One of New Canaan's newest businesses, Darien transplant and British, Irish and Scottish import specialist Goldenberry, has an extra reason to celebrate as they approach two weeks in their new digs: the royal baby boy!
"We've had people coming in all morning to talk about it," said owner Deb Hecht. "They're gravitating to where they can get their news."
Kate Middleton arrived at the hospital early Monday morning in labor with Prince William in tow and Hecht was glued to the news all day, up to the moment it was announced the baby was a boy in the late afternoon. She's even set out traditional shortbread cookies and orange barley water to sample for customers stopping in to chat about the baby. There was also a table with blue and pink balloons and faux cakes and cupcakes made of diapers, socks and burp towels to welcome the child, redesigned to an exclusively-blue theme once the birth was announced.
"It's a nice, happy thing for people to be able to talk about," Hecht said. "It's nicer to be able to anticipate this than, say, a hurricane."
Hecht, a world traveler who lived in England for a time before moving to the states and opening Goldenberry in Darien, it's home for the previous 23 years, said the experience has likely captured the world's attention not just because of its positivity, but because it reminds them of another happy time, Princess Diana giving birth to Prince William.
"[Kate and William] seem like such genuinely nice people and really seem to enjoy each other," Hecht said. "The anticipation of the baby reminds people of Diana and William, and the cycle continues. It's a happy time and people enjoy being reminded of happy times."
She also thanked the baby boy for his timing on arriving.
"We're so grateful to the baby as were just completing our second week here and we're happy to be able to participate," Hecht said while laughing.
After the baby arrived, Hecht removed the balloons set out that didn't match up with the announcement.
"It's so interesting that this small, little, yelling baby, this tiny human, would capture the whole world's attention," she said. "There are millions watching this moment."
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
