Business

‘Part of Our Family’: Ann Cheney Retires from Walter Stewart’s After 20 Years

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Ann Cheney remembers her first day at work at Walter Stewart’s Market, an August morning 20 years ago. An art history major out of Fairfield University who had worked briefly in that field prior to having children, she heard about the job in New Canaan from a recruiter after leaving a part-time job with a food service provider. 

“The store was slow, but I was getting to know the team—Alex, Doug and of course, Bailey—and I’ll never forget the first thing that Alex said to me was, ‘Look around at our customers—this is a place to connect,’ ” Cheney recalled. “And it absolutely has been. It is a local gathering place.”

For two decades, Cheney, longtime store manager at Stewart’s, has greeted customers and co-workers with a smile, overseeing multiple departments in a business that staffs nearly 70 people. Friday will be her last day at work.

Business

Local Holiday Shopping: Walter Stewart’s Market [Q&A]

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For this installment of our holiday shopping series, we met Monday afternoon with Walter Stewart’s Market’s retiring and new store managers—Ann Cheney and Mike Gomez, respectively. Here’s a transcription of our interview. ***

New Canaanite: How are things going this holiday season? What are you seeing? Mike Gomez: Busy.

Ann Cheney

New Canaan Holiday Shopping: Walter Stewart’s Market [Q&A]

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For today’s installment in our local holiday shopping series, we spoke to Ann Cheney, store manager at Walter Stewart’s Market. (Note that the deadline for ordering for the holidays from the Stewart’s meat department is 12 p.m. Thursday and the catering department cut-off is 3 p.m. Thursday.)

Here’s a transcription of our conversation. 

***

New Canaanite: What’s it been like this holiday shopping season here at Stewart’s? Ann Cheney: It’s been very busy. Our customers are looking forward to the holiday with great anticipation, and preparing their homes for arriving family members. And we’re ready. 

What have been some of the special items or holiday-related items that have been moving well? 

The main event is, I think, the focal point when you’re starting to plan for the holiday.

Ann Cheney

Holiday Shopping 2023: Walter Stewart’s Market

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For this installment of our local holiday shopping series, we talked to Ann Cheney, store manager at Walter Stewart’s Market. 

Here’s a transcription of our conversation. ***

New Canaanite: Talk to me a little bit about Walter Stewart’s and what the store likes to do during the holidays. 

Ann Cheney: Walter Stewart’s is the New Canaan community market and we like to have everything for our many customers, whether it’s an easy dinner preparation or an extravagant pull-out-all-the-stops holiday meal, meal ingredient or catering. We do that all throughout December.  

What kind of things are people coming in to look for, specifically, during the holidays? Our customers are looking for special gifts, treats for the grandchildren, treats for themselves. We offer a wide variety of candy and floral items, in terms of gifts.

Ann Cheney

Local Business and COVID-19: Walter Stewart’s Market and Stewarts Spirits

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[Editor’s Note: During the town emergency due to COVID-19, NewCanaanite.com will publish a daily Q&A in our weekday newsletter with a local business about how it’s navigating the major change.]

We put several COVID-19-related questions to Ann Cheney, manager of Walter Stewart’s Market, and Doug Stewart, the local business’s vice president. Here’s our exchange. New Canaanite: What has the past week been like for you and the market/wine shop? Stewart’s: We have seen a substantial increase in customer in-store traffic, online orders, and phone calls. We are working hard to accommodate our customers and take care of our staff in challenging conditions.