Business blooms around Main St.

New proprietors bring hopes and dreams to downtown

TORRINGTON — In a threeblock area of downtown between Main, Water and Franklin streets, a trio of new businesses has sprung up.

The owners of the three new enterprises say they are happy to locate in the Downtown Torrington Historic District, and business is good.

Fred Jury of Torrington is a well-established business owner who decided to close his business in Thomaston after 18 years. He wanted to downsize, so he moved his store, Connecticut Boot and Shoe, into the former Torrington Downtown Business Partners office at 23 Water St. about six weeks ago.

“I found a home here on Water Street,” he said. “In May, business picked up pretty good. We get foot traffic and there are lots of cars going by.”

Jury said he has an established customer base and they have followed him to his new location. He stocks about 50 styles of boots and casual shoes for men. His business motto is “Comfort for Working Feet.”

Around the corner on Franklin Street, the interior of the Mila Rose Salon and Spa has a modern design style that complements the classic exposed brick walls. Owners Jillian and Jon Pignatello of Torrington named their business after their daughter.

Jillian Pignatello said she uses social media to let area residents learn about their four-month old business and its full-service offerings. Jon Pignatello recently responded to a question on Facebook about whether the salon accepts donations for the “Wigs for Kids” program.

It does, he wrote. “It’s a non profit that makes wigs for kids with cancer. It would be great if you could do it!” he posted on the site.

The soon-to-open 829 Restaurant and Lounge at 49 Main St. is the most ambitious undertaking of the new businesses in the area. Co-owned by brothers-in-law Jose Nunez and Elvan Martinez, the two visited several restaurants in Torrington before deciding they would aim for bigger.

The 47,000-square-foot space, which is expected to open in early July, will contain an 80-seat restaurant and a lounge of a similar size.

“We want to bring something different,” said Nunez. “It will be like South Beach (Miami), like the Caribbean.”

The two men are from the Dominican Republic, and used the number 829 in the restaurant’s name because it is the area code of their country.

Sharon Waagner, communications director for the Torrington Downtown Partners, wrote that the upcoming Main Street Market Place weekly event, which begins July 11, is an opportunity for the city to attract more new businesses to downtown.

“We have two businesses that were drawn to the downtown in part due to MSMP — in Sheep’s Clothing on Water Street and Kelly’s Crystals on Main Street,” she wrote.