GREENWICH — With an iced coffee in hand, Gov. Ned Lamont strolled down Greenwich Avenue Monday, stopping into a total of four businesses to talk with the owners about their stores and their economic growth.
“I’ve met a lot of people who are not only from this town, but even come from New York. This is a destination,” Lamont said. “People want to come here for shopping and restaurants.”
Lamont, who lives in Greenwich, was joined by other elected officials, including First Selectman Fred Camillo, Rep. Hector Arzeno D-Greenwich, Sen. Ryan Fazio, R-Greenwich, and Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Paul O. Robertson.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the community and our local economy,” said Fazio, who grew up in Greenwich. “So we wanted to be out here, the four of us, and listen to (the business owners) what their concerns are and how we can help them.”
The group met at The Piccolina Shop, a children’s store on Greenwich Avenue that opened just before the pandemic hit. The store sells clothes, prams, car seats and much more. The elected officials took turns asking Alejandra Salazar, one of the three store owners, questions about the business and how the owners persevered through the hardships caused by COVID-19.
Salazar told the group that foot traffic has improved every year since the pandemic.
“We get a lot of our locals, but I think because everything has opened up, we’ve got a lot of people coming in from Stamford, Norwalk, out of town,” Salazar said. “We get a lot of people from Westchester, which is really nice, and what’s helping us right now is that there aren’t a lot of children’s stores.”
Robertson said through this experience, he has learned more about what these business owners have endured through the pandemic.
“A lot of the business owners are very passionate about what they do and it’s great to see… They take on these challenges and they still survive,” Robertson said.
After Lamont grabbed his drink from CFCF, a coffee shop that has three locations in the Greenwich area, and spoke with the owner and staff, the group of officials made their way to Mason Street, stopping at both CODOGIRL and Bruce Park Sports.
CODOGIRL is a fashion company that specializes in the sustainable resale and re-fashioning of designer products. Owner Yulia Omelich said the store opened its current storefront on July 4, 2020.
She said it’s important for these elected officials to stop into small businesses like hers, as it shows their support for these stores.
“It’s an added recognition, absolutely,” Omelich said. “Extra support, extra support. We are experiencing some hard times. Such care is incredibly meaningful.”
Before going to lunch, the elected officials went into Bruce Park Sports, a store that has been open for 52 years. Lamont called them “an anchor tenant.”
Small businesses “are what bring our cities to life … People come for these kinds of amenities,” Lamont said.
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