, that’d be great too ;).
This is so wonderful to hear!
My parents favorite place to have dinner back in the 80’s when they came up for a visit from New Jersey. I actually almost had my wedding at the Inn!
Yay! Very good news indeed.
So thankful there are those who care about our history and are willing to invest and preserve it for future generations. I always loved New Canann could never afford to live there however I would always shop for my horse there.
Growing up in New Canaan and now living in the midwest – the Roger Sherman is truly one of the coziest, unique and special places in the country. To continue to evolve and curate the experience is such a blessing for ALL of us. I am excited to watch for updates and stay again on my next visit to NC! – Jerry Pullins Jr.
Thank you so much for saving this very special place- we are so grateful!
Got married there 26 years ago! Thrilled it will still be around for years to cone!
Thrilled to hear this news. As someone who has grown up in NC and had many special events there, I look forward to supporting the RS in the future!
This is such a breath of fresh air to read. So happy that a lovely local family is stepping in to save this New Canaan staple. I’m looking forward to continuing to bring my family to the Roger Sherman for family meals and celebrations.
We are elated to learn about the updates while maintaining the gorgeous New England charm that we all love and appreciate.
Wonderful couple with class, care and a great eye for elegance. More importantly, they stand for New Canaan and want the very best for our community. Best of luck to the Benedetti!
3 generations of our family enjoying the RS for all kinds of treasured occasions and life milestones. Fairfield County would welcome something like the Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, CT – they seem to have no competition in the state! Opportunity for you
This is a New Canaan treasure. All the best.