Business

‘It’s Just So Rewarding’: New Canaan Woman Launches Girls’ Dress Line

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New Canaan’s Morgan Clifford is no stranger to the fashion industry. 

Her eponymous outerwear line has dressed stars from Nikki Hilton to Selena Gomez, and is found in stores such as Loveshackfancy. 

Her newest venture? A line of girls dresses called ‘Emlagh.’

“I wanted to do something totally different, and I love girls’ dresses,” Clifford said. “It just kind of evolved into starting an entirely separate line.”

After launching her own fashion label in New York City in 2015, selling outerwear online, Clifford—a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y.—moved to New Canaan with her young family. Now she’s launched the new line, which is seeing strong uptake in the early going, and is looking to future creations. 

Clifford also created ‘Emlagh’ because she has a daughter of her own. 

Clifford said creation and distribution of the Emlagh line has gone smoothly, in part, because it’s her second brand launch.  “I already had all the contacts,” she said.

Around Town

Mark Gust To Retire from Family Britches after 50 Years; Store Closing June 30

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Mark Gust started working for Family Britches in January of 1972. He was 21 years old, having graduated from Chappaqua High School and with two years at Villanova University under his belt.

Gust worked at the original Family Britches in Chappaqua, N.Y. for about two years and then came to New Canaan when the company opened a store on Elm Street. On June 30, Gust will retire from his career as a buyer and store manager for the clothing shop, which will close with his retirement. “It’s exciting,” Gust told NewCanaanite.com on Tuesday from the sales floor at 99 Main St. “It’s sad.

Business

‘The White Buffalo’ Seeks Permission for Twice-Weekly Outdoor Music through October

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Saying the business has met a number of Planning & Zoning conditions, the owners of a popular bar in downtown New Canaan are seeking permission to have outdoor music twice-weekly from May through October. Located down an alley just past Chef Luis on Elm Street since it launched in 2019, The White Buffalo has reviewed letters of complaint about past outdoor events, established an acceptable decibel level, produced a site plan for the access, talked to neighbors and produced documentation requested by the Planning & Zoning Commission, owners Rich Hewitt and Chris Meier said in a letter to P&Z. “We have combed through each complaint and made sure that we have addressed each complaint with sensitivity and empathy,” their letter said. “We feel we have addressed those complaints with our compliant actions. We have met with Chef Luis and feel we have come up with a great compromise to work together in order to generate business for both our restaurants.

Business

Dolce Owners To Open ‘Lombardi’s’ Restaurant on Elm Street

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The owners of a popular Italian café in downtown New Canaan are planning to open a new restaurant down the street. Andrea Lombardi, owner of Dolce on Elm Street, is planning to open “Lombardi’s” restaurant one block away at 32 Elm St., according to plans filed with the New Canaan Building Department. 

“Andrea’s vision for space is sleek, acoustically tuned with imaginative lighting plans,” according to a letter of intent that forms part of the filing. The space recently had been occupied by an art gallery that moved within downtown New Canaan. According to floor plans, Lombardi’s will have a bar with 12 stools and 14 two-top tables on the first floor, with six four-top tables and a service bar on the second floor. Norwalk-based Mark Demmerle Architecture & Building Services is the contractor on the fitout, according to the filings.

Business

Outdoor Dining Season in Downtown New Canaan on Track for April 1 to Oct. 31

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Town officials on Wednesday approved the installation of new concrete “planter” barricades for outdoor dining for the upcoming season. The Police Commission voted 3-0 during its regular meeting to allow for the barricades to be put in place from April 1 to Oct. 31. They’ll be placed on either side of the sidewalk “bumpouts” on the northern side of Elm Street, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. They will be “in the area from, say, in front of Rosie’s and then the area from Solé from the Playhouse westward past Chef Luis,” Mann told the Commission at the meeting, held in Town Hall and via videoconference.