Business

Chamber: Support Needed for Holiday Lights Downtown

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Officials are calling for locals to support a cherished New Canaan tradition that relies on private funds to take place downtown each year. The white lights that adorn trees on Elm, Main and Forest Streets—and starting this year, Pine Street, as well—cost about $22,000 in hardware and manpower, according to the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. While the town supplies the electricity for the now-100-percent-LED lights, funds must be raised each year to carry those costs. “I think it is one of the things that sets our town apart in the holdaiy season,” Laura Budd of the Chamber told NewCanaanite.com. “It brings a lot of happiness to people—it’s the darkest time of the year, we have the least amount of light and it’s really great to come downtown and see all the trees lit up and the lampposts, too.

Business

One Year Later, ‘Nantucket Monogram’ Owner Continues to Evolve Customer Experience

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When third-generation seamstress and interior decorator Brooke Boothe decided to move her monogramming business from Nantucket to downtown New Canaan one year ago, her primary goal was to be right where her typical customers frequently shop. Nantucket Monogram debuted as a pop-up shop last November and by the end of January, Boothe and her daughter made the move to New Canaan permanent. Now settled at 1 Morse Court, Nantucket Monogram has expanded from a retail store offering embroidery services to a destination that also appeals to residents looking for custom design and home furnishing services or to hone their own sewing and embroidery skills. Boothe said the decision to expand the scope of Nantucket Monogram’s services over the past year stems from the stiff competition that small business owners face from online retailers. “The business has been well received, but it’s just like any brick-and-mortar right now where it’s hard to get people in the door,” she told New Canaanite.

Business

‘I Like the People Who Live in New Canaan’: Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaners ‘Pressing Matters’ Opens on Cross Street

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Mike Weisel had built up his dry cleaning business to four locations over 27 years—in Westport (two stores), Stamford and Trumbull—when he sold them off (“I decided that I didn’t want to do the retail dry cleaning anymore”). Then in January 2015, the North Stamford resident launched a pickup and delivery cleaners service that covered Fairfield County, and something unusual stuck out as the new company—Pressing Matters—grew increasingly popular. “My growth happened all in New Canaan,” Weisel said Monday afternoon from the floor of his new space at 16 Cross St., his son Josh and 9-year-old golden retriever Molson keeping standing by in the first-ever permanent location of Pressing Matters. “I had stops in Greenwich, stops in Stamford. But majority of my stops were here.

Business

NewCanaanite.com Hits All-Time High Traffic Week During Local Election

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NewCanaanite.com last week reached 40,805 pageviews—the single-highest traffic week since the local news website launched nearly four years ago. The week of Nov. 5 to 11 included Election Day—itself the fourth-highest-ever single traffic day on the New Canaanite, with 10,488 pageviews—as well as early National Letter of Intent Signing Day for New Canaan High School seniors. Here are the five most-read articles for the week:

PHOTOS: Nine NCHS Student-Athletes Sign Early Letters of Intent To Play Sports in College
Kevin Moynihan Wins New Canaan First Selectman Race by 33 Votes [UPDATED]
Election 2017: New Canaan Hub [UPDATED]
NewCanaanite.com Endorsement for First Selectman
Police Chief: Multiple Cars—Unlocked, Keys Inside—Reported Stolen from New Canaan Homes Over Weekend

Here’s a look at some of the single most-trafficked weeks and their top stories since the launch of NewCanaanite.com on Jan. 31, 2014:

 

I’m very grateful to our readers and advertisers for supporting and engaging with the website.

Business

‘Organika Kitchen’ Eatery Coming To Main Street

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A provider of vegan and vegetarian foods is moving into the recently vacated commercial space at Main Street and East Avenue. Organika Kitchen—which offers pancakes, mezza plates, smoothies, organic salads and juices, protein and açaí bowls, burgers, pizza and more—is on track to open in February, according to Dimitri Pantzos, a partner in the business. The company’s first and highly successful eatery is in Southport and Pantzos said New Canaan was chosen as a second location because “we love small towns.”

“We love the community and families. Our mission is to bring healthy food to families at an affordable price. That is why we don’t take any shortcuts.