Stewart’s in the 1960s. Contributed

Walter Stewart’s Market kicks off its two week 107th anniversary celebration with a special “T-Bill” Donation Days fundraiser to support local charities this week. Stewart’s shoppers are invited to donate their “T-Bill” balances at any checkout from Thursday October 23rd through October 29th. A list of participating organizations are listed at each checkout.

Walter Stewart’s Market, New Canaan’s oldest retail establishment, is located on 229 Elm Street and is currently celebrating its 107th anniversary with a special sale, tastings, coloring contests and giveaways.  Stewart’s Spirits, a fine wine shop next door to Walter Stewart’s, is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary with special wine tastings everyday.

On Saturday October 25th Stewart’s will be holding it’s annual Autumn Fest event under their tent with Kid’s Entertainment from 1 – 4 pm (Face Painting, Pumpkin Painting, and a visit from the New Canaan Nature Center’s teaching animals) as well as delicious foods (brats, apple cider donuts, local apple cider, and much more), and wine and beer tastings (from 2:30 – 5 pm). Admission is free.

Walter Stewart’s is teaming up with the Young Women’s League of New Canaan for their annual Thanksgiving Donation Days T-Bill Drive, Thursday October 30ththrough Wednesday November 5th, to provide local families in need with Thanksgiving meals, which will be distributed by Person-to-Person. With their Stewart’s courtesy card number, customers may donate their “T-bill” balances to the local non-profit of their choice. A list of the participating non-profits will be posted at each customer check-out. Shoppers who would like to participate in the Donation Days program may obtain a courtesy card from the store’s customer service staff. Shoppers earn T-Bill rewards with every purchase and may use their T-Bills towards the purchase of select T-Bill Rewards items each week or to help local charities during Donation Days fundraisers held throughout the year.

Walter Stewart’s when it was down on Main Street. Contributed

Walter Stewart’s Market was founded in 1907, when Walter Stewart, an enterprising young grocer, bought out the George Wilser grocery store founded decades earlier by Seymour Comstock, which was located opposite the present Town Hall on Main Street. The seventh son (of a seventh son) of a Northern Irish Farmer, Walter Stewart had migrated to the U.S. and found employment with a New York City grocer. Once he had saved up enough of his earnings, he headed north on the train to look for an opportunity to start his own business.

The Stewart’s Elm Street location ca. 1958. Contributed

Stewart’s Spirits, a fine wine shop right next door to the market, was added in 1974 by Robert Bailey Stewart, grandson to Walter Stewart and son to Walter A. Stewart Sr. Alex Stewart and Doug Stewart, great-grandsons of Walter Stewart, continue the family tradition today.

For more information about Walter Stewart’s Market please call 203.966-4848 or visit their website at www.stewartsmarket.com. For more information about Stewart’s Spirits please call 203.966.8377 or visit Stewartswines.com.