Coming to Elm Street: ‘Something Very Good for New Canaan’

The New York City-based owner of 67 Elm St. says “a real asset for the town” is coming to the space long occupied by Candy Nichols, though she declined to say just what that would be.

“The outfit that is moving in will be something very good for New Canaan,” Fay DeWitt told New Canaan Patch in a phone interview Friday morning, declining to comment further.

“I’m not at liberty to talk about it right now, but we will definitely make an announcement,” DeWitt said, declining to comment further.

Though some news outlets have speculated on what's coming, no applications to alter the floor plan or otherwise perform construction at 61 Elm St.—the “official” address of the highly visible space at the heart of downtown (see map at right)—have been filed with the New Canaan Building Department. Tax records show that the property is owned by 79 Elm Street LLC, c/o Thomas Whitney, based in Manhattan. The assessed value of the commercial property is $1.13 million, according to the town assessor.

The owner of Candy Nichols, which had been located at the property for 20 years, says she was told in December that her lease would not be renewed. The popular kids’ clothing and apparel shop right now (see video) is moving down around the corner to the space formerly occupied by Gramophone Video.

Business leaders have said they’re looking forward to the move, which will create a nice “kids corner” together with The Toy Chest, Baskin-Robbins, Pinocchio Pizza and Crew Cuts.

Toy Chest owner Ann Lathrop said she’s “really excited.”

“It does not get any better than a kids’ clothing store next to a toy store,” said Lathrop, who also has storefronts in Wilton and Ridgefield.