Economic Development Commission Salutes Local Market, Publisher

By John Voket

It is not a contest, because there are no contestants and no nominations, but every year Newtown’s Economic Development Commission selects a theme and determines which local businesses might qualify to be recognized because they fit the category. This year’s theme involved businesses that contributed to the beauty of Newtown, and the 2009 recipients were LMT Communications and Caraluzzi’s Market.

Representatives from both companies joined EDC members, local officials, and a host of other local business leaders for the annual Salute to Business October 22 at Rock Ridge Country Club.

After enjoying cocktails and a buffet supper, Robert Rau, the EDC’s chairman, along with First Selectman Joe Borst welcomed attendees and presented this year’s recipients with bronze plaques to commemorate their individual contributions to the community.

The commission believed LMT helped contribute to the beauty of the Route 25 corridor by improving a neighboring barn and home, as well as redeveloping and constructing a new building on South Main Street.

According to Community Development Director Elizabeth Stocker, the LMT headquarters is within the South Main Street Village Design District, and the overall design of the new building incorporates contemporary features while keeping the exterior consistent with the century-old historic buildings on the site.

When the family-owned grocery company announced its third store would open in the former Eaton Center at the corner of Queen Street and Church Hill Road, Ms Stocker said Caraluzzi’s occupancy sparked the redevelopment of that site, which contributes heavily to the vibrancy of the Borough and the town’s village center.

“These companies both represent family-owned businesses that started out like many, with just a few family supporters and a dream,” Ms Stocker said.

According to a company bio, LMT Communications, Inc. was founded in mid-1984 as Dental Lab Publications, Inc, by Judy Fishman. The initial goal of the company was to create an indispensable business strategies magazine for dental laboratory decisionmakers.

LMT, or Lab Management Today, published its first issue that September. Each issue is formulated to combine management insights, marketing strategies, business “how-tos,” product updates and educational opportunities in an easy-to-implement format that helps readers meet everyday business-building challenges.

Early on, the company established itself as a market leader reporting statistics based on its innovative and informative in-house research. The company’s editorial team keeps readers abreast of trends and ahead of the curve. In fact, almost all of LMT’s articles are written by members of the staff, not by outside authors.

In 1949, after working 27 years for Gristede’s Supermarkets in the Bronx, N.Y., Anthony Caraluzzi, Sr, invested every last nickel he had and bought the former Bethel Fruit & Vegetable Market on Greenwood Avenue in Bethel. Tony and his eldest son Lou immediately converted the market into a grocery store, expanding the product lines to include meats and other grocery items.

 By 1952 the store expanded with the purchase of the Redding Ridge Market, and in 1959 the Bethel Food Market moved to 98 Greenwood Avenue, where it has further expanded and still stands today.

In the 1990s, members of the third generation entered the business in a major capacity. By March 2003, the family opened their second supermarket in Wilton, taking over the former A&P location on Route 7 at Route 107. Then, in October 2008, the family opened its Newtown location in the space formerly occupied by Grand Union.

The new market includes new elements such as a full-service cheese department, prime meats, Wi-Fi café and more.