Tour The Shops At Church Hill & Queen Commons

By Kendra Bobowick

This is the next segment in an ongoing series focusing on both recently opened and soon-to-be opening retail and commercial developments throughout Newtown.

From legal advice to personal gifts, from financial management to self-defense, Newtown’s newest shopping center, Church Hill & Queen Commons at 14 Church Hill Road, offers a diverse selection of services to Newtown’s consumers. Several of the businesses have used the space as secondary locations, while others have relocated to the bright yellow storefronts adjacent to Big Y and CVS.

The ground floor units are home to Nina Nail Spa, Bentley Cleaners, Down on Main Street, William Raveis Real Estate, and United Studios of Self Defense with a branch of Webster Bank coming soon. Another storefront remains vacant, awaiting a final tenant.

On the second floor visitors can find Mortgage Force, which was the first to open in late May, and offices for attorney Gregory LaDestro, and FJC & Associates, LLC, a pensions plan administrator.

Bentley Cleaners, which has operated in Norwalk since 1987, specializes in same-day service.

“You can drop it off on your way to work and pick it up on your way home,” said owner Steve Yudelson. Home pickup and delivery service comes standard, at no extra charge.

Customers can fill out a quick application, receive a VIP bag, and leave their clothing for pickup in a designated spot before or after hours, said Mr Yudelson. Among the array of services are dry cleaning, wash and press, alterations, tailoring, and the environmentally-friendly shop uses nontoxic solutions.

“Very excited” with his new location, Mr Yudelson caters to his clients’ convenience, accommodating people on their way to and from work. He is open Monday through Thursday from 7 am to 8 pm, Fridays from 7 am to 7 pm, Saturdays from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, and Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm.

For promotions and further information, call 426-3222.

Nina Nail Spa has established a second location at the Commons. The light earth-tone interior with low-key background music and soft-scented aromas filling the room holds many nail and pedicure stations.

During a recently visit, clients were receiving a neck rub while their fingernails were manicured, selecting a shade of nail polish, or stepping into a pedicure station. The spa’s menu of services also lists waxing for the facial areas including eyebrows and lips, an body waxing for the arms legs, bikini wax, stomach, toes, and a man’s back. Spa treatments can create “a manicure that is uplifting, refreshing, and energizing,” according to its flier. Suyoung Jang, the owner’s son, also indicated that aside from a foot massage are other surprises that he would not reveal.

He invites clients to “come in and see,” end enjoy 30 percent off all items during July.

Store hours are Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm. Contact the spa at 270-0777.

Down on Main Street owner Larry Schneider opened his second location to compliment his first store in Southbury.

“We had a very good June,” he said, referring to his store’s first full month of business in Newtown.

The eclectic gift store displays greeting cards for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, congratulations, and more, and sells an array of small gift items. Mr Schneider indicated the Vera Bradley handbags and accessories, and shelves of greeting cards.

Also on sale are baby gifts, specialty gifts, jewelry, stationary, and more.

 “We’re a gift shop for all occasions,” he said.

Down on Main Street is currently operating on summer hours, Monday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and 11 am to 5 pm on Sundays. Hours will change in the fall.

Mortgage Force LLC, headed by President Charles Masse, has offices from North Carolina to Florida and Tennessee, with 29 loan officers scattered throughout the locations. The company was formed in March of 2002.

“Since real estate tends to represent the single largest investment most of us will ever make, it is vital to secure the best financing available. Every borrower has different needs, every property is unique, and every lender has their own rules and programs,” he said.

“We have the ability to pull your credit once and shop over 100 lending institutions which allows us to find the best possible rates and programs for our clients.”

Mortgage Force has loans for people with excellent credit as well as people who have lower credit scores. The company is also very active in commercial real estate business, as well.

“We have no-income verification programs, 100 percent financing, and we have 40- and 50-year terms. Most times we can price our loans lower than banks. This saves our clients a lot of time searching and a lot of money,” Mr Masse said.

Mortgage Force is a full service mortgage brokerage and a member of the Connecticut Association of Mortgage Brokers and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers.

Call 270-6252 or visit www.mortgageforce.com.

William Raveis Real Estate and Home Services has opened another office in the Church Hill and Queen Commons. Office Manager Cathy Donnelly and Associate Manager Valda Thompson said that at Ravies.com customers can see all listings all the time.

“It’s 24/7 marketing,” said Ms Donnelly. The office is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm, but offers appointments by arrangement for anything outside those hours. Ms Thompson said the office’s many capabilities including mortgaging, insurance, and title settlements to create “one-stop shopping,”

A word from William Ravies contained in the company brochure states, “We are New England’s largest family-owned, community-based company that offers local, personalized attention to our clients.”

His statement continues, “Our marketing programs…are personalized specifically to your home in order to sell it quickly and for the best possible price…”

The real estate service reaches a high volume of readers through print and Internet advertising, and has properties available at a glance as soon as customers enter the office.

The company also supports activities in the community. Breast cancer awareness and fundraising to support the search for a cure is a prime focus of the company’s philanthropic efforts, Ms Donnelly said. Portions of commissions go toward research, along with sales of Cook for a Cure cookbooks available in the office.

She invites residents to take a tour of the new office and enjoy some free coffee. A grand opening is being planned, tentatively set for early September. Call 426-3429.

Sensei Chris Schaefer of United Studios of Self Defense welcomes residents to the martial arts studio in the new business center. The studio, formerly located in the Stop & Shop shopping center on South Main Street, has been in business for five years. Mr Schaefer explains the benefits of training saying, “It teaches self-control, discipline, and is good for any age.”

His studio is a safe environment where clients can work on defense and individual improvement. Doors are open from noon to 9 pm Monday through Thursday, 2 to 9 pm Friday, and 9 am to noon on Saturday or by appointment after noon.

Mr Schaefer mentioned a promotional trial period of two free weeks of group or private lessons. “Stop in and check us out,” he said. Call 426-4227 or see www.ussd.com.

 Located upstairs is FJC & Associates LLC and owner Frank Colavito, a qualified pension administrator. In business since 1994, his main focus is to set up small businesses with 401k plans, or designs administrative retirement plans, for example.

“Businesses come to us and we design something [appropriate]; each company has different needs and objectives,” he said. He keeps 9 am to 5 pm hours, or works with clients by appointment. Call 364-1092.

Attorney Gregory LaDestro has relocated his Stamford-based business to the Church Hill & Queen Commons. He has been practicing for 16 years and concentrates on general practice with a concentration in real estate and personal injury. He welcomes “anyone with a problem,” he said.

He opens for business from 9 am to 5 pm five days a week. Call 364-0505.

Webster Bank offices will soon join the suite of new businesses conveniently located in Newtown’s newest shopping hub.

“Webster Bank is looking forward to serving the Newtown market, deepening relationships with current customers and initiating new relationships with individuals and businesses in the region,” Webster spokesman Clark Finley said. “Our de novo branch expansion program has now grown to more than 20 branches since 2002, with a majority of those new offices opening in Fairfield and Westchester Counties. We enjoy the challenge of competing in these competitive banking markets, and we plan to open more offices here in the coming years.”

Webster is the largest independent bank headquartered in southern New England. With approximately $18 billion in assets, Webster Financial Corporation (NYSE: WBS) is the holding company for Webster Bank, National Association and Webster Insurance. Webster provides a full range of commercial, consumer, and small business banking services, and also offers health savings account trustee and administrative services through HSA Bank.

The next segment of this series will begin introducing the businesses enjoying the new streetscape in Sandy Hook.