Around Town

New Canaan Merchants Launch ‘Shop Summer Nights’ Every Thursday Through Labor Day

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The Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates. A group of downtown New Canaan merchants is keeping their doors open late every Thursday this summer, hoping to draw shoppers into town during the evening hours under a new initiative. “Shop Summer Nights” is organized through the newly formed Shop New Canaan Association, more than one dozen independent retailers that began meeting in late May. Participating stores stay open from 5 to 7 p.m. each Thursday, with a different theme each week. Parking is free after 5 p.m.

Carl Franco, owner of Franco’s Wine Merchants on Elm Street and one of the participants, said the idea came from a recurring conversation with customers.

Business

‘We’re So Thankful’: The Adirondack Store on Elm Street To Close Friday

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The Adirondack Store, a beloved retail shop and café that opened on Elm Street seven years ago, is closing its doors this week, the business’s owners say. Christopher English and Stephen Shin said they’re deeply thankful to the New Canaan community for making their store a unique and special place. 

“We’re so thankful that a community like New Canaan really supports its brick-and-mortar,” Shin said. “They come into town, they shop, and we truly have appreciated that, especially in the holidays, from Labor Day to Christmas Day.”

English said that when they opened the Elm Street location, he and Shin “never really imagined that it would turn into a social hub for the community.”

“That’s something we never expected,” English said. “But the people that have worked for us the seven years that we’ve basically been here are just loving and incredible.”

Shin added that those valued workers are “exceptional” and “a reflection of the community.”

“Every single person that’s ever worked for us has been incredible,” he added. English and Shin said that expenses have made the store too difficult to work financially, with $24,000 in monthly rent and bills that have risen steeply in recent years (for example, electric up from $1,200 to $4,000 per month, and health insurance up from $1,600 to $3,900).

Business

Shopping Local and the Health of Downtown New Canaan [Q&A]

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With happenings in downtown New Canaan top of mind for many these days, we decided to put some questions about the local business community to Laura Budd, executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. 

Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: We’ve reported on one Main Street business closing in the past month, as well as another Main Street business opening across the street, and the launch of a new business on Vitti Street. What is the Chamber’s take on the state/health of downtown New Canaan today? Laura Budd: Downtown New Canaan is healthy — and the activity you’re describing is actually proof of that. Openings and closings are a normal part of any living, breathing commercial district.

Business

New Canaan Women Launch ‘On Brookside’ Tabletop Rentals

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It all started with a book club. The origin story of Ella Barnette and Jessica Merrill’s tabletop rental service is the stuff of small business dreams. 

When Barnette and Merrill, co-founders of On Brookside, started a book club in 2023, their aptitude for creativity and aesthetics found a natural home in creating table settings and decorations for book club nights. Barnette has 20 years of experience in fashion and styling, and Merrill is a former wedding planner turned graphic designer. 

“We were just putting together these really beautiful tablescapes and that led to conversations around, ‘I would love to own more plates and flatware and glasses, I either don’t have anywhere to store or all of it, or I don’t necessarily want to spend the funds to collect all of it, or I don’t really have the eye,’ ” said Merrill, who also used to run the social component of the New Canaan Newcomers Club. “It was just kind of a fun, creative expression for us… and we kind of had our own moment of being like, ‘Should we do this?’ ” Barnette added. “Because everyone’s reacting to it and giving us such a positive response.

Business

Greenology on Main Street Closes

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A plant-based restaurant that opened five years ago in downtown New Canaan closed this past weekend. Located at Main Street and East Avenue in what locals remember as the former “Wire Whisk” space, Greenology closed Sunday. Clean and comfortable, the eatery emerged as a popular local spot for healthy smoothies, juices, soups, acai and protein bowls, sandwiches, salads and Jack’s Stir Brew coffee. 

Reached by NewCanaanite.com, the business’s owner, James Marks, noted that he’s open to hearing from investors for a possible future iteration of Greenology in New Canaan. “We also really want to thank the community for the tremendous outpouring of love and support for us,” Marks said. “I have received so many sad and very kind messages from our customers and the community.”

Opened at 96 Main St.