New Canaan Butcher Shop Set To Open Next Week on Burtis Avenue

Paul Paris, a former St. Aloysius School student who graduated from Darien High School in 1996, got the idea of opening up his own butcher shop about one year ago.

Paul Paris stands behind the counter at the soon-to-open New Canaan Butcher Shop at 12 Burtis Ave. Credit: Michael Dinan

He’d worked for a time at a butcher shop in Darien, then helped the ownership company open another one in Old Greenwich, running it for them for the past several years. 

“I always wanted to do something like this, but for me it was always a few things, like the finances and the location,” Paris said. 

He added, “And last July, my wife and I decided we really wanted to take that next step.”

They did.

Paris is on track to open the New Canaan Butcher Shop (here on Instagram) next week at 12 Burtis Ave. Located in the former Red Grape Wine & Spirits space with parking on Burtis or in the nearby Morse Court, the shop will offer prime meats, grass-fed meats, Wagyu, dry-aged, poultry, lamb, pork, a freezer with wild game such as elk, venison, buffalo and antelope, salads, prepared foods, cold cuts and sandwiches. 

New Canaan Butcher Shop at 12 Burtis Ave. Credit: Michael Dinan

“You name it,” Paris said. “I’m bringing in dog bones for the dogs. I’ll have pig ears eventually, from a dehydrator, along with jerky.”

Asked if he’ll also offer catering, Paris said, “Yes. I’ve already donated my first pig roast to a New Canaan lacrosse team.”

The bread for sandwiches will be from Wave Hill Breads of Norwalk and Terranova Bakery in the Bronx. According to the menu, offerings include “The Waveny” with homemade chicken salad, avocado, arugula, tomatoes, on a baguette, “The Lorenzo” (Paris is a longtime friend of Joe’s Pizza owner Lorenzo Colella) with ham, hot capicola, salami, pepperoni, provolone, hot peppers and vinaigrette on ciabatta bread, “The Burtis” with roast beef, herb mayo, lettuce, tomatoes on ciabatta bread, “The New Canaan” with turkey, ham, roast beef, mayo, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, American on ciabatta bread and “The New York Pastrami” with pastrami, swiss, sauerkraut, mustard on ciabatta bread.

The new business has joined the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. That organization’s executive director, Laura Budd, said, “We are always pleased to see a new business in town especially in a speciality category. Paul’s experience as a butcher and his understanding of the New Canaan market makes him the ideal person to create a new food experience here. The depth of the meat and prepared foods that the shop will be offering will be a welcome addition to town.”

Asked how he was feeling with the soft-launch of New Canaan Butcher Shop so close, Paris said, “I feel good. It’s been a long time overdue. I feel nervous. A lot of support from the town—the town has been very supportive and I’m very happy about that. We’ve got some good staff ready to go.”