Biz on Biz

Biz on Biz: Design Solutions Loves Gingerbitz; New Canaan Olive Oil Enjoys Pennyweights and Francos Wine Merchants

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For this installment of Biz on Biz, we caught up with two New Canaan businesses, Design Solutions and New Canaan Olive Oil. When we peeked our heads in Design Solutions we spoke with the owner, Pauline Dora and asked her about her favorite businesses in town. Pauline immediately commented that she loved all of the local businesses in New Canaan, but her favorite meal would have to be from Gingerbitz, the bakery across the street from her store on Elm Street. “Gingerbitz, they have great food,” Pauline said. When asked what she liked at the bakery Pauline told the New Canaanite that the salad was her favorite.

Around Town

Biz on Biz: The Candy Scoop Brings Italian Ices Back to New Canaan

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, Connecticut Sandwich Co., Joe’s Pizza and Mackenzie’s. On a recent afternoon, we poked our head into New Canaan Music for another edition of our Biz on Biz feature, where we ask one local merchant to pick a personal favorite item or service at another shop. This time we talked with store owner Phil Williams to hear what items or services in town caught New Canaan Music’s eye. As it turned out, it was the chilling Italian ices at their neighbor’s shop, The Candy Scoop, that yielded the most praise. “We like the Italian ices over at Candy Scoop because they’re great and our students love them—there’s nothing better after a music lesson than an Italian ice,” Mr. Williams said.

Biz on Biz

Biz on Biz: Island Outfitters Loves the Jewelry, Handbags at She la la

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For this installment of “Biz on Biz”—where we wander into a New Canaan businesses and ask the people who work there for a personal favorite item or service at another downtown biz—we came upon the staff in Island Outfitters at 80 Main St. The clothing and accessories store—one of seven, the company is headquartered in Newport, R.I.—is marking 20 years in 2014. Inside, manager Ann Donovan told us she that one of her favorite spots for shopping in New Canaan is She la la at 120 Main. “They have cute jewelry and they do monogramming on handbags, and they’re great for giving as gifts for people,” Donovan said. The cross-body handbags at She la la come in about 10 different colors and are among the most popular that the store carries, manager Virginia Utley said.

Biz on Biz

Biz on Biz: Potpourri on Benny at Solé

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For this installment of “Biz on Biz”—a regular feature where we ask people who work in downtown New Canaan to tell us about a favorite product, service (or anything else) at another business—we ventured into women’s boutique Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs, just past the Playhouse on Elm. There we found Victoria Larkin, a town resident for 24 years who works as a floor supervisor at the clothing and accessories shop. The first thing that came to mind? Benny, the host at next-door neighbor Solé Ristorante. “I don’t know Benny’s last name.

Biz on Biz

Biz on Biz: Swirl on Village Critter Outfitter

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In this, our “Biz on Biz” feature, we ask an owner or employee at one New Canaan business to tell us about a favorite thing at another business: an item, a quality, a service, anything. So when Sonny Yi, on-site owner of the popular FroYo purveyor Swirl, told us that he loves the way fellow Cherry Street merchant Shirleen Dubuque, owner of Village Critter Outfitter, deals with her customers, we pressed Yi for more specifics. “A few days ago, there was a lost dog, in the parking lot here,” Yi said, pointing out the window. “It was a family that actually stopped into our store. There were like four kids and one adult so it was kind of crazy, and when the kids jumped out of the car, the dog must’ve come out too, but they didn’t realize.