It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Orange Street Historic District gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Orange, CT is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“The staff at ABC has been wonderful! It's easy to reach them, they are responsive,”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend.”
“Excellent company, very experienced management and staffs. Highly recommend”
“Thank you so much for your kind , personalized service. My mother was always resistant”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always”
“Always Best Care Services is a good place to get good care. The employees would”
“My mother was in need of help after she broke her hip at 101 years”
“The staff at ABC has been wonderful! It's easy to reach them, they are responsive, respectful, and cheerful. This was the first step in getting outside assistance for our Mom and we were so impressed with how thorough the care was - the first helper checked to see that her home was safe and that she knew how to use her cell phone. We'd highly recommend using their in home care.”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always Best Care is providing our parents. You have guided us through this very difficult time and have helped us deal with my mother’s illness and her inability to care for my dad. Your caregivers are very capable and caring, and your staff is competent and thorough. We believe this makes your company invaluable to families with loved ones in need of assistance. We would recommend Always Best Care to anybody in search of quality care for their loved one. Thank you for all you and your staff do.”
“I just wanted express our thoughts about Mary, who was the caregiver for the weekend. We all thought she was wonderful!! I think her biggest strength is that she sees the work, needs little/to no direction, offers to take things out of our hands, and is a true-go-getter. For Billie, this type of help is great since she feels like she can take some time to rest and trust all is okay. Mary works hard and is also very patient. I really think Mary is a natural dealing with elderly. She is patient and kind! Anyway, what I wanted to ask is if Mary can be the consistent caregiver for the weekends. The other 4 caregivers that I have met are also very nice. We would like Mary as much as possible as she is punctual, and as I mentioned before, sees what needs doing. She is focused on what she can do to help. She doesnt just sit there next to Bill, she has eyes in the back of her head and goes the extra mile. Anything that needs to get done, she says no wait, let me do it if she hasnt already initiated it herself. She seems to have endless energy and never complained. I just felt compelled to drop you a this note to let you know how impressed we were with her. Thanks”
“Excellent company, very experienced management and staffs. Highly recommend”
“Thank you so much for your kind , personalized service. My mother was always resistant to have someone come into her home to help care for her, but she is very, very pleased with Betsy. Not only does she have someone to keep her company and meet her physical needs—her kitchen is looking cleaner than I have seen it in a while. Thank you again. Your kind manner was reassuring to my mother and to me, and you have made the process of caring for my mother at home easy, and provided me with much needed relief so that I can actually return to work with a calm mind.”
“We would like to express our appreciation and thanks for the in-home care that Always Best Care is providing our parents. You have guided us through this very difficult time and have helped us deal with my mother’s illness and her inability to care for my dad. Your caregivers are very capable and caring, and your staff is competent and thorough. We believe this makes your company invaluable to families with loved ones in need of assistance. We would recommend Always Best Care to anybody in search of quality care for their loved one. Thank you for all you and your staff do.”
“Always Best Care Services is a good place to get good care. The employees would do their very best to take care of you in your time of need. I will recommended this facility to family and friends. I want to thank you so much for the exceptional care you took of my dad. I hold your agency in the highest regard and you have my deepest appreciation.”
“My mother was in need of help after she broke her hip at 101 years old. She refused to leave her home. Susan Oderwald took wonderful care of her. She found caregivers for her who treated her with kid gloves and she herself went above and beyond by getting papers signed, visiting her in the hospital and fetching things for her. I don't know what I would have done without her, since I live 3,000 miles away. I highly recommend her, her services and her staff of caregivers.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Eisenhower Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Orange Hill Restaurant & Events or visit Orange Historical Society, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Orange, CT, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Orange, CT understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Orange, CT 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.Orange|Local EventJoan Stenner, NeighborSat, Nov 9, 2024 at 6:00 PMAmerican Legion Post 127, 630 Grassy Hill Rd, Orange, CT, 06477Please join us for an ev...
This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.
Orange|Local Event
Please join us for an evening of entertainment as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Orange Players. Come and greet old friends and meet some new.
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ORANGE, CT — Election Day is upon us and there are several key positions on the ballot, including the office of President, U.S. senator, Congress, state representative and state senate, and more.Everyone will be asked to vote on this referendum question, "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot?"Here is a look at all the candidates and positions on the ballot in Orange:For President, the candidates are: K...
ORANGE, CT — Election Day is upon us and there are several key positions on the ballot, including the office of President, U.S. senator, Congress, state representative and state senate, and more.
Everyone will be asked to vote on this referendum question, "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot?"
Here is a look at all the candidates and positions on the ballot in Orange:
For President, the candidates are: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, Democrat, Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance, Republican, Jill Stein and Butch Ware, Green Party, Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat, Libertarian, and Robert Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan, Petitioning candidate.
For United States Senate, the candidates are: Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat, and Matthew M. Corey, Republican. Murphy is also endorsed by the Working Families Party. Other candidates include: Justin C. Paglino, Green Party, and Robert Finley Hyde, Cheaper Gas Groceries Party.
