Residents Speak: What To Do about Wilton Businesses Closing?

Yesterday’s news that URA the Spa joins a growing list of businesses shutting their doors in Wilton sparked an intense social media flurry and conversation off-line as well. While this isn’t a full list of everything we heard people say, we asked some of the Wilton residents who spoke up if we could quote them. Each person quoted gave permission for their words to be reprinted here.

Our lead story today covers this same topic, with an interview with URA owner Heather Bova and a conversation with Wilton Chamber of Commerce board member and owner of Signature Style, Ann Nash. That can be found by clicking here.

Add your voice to the conversation. Let us know what you think in the comment section at the end of this article, or join in on Facebook.

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Ann Fastiggi asked a question in a Facebook post, which prompted much discussion:  “What can we do about all the businesses closing in Wilton? URA Spa is now closing. Yogapata closing. Witchy Poo gone. Steven Mancini leaving. UGH!” In Steven Mancini’s case, they are ALWAYS busy and have great business but they looked in town for two years for good place to be and ultimately decided that Westport was better for them. Agree, that we need to start by giving them business.

Alexa Schlechter:  Shouldn’t our town leaders be addressing the fact that we are seriously lacking town facilities, businesses, and amenities? We have an amazing town with fabulous people, but in comparison to other towns of similar socio-economic stature, it is a stale juxtaposition. I shop locally as much as I possibly can but I just can’t shop that much!

Jennifer Wulff:  Our local leaders need to do something to add incentives for business owners. Because of the high rents, which are probably high because of high taxes, businesses just can’t make it here, which then causes a chain reaction because of fewer consumers hitting town to shop at all. If businesses keep leaving, our town loses more money, and our personal property taxes keep rising…. Any ideas on how we could propose some changes at a higher level?

Dan Berg:  We shouldn’t oversimplify. The issues in Wilton are likely multifaceted and complex:  Taxes, rents, signage regs, failed business concept or execution (sometimes), poor choice of specific business location, comparatively weak Chamber of Commerce, lack of a strategic town vision for a retail base, etc. Any one business that closes is likely a victim of one of more of these. Further, Wilton has not developed its “downtown” walking district like Elm St. in New Canaan, Main St. in Westport, Greenwich Ave. in Greenwich, etc. Without a magnet shopping area downtown, each business *must* stand on its own or be in a busy enough separate strip mall to attract drop-in traffic. There’s no one magic silver bullet here. Fixing any one issue can help, but dealing with it holistically is really the way to go. Not sure whether there’s any one organization or governmental body that has stepped up to “own” this, tease it apart, and put the right long-range plan in place.

Alexa Schlechter:  I agree with you completely, Dan Berg. It is definitely not a simple answer. It is just so sad that we seem to be caught up in a world of regulations and paperwork and rules instead of doing what is better for our town and economy. I know most of us WANT to stay in town to go out to dinner or grab a bagel. What’s the point of all those regulations when they are stopping development?

Ann Fastiggi:  ‪ I think there are plenty of places that get strong local business (Steven Mancini, Village Luncheonette, Village Market, Hunan Cafe, Wilton Pizza, Connecticut Coffee) with loyal customers, but agree with Dan:  this is not a simple issue. There are stores with issues around parking, failed business models, prices that are too high, etc., but if the town was more involved in helping to make these businesses successful, it would help! Agree that we don’t have the foot traffic of New Canaan. I, for one, am SO PROUD of The Painted Cookie and the job that Susan Searles Schmitt is doing to make her business soar! I also suspect that she has a landlord that works with her as she gets that business off the ground.

Alexa Schlechter:  ‪ I think it is multifaceted. It is HARD to stay in Wilton to shop. Let’s be honest and real. We aren’t the culinary center of Fairfield County. We have a couple decent restaurants but they are expensive and not necessarily kid-friendly. It is much, much easier to drive 10 minutes to Westport or Ridgefield and have a bigger selection. For clothing, we have some great options but also expensive and hit or miss. You may not find what you need and it is often easier to go to Westport where there are many more options. When you’re dealing with limited time, you do what you need to do. So, while we can say, “Just shop in Wilton,” until it is easier to do so, that isn’t the only answer.

Vanessa Elias:  We need to develop a task force on this! I’m dedicated to local shopping and services, but now I will be forced to go outside Wilton with these changes. The fab Susan with Painted Cookie has BOTH local and national opportunities given the nature of her business; Ura and Mancini don’t have that option so even if we shop local, taxes and signage are crippling. I’m not a politically-minded person, but this is a crisis and we need a task force of citizens, [real] estate agents, chamber and government.

