Business

New Canaan Holiday Shopping: Elm Street Books [Q&A]

By |

For today’s installment in our local holiday shopping series, we spoke to Manda Riggs of Elm Street Books at 35 Elm St. Here’s a transcription of our conversation. 

***

New Canaanite: How’s it going so far this holiday shopping season? Manda Riggs: I would say it’s been soft, actually. I’m not entirely sure if it was the shorter shopping season—‘longer November, shorter December,’ as we say—not sure if it was an election result. I looked at our numbers from 2020 and 2016. It looks like our Decembers in those years were also a tiny bit soft, so we’ll see.

Business

‘We Want Them To Feel Really Good’: LaSource Opens on Elm Street 

By |

[For this installment of our local holiday shopping series, we interviewed Jessica Johnson, who last month opened LaSource at 44 Elm St.]

Jessica Johnson opened her first LaSource store in Darien a little over one year ago. A successful commercial real estate agent who used to work as a professional ballet dancer, Johnson had the idea in creating the shop to “try and reinvent a lingerie store.”

“I grew up a Victoria’s Secret customer in my 20s and everybody knows how Victoria’s Secret sells to women and what that looks like,” Johnson said Thursday afternoon from the floor of her warm, inviting new location in downtown New Canaan. “It is very much about seduction, whereas we’ve kind of taken seduction out of the store and tried to just create a beautiful space for women to feel comfortable in and supported. And we offer everything from bra fitting to resort wear and swimwear. And for all ages, really.

Business

Holiday Shopping in New Canaan: Francos Wine Merchants

By |

For today’s installment in our local holiday shopping series, we spoke to Carl Franco of Francos Wine Merchants on Elm Street. Here’s a transcription of our conversation. 

***

New Canaanite: How’s the holiday shopping season been for you guys? Carl Franco: It’s been a little delayed. But I think people are starting to wake up and realize that Christmas is in two weeks. 

What are some of your best sellers? 

There’s always the traditional Cabs and Pinot Noirs and areas that people feel comfortable shopping in because they know them. But Italy’s always very big at Christmas because of a lot of menus—especially on Christmas Eve—and then it’s had an excellent 2019 vintage, which has just been released.

Business

Holiday Shopping in New Canaan: New Canaan Music [Q&A]

By |

For this installment in our local holiday shopping series, we talk to Phil Williams, owner of New Canaan Music at 90 Main St. Here’s a transcription of our conversation. ***

New Canaanite: How are things going so far for the holiday shopping season? 

Phil Williams: We kicked things off this season, symbolically and in reality, with the Holiday Stroll on Friday night and Saturday. It really seems to be picking up in earnest. That’s a defining marker.

Business

Maddie’s on Pine Street Closes After 18 Months

By |

Maddie’s, a Pine Street eatery that mainly offered burgers and fried chicken sandwiches, closed this past weekend after about 18 months. A sign on the door at 78 Pine St. reads “Permanently Closed” and includes this message: “With sadness and immense gratitude, we will be closing permanently with our last day being 12/07. It has been an absolute pleasure to have served New Canaan and we thank all of our customers for their support.”

Signed “The Maddie’s Team,” the note is similar to one posted on the eatery’s website. It wasn’t immediately clear why Maddie’s closed.