For U.S. Congress, the candidates are: Rosa L. DeLauro, Democrat, versus Michael Massey, Republican. Massey is also endorsed by the Independent Party.
For state senate in the 14th senatorial district, the candidates are: James Maroney, Democrat, versus Steven Johnstone, Republican. Maroney is also endorsed by the Independent Party.
For state representative in the 114th district, the candidate is Mary Welander, Democrat, who is also endorsed by the Independent Party.
For state representative in the 117th district, the candidates are: MJ Shannon, Democrat, versus Raymond V. Collins III, Republican. Shannon is also endorsed by the Working Families Party and the Independent Party.
For state representative in the 119th district, the candidates are: Etan Hirsch, Democrat, versus Kathy Kennedy, Republican. Kennedy is also endorsed by the Independent Party.
For Registrar of Voters, the candidates are: Janice Casey, Democrat, versus Valerie Spinaci, Republican.
Voting Details
Polls in Connecticut are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can use the Secretary of State’s website to find your polling place. Voters who are in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
Connecticut also allows for Election Day registration at designated centers in each town. People must be registered by 8 p.m. in order to vote using Election Day registration.
Stew Leonard Jr. said efforts to bring his family's grocery store chain to a retail center off of Marsh Hill Road in Orange have hit a stumbling block over the proposed rent for the property.Late last week Leonard told Hearst Connecticut Media that attempts to build the brand of Stew Leonard's grocery store chain at Colonial Commons, located at the intersection of Indian River and Marsh Hill roads, have bogged down.Leonard had said in May...
Stew Leonard Jr. said efforts to bring his family's grocery store chain to a retail center off of Marsh Hill Road in Orange have hit a stumbling block over the proposed rent for the property.
Late last week Leonard told Hearst Connecticut Media that attempts to build the brand of Stew Leonard's grocery store chain at Colonial Commons, located at the intersection of Indian River and Marsh Hill roads, have bogged down.
Leonard had said in May that the town of Orange was in the running as the site for the next Stew Leonard's location,
"I've always liked Orange and that site is a really attractive" shopping center, Leonard said. "But the economics for that location have to work, and so far, we haven't been able to make that happen."
The site Leonard is interested in is located lest than a mile away from a store location he first proposed to build upon in the late 1990s. Leonard fought for 14 years to open a store at 161 Marsh Hill Road in Orange, just a few hundred feet from Interstate 95 before giving up on his plan in 2010.
The Marsh Hill Road site is now a FedEx freight center.
Colonial Commons is owned and operated by a New York City-based company, Brixmor. Company officials were not immediately available for comment Tuesday on their negotiations with Stew Leonard's.
Orange First Selectman James Zeoli said town officials have approached Brixmor officials with several good tenants and "none of them have worked out."
"I really don't know what they are looking for," Zeoli said of Brixmor officials. "Stew Leonard's would be a really good tenant. If they got them in there, they would be able to fill whatever remaining (vacant) space they have there."
The Orange Christmas Tree Shops location in Colonial Commons closed in August 2023, creating a vacancy of just over 22,000 square feet in the shopping center. The largest space in the shopping center is a storefront of just under 53,000 square feet
Leonard said he hasn't looked at any other Connecticut locations other than Orange. He said he wants to keep the grocery chain's footprint within a day's driving distance of the company's headquarters in Norwalk.
Stew Leonard's has eight locations, with Connecticut stores in Newington, Danbury and Norwalk as well as two in New Jersey, one in Westchester County, New York and two on Long Island.
ORANGE — On a sunny Wednesday afternoon at the Colonial Commons shopping center in town, fewer than two dozen cars are parked in the expansive retail center lot located at the intersection of Marsh Hill, Indian River and South Lambert roads.That would likely change if the landlord, Brixmor, is able to reach an agreement with Stew Leonard's supermarket.The family owned, ...
ORANGE — On a sunny Wednesday afternoon at the Colonial Commons shopping center in town, fewer than two dozen cars are parked in the expansive retail center lot located at the intersection of Marsh Hill, Indian River and South Lambert roads.
That would likely change if the landlord, Brixmor, is able to reach an agreement with Stew Leonard's supermarket.
The family owned, Norwalk-based grocery chain has been negotiating with Brixmor since earlier this year to open a ninth store — its fourth in Connecticut — in Orange. But Stew Leonard Jr., president and chief executive officer, told CT Insider last month that negotiations had bogged down.
"I've always liked Orange and that site is a really attractive" shopping center, Leonard said. "But the economics for that location have to work, and so far, we haven't been able to make that happen."
CT Insider sought to interview Leonard for this story, but company officials said he was not available. Officials with Brixmor, which operates 360 retail centers around the country, have not responded to repeated requests for comment about the negotiations.
Leonard failed once before in Orange. He battled for 14 years to open a supermarket at 161 Marsh Hill Road, before giving up on that plan in 2010. The site was just a few hundred feet from Interstate 95 and less than a mile from 200 Indian River Road, where Colonial Commons is located. A FedEx freight center stands there now.
