Business

Local Holiday Shopping: Franco’s Wine Merchants [Q&A]

By |

For today’s installment of our local holiday shopping series, we talked on Tuesday afternoon to Carl Franco of Franco’s Wine Merchants at 130 Elm St. Here’s a transcription of our interview. ***

New Canaanite: The shopping season officially kicked off on Black Friday. How’s it going in the early days here? 

Carl Franco: Usually people are a little slow right after Thanksgiving, and they always take a few days, or sometimes a week. But with Thanksgiving so late this year, I think people just realized it’s 30 days for Christmas.

Business

Holiday Shopping in New Canaan: Francos Wine Merchants

By |

For today’s installment in our local holiday shopping series, we spoke to Carl Franco of Francos Wine Merchants on Elm Street. Here’s a transcription of our conversation. 

***

New Canaanite: How’s the holiday shopping season been for you guys? Carl Franco: It’s been a little delayed. But I think people are starting to wake up and realize that Christmas is in two weeks. 

What are some of your best sellers? 

There’s always the traditional Cabs and Pinot Noirs and areas that people feel comfortable shopping in because they know them. But Italy’s always very big at Christmas because of a lot of menus—especially on Christmas Eve—and then it’s had an excellent 2019 vintage, which has just been released.

Business

Local Holiday Shopping Boost: Town Designates Free Parking in Municipal Lots Through Dec. 27

By |

The town has designated free parking in all municipal lots through Dec. 27, officials say. Members of New Canaan’s Parking Department are placing signs on meters in town to let shoppers know they don’t need to pay. Carl Franco of Francos Wine Merchants on Elm Street said he was “very happy that the Chamber of Commerce worked out with the town free parking for all municipal lots.”

“I think that will be very inviting for the shoppers to give one last boost to all the merchants in town,” Franco said. The designation, which took effect Monday, follows an unexpected loss of some parking and traffic difficulties late last week due to utilities work on Elm. 

Laura Budd, executive director of the Chamber, said the “last few days before Christmas are very important to our retailers.”

“The Chamber and the municipality wanted to remove all barriers to our residents and visitors who are shopping local for all their last-minute holiday gifts,” Budd said.

Francos Wine Merchants

Letter: ‘The Angels of New Canaan Came Together’

By |

Dear New Canaan,

It’s impossible to find the words to thank you for all the love and support you have given me and my family during my husband Steve’s illness and passing.  Ever since I first arrived New Canaan, I knew it was a special place and this caring community has continued to amaze me.  The angels of New Canaan came together and honored Steve with a beautiful memorial service, a heartfelt procession through town and a lovely reception at Waveny.  Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen. It “took a village” to say goodbye to “Mr. New Canaan”:

Thank you to the First Presbyterian Church for being there for my family and bringing together the community in the beautiful sanctuary. Thank you to New Canaan Fire Company and the Old Faithful Antique Fire Engine company for accompanying my husband with dignity on his final trip through town. Thank you to the NC Police Department, the Ambulance Corps, the Parks Department and Town Hall. Special thanks to Carriage House Catering. We’re so grateful we could put ourselves in your hands to handle the reception, along with Francos Liquors, Gregg’s Garden Center, Karl Chevrolet and Walter Stewart’s Market.