New Canaan Olive Oil Hopefully Opening by Mid-September

Heidi and Travis Burrows eat healthy. They met in 2006, just celebrated their second wedding anniversary and changed their eating habits a couple years ago. Feeling great and with a healthy diet, they wanted to share one of their passions with New Canaan—but don't worry, they're not going to force it on anyone. 

"We're not trying to force a lifestyle on anybody," she exclaimed Thursday. "I want to make that clear! It's going to be very fun here!"

Burrows, 29, and her 34-year-old husband are opening New Canaan Olive Oil at 98 Elm Street. It's a tasting shop specializing in oil oils, flavored balsamic vinegars, peat salts, organic flavored cane sugar and possibly other locally-farmed goods as business grows, including honey or various other small pantry items, Burrows said. 

Burrows, who almost bought her old boss' business selling invisible fences for dogs, moved to Stamford with her husband about a year ago when Travis began working at the Stamford Town Center in the leasing department, and said things just rapidly fell into place for their new venture. After some fortuitous connections, she said she was possible to chase her dream. 

"I have two passions in life, animals and food," Burrows said. "My whole goal has always been to own my own business. We actively started thinking about this idea about a year ago. We saw a similar store in a mall in Virginia and we use olive oil a lot in our cooking. It's one of the healthiest things for you. We spent a year looking for a location and found this perfect spot in New Canaan."

The Burrows teamed up with partner and investor (and part time demolitions expert when he's helping the couple renovate the store space) Dan Clauson, and got to work in February locking up the lease for the Elm Street location. They're currently renovating the shop themselves and hope to be ready for a soft opening in a few weeks. 

"We're shooting for a soft opening in about three weeks, but then we'll plan for a big grand opening event at the end of September or early October," Burrows said. "We're sourcing our oil from a couple different places. Two main distributors in california and then we're importing a small amount from Spain and Italy as well. The flavor and quality is really good from California and the two distributors support a lot of small farmers."

Burrows said she wants the store not just to be a destination for those looking for quality cooking products, but an experience for all who have the same passions the couple does.

"You'll be able to come in and taste any variety of items we have," she said. "You'll be able to see what you like and what you don't like. Well have so many different flavors and products, if you can't decide you can try them all. I know I can spend hours trying all the different products in stores. So come in, have a good time and find out what you like. "