By Tom Williamson
Speaking before the New Canaan Men’s Club recently, Laura Budd, executive director of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, who has been on staff since 2012 and executive director since 2020, offered a brisk tour of the local business landscape and fielded questions on everything from parking to the mix of restaurants downtown.
“The Chamber’s role is connection,” Budd said. “We connect the community with commerce so local businesses thrive—and New Canaan stays an even better place to live.” Every dollar spent locally, she noted, circulates back into jobs, schools, nonprofits and town programs. Beyond the math, a vibrant downtown gives the town its “heart,” from brick sidewalks to planted lampposts and well-tended storefronts.
Headwinds & adaptation.
Budd listed the pressures facing shops and restaurants: online competition and shifting habits that grew during the pandemic; rising costs; and tariffs that vendors are already building into invoices. Regional competition is real, too, with neighboring downtown redevelopments drawing shoppers and office tenants. Even so, many New Canaan businesses have adapted—standing up e-commerce sites, running leaner, and leaning into experiences and collaborations that a shopping cart can’t replicate. Service and “experiential” uses have grown (wellness studios, cafes, fitness), and several former retail spaces have become restaurants and food concepts. Recent additions include a two-story restaurant on Elm Street, Z Hospitality’s new Blackbird beside Sole, a French bakery on Main Street, and Flour Water Salt on East Avenue. A wellness retreat is planned for the former Bankwell space on Elm.
Budd emphasized the Chamber does not curate tenants: “We’re not a mall.” Leases are private agreements between landlords and businesses; the town and chamber don’t pick winners and losers.
Events & promotion.
To keep foot traffic strong, the Chamber hosts popular street events—like this past Sunday’s Halloween Block Party on Elm—and partners with groups including the Beautification League (planters), veterans organizations (banners), and local causes (Project Pink lights, the scarecrow fundraiser). On marketing, Budd has begun influencer collaborations—starting with “This Connecticut Life” (23.5K followers)—pairing visits to the Glass House with shopping gift certificates funded through economic-development grants so dollars stay local. She also participates in the town’s Tourism & Economic Development committee, which produced a cultural guide and is drafting a commercial real-estate “how-to” for prospective businesses.
Parking update.
Budd reviewed the town’s recent shift to paid parking on Elm Street (Mon–Sat, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.) paired with free 3-hour parking in the Park Street lot to encourage circulation and cut congestion. Additional 15-minute spaces have been added near Park Street and Morse Court for quick errands. Nine new pay machines were installed (about $90,000, as noted during Q&A), with payment also available via the PayByPhone app. After 10:30 a.m., the commuter lot is open to the public when space allows. Sundays remain free town-wide. Behind Town Hall, work is underway to replace stairs with an ADA-accessible ramp connecting the Playhouse Lot to Elm Street, and to relocate dumpsters into the embankment—improving access for people with mobility challenges, families with strollers, and delivery drivers.
Q&A highlights.
• Vacant restaurant next to Town Hall: Owned by a local LLC; rumors have included a Japanese concept or boutique hotel, but nothing confirmed. Limited on-site parking (two spaces) constrains options.
• Mix of uses: Some retailers dislike outdoor dining taking public-space frontage; patrons overwhelmingly enjoy it. The town now scales outdoor-seating fees by number of seats and requires a four-foot ADA path.
• Restaurant count/limits: Asked whether New Canaan should cap restaurants via liquor licenses or zoning, Budd said that’s a Planning & Zoning matter; she acknowledged busy summer evenings show the system nearing a “tipping point.”
• Regional cooperation: The Chamber collaborates with peers in neighboring towns while competing for shopper attention; targeted digital promotion remains a priority.
Budd’s closing message was simple: “Think local first.” In an era of convenience clicks and regional pull, she said, New Canaan’s charm, personal connection and authenticity remain its competitive edge—and the community’s investment.
