Business

Jack Wills on Elm Street Closes After Nearly Four Years in New Canaan

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After nearly four years in downtown New Canaan, the “fabulously British” clothing shop Jack Wills has closed, company officials confirmed. Its windows papered over since Monday following a Father’s Day sale, Jack Wills opened at 136 Elm St. in October 2012. Officials with the London-based company’s home office said the nearest store at 139 Main St. in Westport remains open, and that fans of the brand also can purchase items online.

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

Experienced Trio To Open ‘Spiga’ Italian Restaurant on Main Street

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An experienced trio that’s already launched successful and acclaimed restaurants in Fairfield, Greenwich and Stamford is planning to open a new Italian spot in the former Barolo space on Main Street. ‘Spiga’—that’s Italian for the stem on a stalk of wheat—will feature fresh-made pastas, an extensive wine bar and wood-burning pizza oven, and is slated to open mid-spring at 136 Main St., according to Dan Camporeale, a Bronx, N.Y. native. “We will offer a lot of things for everyone, something you can enjoy seven nights a week and not just on special occasions,” Camporeale told NewCanaanite.com. Camporeale said his partners include members of the Racanelli family, who also own Molto in Fairfield, Lugano in Greenwich and both Zaza (which earned a “Don’t Miss” rating from New Canaanite Patricia Brooks, food critic with the New York Times) and Dolce (excellent) in Stamford. (The Racanellis have owned nearly 20 restaurants over four decades in Westchester, Camporeale said.)

The ownership group holds a café license for Spiga, meaning there’s no separation between the bar and dining room and so patrons will need to be at least 21 to go or else accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Business

Pet Valu To Open on Forest Street

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Pet food, treats, toys and accessories provider Pet Valu is planning to open in the new retail-and-residential development ‘Heritage Square’ that’s taking shape on Forest Street, officials say. The business is the second of two retail shops, together with Embody, that will fill out the street-level at the development, and is slated for an opening in the late spring or early fall, according to Pet Valu Marketing Manager Ally Homa. (The two shops will share more than 30 parking spots between them.)

Pet Valu will become the second pet store to operate in New Canaan, together with Pet Pantry on Grove Street. We had a chance to put some questions to Homa about the company and its plans—see our full exchange below. Asked for her thought’s on Pet Valu’s imminent arrival in New Canaan, Laura Budd of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce said she’s proud that New Canaan could attract a national business such as this.

Business

Sportswear Shop ‘Gabby’ on Elm Street To Close at Month’s End

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Gabby, a sportswear shop that opened about two years ago on Elm Street, is set to close around Dec. 28, according to the store’s manager. Owned by Mark and Yvonne Karan—Mark’s daughter by his first wife, fashion designer Donna Karan, is named ‘Gabby’—the shop his is selling most of its merchandise at a 50 percent discount and its Greenwich location will remain open, according to Tonia Tagliaferro, manager and stylist at Gabby and a professional image consultant. “We would like to thank our customers for their patronage, and we hope to see you in Greenwich,” Tagliaferro said. “It’s very close and we will give you the same quality service that we did here.”

Just up from the former Ralph Lauren Kids store which closed this summer (the main store remains open), the closing of Gabby creates a second vacancy on a stretch of upper Elm Street that’s seen a handful of new businesses move occupy commercial spaces in the past year, including Ella & Henry a few doors down.