Business

‘I Love This Community’: Dashing Diva Beauty Launches on Cherry Street

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One of New Canaan’s hottest salons has a new owner. Gianna Parente has been with the salon formerly known as “Divaz,” now Dashing Diva Beauty, since she was 17. Taking over the business’s lease in August, after the previous owner decided not to renew, the native New Yorker formed a connection to New Canaan through her years of working here. “Truthfully, I feel like I grew up here,” Parente told the New Canaanite. “I’ve been here since I was very young, and when my boss was not going to re-sign, I kind of was like, oh my god, I can’t see us all not being together, I can’t see our clients leaving.

Business

New Dermatology Practice To Open Downtown Next Month

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A new Dermatology practice is slated to open next month, located on 38 East Ave. Founded and led by board-certified Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist Dr. Elle H. de Moll, Elite Dermatology Physicians will begin seeing patients of all ages following their grand opening on Oct. 19. Originally from Wilton, de Moll earned her medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Post college, De Moll completed an internship with the Yale program of Internal Medicine at Norwalk Hospital, where she was recognized as Intern of the Year.

Business

‘The Beach Corner’ Seeks New, Expanded Space in Town After 30 Years at Main and East

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A New Canaan business has temporarily closed its doors after 30 years downtown as it finds new, expanded space here. The Beach Corner, a family-owned retailer specializing in women’s swimwear, matching accessories and cruise wear, opened in 1994 at the corner of Main Street and East Avenue. This month, according to Kim Ribeiro—an owner of the business along with her mom, Marcia Chludzinski, and sister, Margo Bogdanski—The Beach Corner shut its doors following discussions with the building’s landlord. It’s the right time to relocate within New Canaan and expand because “it’s not the busy season right now,” Ribeiro said. “We did look at some space in Westport, and that’s a nice change and it would bring new clientele, but I don’t want to lose my New Canaan clientele—they’ve been so amazing to me for 30 years and I know they’ll miss us if we leave,” Ribeiro said.

Business

‘Yoga Utopia’ To Open Monday on East Avenue

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A new yoga studio is set to open Monday in downtown New Canaan. Yoga Utopia (here on Instagram) at 33 East Ave. is a “holistic, self care wellness studio,” owner Lena Booth told NewCanaanite.com. 

“It is an inclusive place for all to go and enjoy the practice of yoga,” Booth said in an email. “The studio also includes classes in guided meditation, mat pilates, moon circles, sound baths, reiki, body massage, drumming, healing circles, gentle stretch and more.”

The space on East Avenue had been occupied previously by Posh, a high-end consignment shop. In New Canaan, Yoga Utopia joins a handful of popular yoga and wellness studios including Sama Yoga on Grove Street, Kaia Yoga on Park Street and Forme Barre Fitness on Elm Street.

Business

‘The Waveny’ Restaurant Planned for Pine Street

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The owners of the hugely popular Spiga restaurant in New Canaan are planning to open a new eatery on Pine Street. The Waveny Polo Bar & Grill—featuring “new American cuisine,” according to promotional materials, including “small plates, salads, steaks, chops, fowl, burgers, seafood, great wine, craft cocktails and more”—is going at 36 Pine St., former location of The South End. Plans filed with the New Canaan Building Department call for a “renovation to the existing restaurant space including the exterior facade and patio area.” A letter of authorization from the property’s owner identifies Pine Hospitality as the new operator. According to Connecticut Secretary of the State records, Pine Hospitality’s principals include Dan Camporeale and Gennaro and Alex Racanelli, who also are owners of Spiga (the Main Street restaurant opened eight years ago). Reached by phone, a Spiga owner confirmed plans for a new restaurant at 36 Pine St.