Although East Haven residents are excited about the possibility of a new upscale coffee shop opening up downtown, unfortunately two local eateries are now no longer in business along the town's Main Street corridor.
Sub Boss and the Sweet Shoppe both recently closed their doors.
Although East Haven Patch was unable to reach the two stores' owners yesterday to find out exactly why each closed, neighboring businesses reported that the two shops went out of business within the past few weeks.
Sweet Shoppe
Sweet Shoppe owner Tim Pendred told East Haven Patch in September that his store, which first opened in July 2011, was having "
Local residents rallied behind the struggling store, voting for a cash mob visit in mid-September.
But apparently the effort was not enough to turn things around.
Sub Boss
Sub Boss, owned and operated by lifelong East Haven residents Joe Onorato and Toni Fiorillo, opened its doors in mid-2010.
And it didn't take long for the sandwich shop to become a favorite among local residents.
In fact, earlier this year, Sub Boss was overwhelmingly voted the "Best Sandwich Shop" in town by East Haven Patch readers.
And the new Italian gelato shop Polo Paolo opened up several weeks ago almost right next door to sandwich store, which also found itself in the same group of businesses the ever-popular Sugar Bakery & Sweet Shop.
But again, it appears business was not brisk enough to keep the deli's doors open.
Supporting Small Business
Although there are some bright spots on East Haven's small business landscape — the opening of a new Hobby Lobby early next year in particular — there are still many vacant spaces downtown, along Frontage Road, in the town's industrial park and throughout Foxon's Route 80 corridor.
And so, what do you think can and/or should be done to encourage new businesses to move into town, as well as support and retain current ones?
Earlier this year, the Mayor's Office placed an advertisement in two regional business publications encouraging businesses to relocate to East Haven. What other steps should town officials take to help boost economic development? What role should East Haven residents play in helping to support business in town?
Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.
(Editor's Note: East Haven Patch will be meeting with the Art DeSorbo, the director of administration & management for the East Haven Mayor's Office, on Dec. 27 for an economic development update. The story from the talk will post the following day.)
Lou, you talk a lot about the class of people. You know nothing about me, in the future, speak for yourself. You have no clue!!
Get rid of those planters,they are an eyesore to everyone
new apartment buildings and chop chop chop, all the character was gone. and the developers went home happy. same thing in momauguin. developers came in flashin cash and now we gots no beachfront but lots of condos. what killed east haven. zoning, crooked politicians, and apathy. folks dont care.
Maybe the lack of transparency is the reason company’s stay away of this town
Some people in East Haven think there's nothing wrong, for example, for the women to be walking around town in pajama bottoms, frizzed out overtreated hair, fake nails, loudly running their mouths about their horrible kids, into an i-phone that seems to be superglued to both the hand and the ear. The men are no better. Pot bellies, asscracks showing and 3 or 4 days worth of facial growth is the norm. A rundown Main Street shopping district populated by clowns and neanderthals. No class whatsoever. And they wonder why the kids want to get up and leave East Haven as soon as they can..
That is simply not true at all. You're lumping the corner mom and pop food store to every small business. There are small businesses on the internet as well as locally. As for cost, you are paying for junk when you shop at many chain stores. You will not find any chain store, including the most upscale chain stores, that sell jewelry with Grade A, AA, and AAA gemstones. Many jewelry stores don't even sell jewelry with graded gemstones. I do. All my gemstones are graded. I also acquire them in NYC and not overseas. The gold used is ethically mined. I don't use blood diamonds. I make the jewelry or use casters who are in the US. But people would rather buy junk at Walmart that is imported from China. I make and carry a men's 14k white gold chain that is priced lower than anywhere else. It is longer and thicker too. I live in Morris Cove and my store is online. My friend has an online children's clothing boutique with the best names. The clothing is high quality. We are out there.
People that look like that exist everywhere. Not just East Haven.
However, no true bagels anywhere around to be found. Yes, some coffee place around here make their own...horrible...it's just bread but not a true bagel! So it happens in every town and I don't feel it's about the people..seems more like a raise in rent since taxes have also gone up.