The founder of a popular car show that draws 3,000-plus people to New Canaan has canceled what was to be the final installment of 2020.
Originally scheduled for Oct. 18 at Waveny, Caffeine & Carburetors has been cancelled due to COVID-19 virus and related restrictions, according to Doug Zumbach, owner of an eponymous coffee shop on Pine Street.
“The state of Connecticut is allowing outdoor events with up to 500 attendees or 25% of last year’s attendees,” Zumbach said. “With over 3,000 people attending each of our events last year, our C&C event format clearly does not conform to the current state regulations.”
Though rates in Connecticut are low, “I believe no automotive event large or small is worth an attendee catching COVID-19 or that our event could cause the spread of this virus,” he said. “Our number one priority is the health and safety of all involved in our events. This includes participants, spectators, families, police, fire department, EMT’s, sponsors and our volunteers.”
Caffeine & Carburetors started 10 years ago on Pine Street as a modest gathering of antique and classic auto enthusiasts, outside Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee. This year, all four scheduled events—two at Waveny and two downtown—were canceled.
Asked how the coffee shop is doing, Zumbach said things are going “OK” and that it’s “slowly returning to a ‘new’ normal.”
“Customers’ routines are changing, therefore we change,” he said. “High schoolers are out after school as well.”
After making changes in the first months of COVID-19, Zumbach’s is back to its regular hours, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.