Ann Fastiggi:  The issue is not 100-percent rent. I do think that in the case of Mancini and Ura, landlords were part of the issue. But while Steven Mancini did not leave simply because of high rents, they certainly did not stay in Wilton because the town creates more issues for businesses than it solves.

Meg Robustelli:  I’d shop at many more local stores if they were open later. Many close by 6 p.m.. I find myself heading to nearby chain stores because they are open later, even though it’s not my first choice to shop there. I’m guessing Wilton has many more working moms these days than in the past and if we can’t shop in the evening in Wilton, then we go elsewhere. It’s all about the power of the purse.

Gregg Feldman:  I never understood why the only two blue and white “Welcome to Wilton” promotional signs only appear a few hundred yards from each other at the entrance to Center St. and Old Ridgefield Rd. If you are seeing them, it means you have already made the turn off of Rte. 7, entirely missing the tens of thousands of Rte. 7 drivers that pass Wilton Center by every single day. Why wouldn’t those signs, or perhaps tasteful yet bigger bolder ones be placed on the corner of Rtes. 7 and 33, and Rte. 7 and Wofpit Rd., to let those drivers know “Hey, there’s a quaint town in here!!”

Victoria Mavis:  Steven Mancini leaving Wilton is a real loss, as was Bon Appetit Cafe; Blue Tulip, a dedicated card/stationery store; Winged Monkey, which went to Westport; as well as an independent bookstore, which closed years before them. While I agree the problem is multi-faceted, involving high rents and other variables, the town’s restrictions on signage seem punitive, preventing smaller businesses from vital visibility, especially if they have a current promotion or might stay open later than usual. They should be able to call attention to that. We consumers won’t notice that unless it’s pointed out, especially in lieu of advertising or other promotion. Last year, although I wanted to visit more often, I only attended the local farmer’s market now held at Wilton Historical Society once, because I misgauged the hours and the banner that used to effectively and tastefully advertise it in town was removed early in the season.

Jennifer Wulff:  So how do surrounding towns hold it together? Ridgefield has a thriving shopping center, as does New Canaan and Darien. What are the key differences and can we implement some changes in order to get more stores and restaurants in competition for our business? We need to try to move this forward somehow. Is there a way to get some real numbers on taxes and rent, etc. as well as what could help draw more proprietors and shoppers? I love this town, but it’s going to go downhill fast if the revenues can’t sustain it.

Meg Robustelli:  Nearby towns have great free summer events, like outdoor concerts and movies (especially Westport and Fairfield). I believe they are usually packed and local businesses have the opportunity to set up tables at the events in Fairfield (perhaps Westport).

Victoria Mavis: ‪ Great post Meg Robustelli, just like so many towns along the Cape do in the summer. Wilton should take advantage of its gazebo and town center this way too. On top of that, the season should kick off with a maypole dance every May 1, perhaps with the participation of local dance studios.

Gregg Feldman:  Also, someone asked why do Ridgefield and New Canaan fare better. I believe this is due to their geography/topography/street plans. Both of those retail districts are surrounded by dozens and dozens of beautiful residential roads and neighborhoods, without any barrier. In addtion, those retail districts are more centrally located within those communities. Conversely, Wilton Center is essentially isolated by un-friendly-to-pedestrian roads–Wolfpit Rd., Rte. 7  and Rte. 33. Only those who live within Wilton Center in the developments have the kind of access that the other town have. So although we are in the same region as our neighbors, the layout of this town is exponentially less conducive to a thriving downtown business district than Ridgefield and New Canaan.

Janet Duff:  I think the biggest issue is that Wilton is not a destination/walking town, like New Canaan or Ridgefield. Out of towners go to those towns because they can stroll, window shop and then get a bite to eat. Wilton is not set up that way so it will never attract that kind of traffic. More needs to be done to make it a destination town. From what I understand the old guard is not in favor of outsiders coming to Wilton, wanting to preserve it for the locals… unfortunately that attititude is going to be the downfall of business in town.

It’s not just prices, if that was the case then New Canaan store fronts would be empty. There aren’t enough people in this town to sustain these businesses, we need people from surrounding towns to shop in Wilton.

Gregg Feldman:  The town leaders do not dictate the cost of rents–the marketplace does. There are hundreds of Wilton businesses that are open and successful, that pay the same rent. If a business is unable to survive paying that rent, it is either because the business plan isn’t correct, the execution of the business plan isn’t correct or the market simply doesn’t support that particular business. The leadership in this town DOES have the opportunity to improve the business climate in many ways, but blaming the town for high rents or putting business out of business is misdirected and counterproductive.