Your Business: phinney’s

Owners/Manager: Gayle Miner and Stephen Forgione

The backstory: Miner said she and her husband met working together at a restaurant in neighboring Westchester County, N.Y. for about four years, where they eventually became managers before relocating to Seattle just before Christmas 2019. After the pandemic hit, Forgione learned from Butcher’s Best owner Steve Ford that the deli space at his market was becoming available, so the couple decided to move back to Newtown and open a specialty market in that shared space.

What does your business offer? Forgione said the aim of phinney’s is to offer customers high-quality, locally sourced products, from pastas and ice cream to dairy and produce. They will utilize their restaurant experience and their commercial kitchen to prepare fresh healthy meals to go, starting with limited weekly service and eventually opening up. He said the relationship with Ford and Butcher’s Best will give customers a one-stop opportunity to access most of their immediate grocery needs. Miner said she and her husband will be distinctly different from a big box grocery because they will be available to guide and service customers individually. “We’d like to actually talk to people about food and engage them over our vegetable counter, which will change with seasonal offerings. That will be distinctly different than what people are used to when grocery shopping.”

What would you most like Bee readers to know about your business? Miner said phinney’s is named after Phinney Ridge, Wash., where she and Forgione lived earlier this year. She said during this time they got married and got their puppy, Leon. Miner said the couple spent their days wandering the neighborhood, training Leon, and discussing what would become phinney’s, so they brought back the name as a way to keep ties to a special time in their lives. It is also a pleasant coincidence that Forgione used to work at Butcher’s Best when he was a student in high school.

Are you hosting any near-future promotions or events? “We’re scheduled to open December 17.”

Website: phinneysnewtown.com

Social: Find phinneysnewtown on Facebook and Instagram

E-mail: info@phinneysnewtown.com

Phone: 203-270-6060

Hours of operation: Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 6 pm; Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm. Closed Sunday and Monday.