Business

‘A Great Addition to Our Town’: Connecticut Breast Imaging Center Opens on Vitti Street

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The New Canaanite 2024 Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates. A new location for breast imaging opened in town last month. 

Connecticut Breast Imaging – which has several locations across the state – has expanded into New Canaan with a new location on Vitti Street. 

The new imaging center opened on June 2 and one week later, held an open house fundraiser for a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. “Our June 9 Open House Fundraiser was a huge success,” said Shawn Barto, administrative manager of Breast Imaging Services. “We were able to donate $2,500 to the Breast Cancer Alliance.”

The new center provides services such as mammography, breast ultrasound and breast biopsies. 

“We also offer same day appointments as well as same day reads by our highly regarded breast imagers,” Barto said. 

The center is “a great addition to our town,” Executive Director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, Laura Budd said. 

“We were very lucky that the ownership group decided to expand into New Canaan,” she said. Before the new center opened, many residents were forced to travel far distances for checkups, officials say.

News

Sidewalk Sale Draws Bargain-Hunters Downtown [PHOTOS]

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Scores of bargain-hunters and local business supporters descended on downtown New Canaan on Saturday for the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Sidewalk Sale & Village Fair. Kids, families and grownups moved through pedestrian-only sections of Elm, Main and Forest Streets under comfortably warm, overcast skies during the popular sale, which runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to New Canaan’s local brick-and-mortar stores and nonprofit organizations such as New Canaan Unplugged, Fire Company No. 1, League of Women Voters (which registered 13 new voters), and the Democratic and Republican Town Committees, pop-up vendors sold a wide array of clothes, home goods, crafts and other items.

“We had a very smooth setup,” Chamber Executive Director Laura Budd told NewCanaanite.com. “All the stores and organizations got here early and the shoppers followed right after. We’re really thankful for the weather — the one thing we can’t control — because I think people will stay longer and enjoy the day in town.”

Budd specifically thanked the town Department of Public Works crew “who do such an amazing job with the setup and cleanup.”

Business

‘Sidewalk Sale’ Set for Saturday, July 20 [Q&A]

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One of the community’s most anticipated summer traditions—the annual Village Fair & Sidewalk Sale downtown—is coming Saturday, July 20. We put some questions to Laura Budd, executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, ahead of the big sale. 

Here’s our exchange. ***

What are some of the highlights of this year’s Sidewalk Sale on Saturday, July 20? The event is special because it reflects a full community effort. Along with great deals from amazing retailers you can check in with some of our favorite non-profits, hear music from local bands, enjoy food from many of our restaurants and cafes and the YMCA will have its amazing Family Entertainment Zone at the Elm/Main intersection. 

What happens on Friday, the day before the official Sidewalk Sale?

Around Town

‘Everyone’s Movie Theater’: New Canaan Playhouse Reopens to High Praise 

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The New Canaanite 2024 Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates. Exactly halfway down Elm Street a historic landmark has been given new life. 

The New Canaan Playhouse Theater’s doors finally reopened following a four-plus-year closure. “We are thrilled that after two years and a lot of hard work and commitment from the taxpayers and private investors, New Canaan now has a beautiful, state-of-the-art theater right at the 50 yard line,” New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Laura Budd said. Through the front doors, the theater boasts an impressive lobby where a balance of history and modern design coexist harmoniously. Upon entrance, individuals can find to their left a beautiful new bar and on the right, a concession stand from which wafts the redolent aroma of freshly popped popcorn. 

“When I attended the opening event last week, everyone was blown away at what the team had done to take this beautiful 100-year-old building and turn it into a modern functioning building,” Budd said.

Business

‘A More Flavorful Life’: Spice & Tea Exchange on Track for Spring Opening on Main Street

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The Robinsons fell in love with The Spice & Tea Exchange long before they planned a New Canaan franchise. John Robinson, known to locals as the friendly face of Stewart’s Wine & Spirits for 26 years, had entered the Newport, R.I. store in the summer of 2017 while attending the annual folk festival there. 

“One of my friends said, ‘You’ve got to check this place out—you love cooking, they’ve got everything, spices, and teas, and everything you could ever imagine,’ ” he recalled. “I walked in and I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ ”

Pam Robinson visited the same store in May of 2021. She recalled, “It was just completely overwhelming, in a good way. The smells, the vibrancy, the colors, it just welcomed you all in.