Himes Tours New Canaan's Independent, Sometimes Vacant Shops

Storefronts sparkled all along Elm and Main Streets, as New Canaan business owners breathed life into the town after the Labor Day holiday.

Yet many still are wondering how to reinvigorate the economy.

To find the answer, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4) visited downtown New Canaan shops to speak with local residents and business owners. The town marks one of 17 stops for Himes as he makes his way through the district before returning to Washington next week. Acting as tour guides in New Canaan were First Selectman Jeb Walker and Tucker Murphy, executive director of the local Chamber of Commerce.

One thing came clear during the walkabout, most businesses worry about the slow rate of recovery.

"I don't think Jim Himes can do a lot single-handedly to fix the economy," said Rick Franco, owner of Franco's Wine Merchants. "Things aren't going to get better until we get people back to work. That's the crux of the situation. We can talk all we want, but until we get people back to work it's not going to get better."

And while 67,000 private sector jobs were created in August, it wasn't enough to reduce the unemployment rate, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Connecticut's 8.9 unemployment rate ranks lower than the national rate of 9.6, according to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Indeed Himes' tour comes as unemployment continues rising, Congress debates further stopgap measures, and the Obama White House tries to push through a small business bill.

The $55 billion bill small business bill will offer tax breaks and create a fund for small banks to lend to small businesses, according to the White House. The Independent Community Bankers of America said the bill would create 500,000 jobs nationwide in two years.

While purchasing a box of stationary at M Milestones on Main Street, Himes chatted with the store's owner Dan Mulhern.

Himes, who sits on the House Financial Services Committee, told him that they are working to make it easier for small businesses to secure credit.

"We have been trying to do a lot of tax related stuff," Himes said, adding that "the SBA hasn't always been aggressive lenders, but we're trying to change that."

Like Milestones, most New Canaan most businesses are independently owned. Stores have opened and closed with regularity in the past few years. For example, Belgique, a chocolate store based in Kent, CT, will open its doors at 88 Elm Street on Sept. 16. But property at 125 Elm Street remains vacant.

"One of the more interesting problems, is that many people say it ought to be like it always was, with Mom and Pop stores," Walker said. "There is a resistance to chain stores. So we have a constant push and pull."

Walker also told Himes that while New Canaan doesn't look vacant, there are many second-story office and retail spaces that are vacant.

"You do start to notice the empty store fronts," Himes said, adding that the issue of chain stores is similar across the district.

"In Greenwich people get up in arms about the Banana Republics, the Chase Banks. Some people hope they can wait it out to rent again," Himes said.

Lamakers, a custom clothing store on Elm Street, recently moved into a new, smaller space to help cut overhead. Owners Amy and Mike Lamaker said, "there are pros and cons of having a small business."

Since the crash of 2008, the Lamakers said both banks and vendors tightened lending.

"Four years ago the store would have been full of Fall merchandise already," said Mike Lamaker. "Now that's not the case. In May there was a sprig of hope that things were getting better. But I can tell a lot by how people are when they walk in. Many say 'I'm just looking.'"

Political pundits predict Democrats could lose control of either or both the Senate and the House. As such lawmakers are under pressure to act. The White House is considering a payroll-tax holiday for small business and extension of research-and- development tax credits.

"People think a town like New Canaan is immune to the economy," said Amy Lamaker, "but either people lost their jobs or their lifestyle has changed."