Business

Friday ‘Launch,’ New Entertainment Coming to New Canaan’s 51st Village Fair and Sidewalk Sale

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Faced with the unusual prospect of nearby towns holding their own sidewalk sales on the very same day, organizers of New Canaan’s event said many local businesses will kick off a full day early this year. Combined with the town’s uniquely community-oriented event, the strategy is designed to entice shoppers to come to New Canaan both on Friday, July 15—when first-floor businesses will set up tables on a portion of the sidewalk—as well as on  Saturday, July 16 for the full Village Fair and Sidewalk Sale. According to Tucker Murphy, executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, the entertainment and accessible layout will set New Canaan’s event apart. “We’re confident everyone comes to New Canaan for not only great bargains but a family affair,” Murphy said. On Saturday, more than 100 organizations and vendors will line up along Main, Elm and Forest Streets, which are closed to motor vehicle traffic, and a food court will be located in the Pop-Up Park, according to the chamber.

Business

Spring Opening Planned for ‘Pine Street Concessions’; Owner Seeks Four Vendors

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The new Grand Central-style marketplace that’s taking shape on Pine Street is on track to open some time before May 1, its owner said. The roof of the 1.5-story ‘Pine Street Concessions’ is nearly finished, and passersby soon will see windows installed, leaving only sheet rock, electrical, plumbing and heating work to do over the next six weeks, according to Peter Lane of NCLC. The site work—all new sidewalks, trees, paving and granite curbing—will take place simultaneously, said Lane, who also owns Halo Studios. “I’m excited to deliver a marketplace with these four vendors,” Lane said. “Just like with Halo, it’s about finding great vendors, so that’s our objective now as we bring this to completion.”

“It should be a great opportunity for the right vendors to get into what I would call almost a food truck-type environment, where the cost going in is not a lot—the building is done, bathrooms are done, heating and cooling.

Around Town

New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Adds Eight Directors

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The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the addition of eight new members to its Board of Directors as well the creation of a new, dedicated board composed of past chamber presidents that will help oversee the organization’s charitable foundation. Nimble, engaged and innovative, the new chamber directors form an exciting group of business and organization leaders in town, according to Tucker Murphy, executive director of the chamber. “Our mission is ‘connecting community with commerce,’ and we kept those four words very much top of mind in putting together this board,” Murphy said. “Our new directors not only represent successful local businesses stories—they’re also deeply involved in our town. Beyond participating in chamber events such as the Sidewalk Sales, Holiday Stroll and Taste of the Town, they actively fundraise for community agencies, volunteer with service organizations and connect with each other for their mutual benefit.”

The newly appointed directors each have started serving a 3-year term, and they are:

David E. Hoyle Esq.—Hawthorne, Ackerly & Dorrance
Lisa Oldham—New Canaan Library
Mamoune Tazi—Le Boudoir
Anna Simons—New Canaan Pediatric Dentistry
Michael Dinan—NewCanaanite.com
Ben & Elaine Young—New Canaan Dance Academy
Sara Koch—Oxygen Fitness
Kinsey Ferguson—Vineyard Vines

Helping to acclimate them are three current directors who now form a new executive committee for the chamber: Steve Risbridger of Reynolds & Rowella is president, Tom Stadler of the Town of New Canaan First Selectman’s Office is treasurer and HamletHub’s Rachel Lampen is secretary.

Business

Pine Street Renaissance Expands Downtown New Canaan Footprint

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With a growing array of commercial storefronts expanding New Canaan’s downtown footprint, the Pine Street of 2015 is a far cry that of years’ past. Once known primarily for the location of the Post Office and a Grand Union supermarket, Pine Street has undergone a rebirth in recent years, evolving into a destination for established and new businesses alike. “I love our location, I don’t think it could be better,” Eugene Chun, owner of CT Sandwich Co., told NewCanaanite.com. “We’re close enough to Elm Street and all the action but we’re not caught in congestion—it makes things a lot easier.”

Retail businesses are not the only ones attracted to Pine Street. For BJ Flagg, principal at Nurenu Brand Marketing, a need for additional space was one of the reasons in her move from an office on Elm to one on Pine last month.

Around Town

Letter: Thank You, First Annual ‘Camp LiveGirl’ a Success

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Dear Editor:

Camp LiveGirl brought together 50 middle school girls from Bridgeport, Stamford, and New Canaan. The camp facilitated bonding in a diverse, team-based environment through sports and leadership activities. Senior executive women provided mentoring and reinforced the LiveGirl motto: “I am smart. I am strong. I am special.”

Creating something new requires vision and extraordinary support, which we received from the following businesses/individuals:

CT Sandwich, Oxygen, Walter Stewart’s, Nielsen, Hunsinger Family—donated lunch/supplies
Meg Domino & New Canaan CARES—a passionate partner who customized and taught a leadership curriculum for middle school girls
Ellie Aliapoulios, Camaren Dayton, Abi Farley, Kendall Genzburg, Olivia Hunsinger, Katie Kurz, Grace Manges, Isabella Savini—amazing high school students who volunteered their time & served as camp leaders
Andrea Chalon, Johnny Ostendorf & Mike Wilson—donated video/ photography services
NCHS, Jay Egan, many coaches, instructors, speakers—provided essential support

The list of names is long and serves as a true testament to the character of our community.