Why a successful businessman like Leonard would return to the scene of arguably may have been one of his biggest career disappointment has left people wondering: Just what kind of attraction does this quiet suburban town of 14,000 people located just outside of New Haven hold for Leonard and his family?
Stew Leonard’s has often been described as “the Disneyland of grocery stores,” in part because of its use of animatronic characters similar to those at Disney amusement parks. It is also known for high levels of customer service.
Even though nearly 15 years have passed since his first bid to build in Orange, "Stew gets asked almost every day, 'When are you coming to Orange?'” said Meghan Bell, a spokeswoman for Stew Leonard's.
"We have a lot of customers from Orange shopping with us in Norwalk," Bell said. "Stew Leonard’s also has many current team members living in that area and it would be easy for us to staff a new store."
Retail experts have a variety of opinions on what is motivating Leonard to make another attempt at opening an Orange store.
For Burt Flickinger, managing director of the New York City-based retail consulting firm Strategic Resource Group, Leonard is "simply trying to save face" after failing to get a store built in Orange during the first attempt.
"This is all for PR purposes," Flickinger said.
But Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, said the attraction of opening both a liquor store and a supermarket in the same shopping center may be why Leonard is so interested in opening in Colonial Commons.
"Having a supermarket and a liquor store is the same center would probably increase the amount of money they would be able to take in by $4 million or $5 million a year to their bottom line," Pesce said. "The supermarket is what's drawing them there, so why not take advantage of it and make it worth the customer's while."
Renee Mizrahi has operated a secondhand women's clothing store in Colonial Commons for six years. She said she has heard Stew Leoanrd's wants to open both a liquor store and a supermarket in the retail center..
"I think (a Stew Leonard's opening) would be amazing," Mizrahi said. "My only concern is that he might need the space I'm in now."
Bell would not confirm if a liquor store is part of Stew Leonard's plans in Orange. The chain has eight liquor stores.
Because of New York State's alcoholic beverage laws, members of the Leonard family own the liquor stores in that state, but they operate independently from the family's supermarkets.
The family got into the liquor store business after Stew Leonard Jr. noted after one holiday meal "that we sell everything on the table, but not wine," Bell said.
Since then, she said the family has thrown itself into running its liquor stores with the same customer-centric focus it applies to the operation of its grocery stores. Stew Leonard Jr.'s wife, Kim, is a certified wine specialist.
While the Leonard family's preference is to open its next store in Orange, Bell said they are also continuing to look at other sites, particularly in New Jersey, which allows grocery stores to sell food and wine in the same space.
"Our customers love that they can buy a bottle of cabernet with their filet mignon," she said.
Orange First Selectman James Zeoli has his own theory as to why Leonard is making a second attempt to open a market in his town. First and foremost, Leonard is a businessman who knows a good location when he sees it, Zeoli said.
"It's a location that's easy to get to and will draw people from all over New Haven County, probably from as far east as Guilford and Madison," Zeoli said. "And he recognizes that the people living in this area have high incomes, which is what he is looking for. It would be a home run for him."
And it would be a boon for the current tenants of Colonial Commons.
The Brixmor web page for Colonial Commons lists five vacancies in the retail center. The two largest spaces listed as available are an empty storefront with just over 22,000 square feet of space formerly occupied by arts and crafts retailer A.C. Moore and retail space totaling nearly 53,000 square feet that previously had been occupied by a Christmas Tree Shops location.
The A.C. Moore store closed in January 2020 and the Christmas Tree Shops location shut down in August 2023. The latter space, despite being listed online as vacant, is currently occupied by a furniture and mattress retailer, The Bargain House Showroom.
When Mizrahi opened her store Renee’s Resale Clothing Outlet, the shopping center was bustling. But with the closure of A.C. Moore, The Christmas Tree Shops and a third store, health and beauty retailer Harmon's Discount, that is no longer the case, she said.
"Without foot traffic, it's not the same," Mizrahi said. "My business is surviving, but it could be doing better."
Bulldog Swim Academy is Colonial Commons' newest tenant. The swimming lessons school, which got its start in New Haven, opened earlier this fall, converting a 9,000 square foot former women's clothing store into an athletic facility by installing a pair of swimming pools.
Tyson Wellock, a co-owner of Bulldog Swim Academy, said he and his partners "looked at a lot of properties, between North Haven and Milford," before settling on the Colonial Commons location.
"We needed to find a landlord that was willing to let us do this," Wellock said. "And we like this location because of how close we are to the highway. Access is huge."
Wellock said when news of Leonard negotiating with Brixmor first surfaced, "everybody was talking about it." Six months later, that's still true.
"Everybody wants him here," she said.
Zeoli recently met with Brixmor executives and came away with a distinct impression that the commercial real estate firm is keeping its options open with Stew Leonard's.
"If I were Brixmor, I'd be working hard to get Stew Leonard's here," he said. "But they seemed more excited about an upcoming real estate conference they were going to be attending and who they were going to meet there."
Flickinger speculated that one reason why Brixmor and Stew Leonard haven't been able to reach an agreement is because the landlord may already have another interested retailer.
"They could be holding out for another tenant," Flickinger said. "Maybe another supermarket."
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