Published: Jan 03, 2021 07:00 AM
Note: The accompanying images were drawn from The Newtown Bee's business coverage throughout 2020.
So many Newtown businesses celebrated optimistically as January 1, 2020, dawned. But for most of Newtown’s local companies, small businesses, and workforce, things changed drastically — for some, within weeks as COVID-19 prompted physical modifications, protocols, downsizing, and closings.
Even the venerable Newtown Bee temporarily stopped printing for several weeks to ensure its staff remained safe and protected, while a limited number of staff pivoted the publication off the press for the first time since 1877 — to delivering news and updates virtually, seven days a week during that brief shutdown.
At the same time, a number of other businesses continued planning for future developments, celebrated milestones, mergers. and transitions in ownership, as well as new openings. The local Economic & Community Development office and the Newtown Chamber of Commerce also worked hard imagining new programs and activities that, for the most part, morphed from in-person to online.
As 2020 slips into the rear-view mirror, it is likely that all surviving local businesses and merchants — large and small — are looking to renewed energy and an increasingly robust economy in 2021.
The Newtown Chamber of Commerce named Helen Brickfield Executive Director in 2020.
Judith Miller stepped-up from Vice-President to become The Newtown Chamber of Commerce President for 2021-22.
Technical college students chat with CEO Robert Soloff during an early 2020 visit to Sonics & Materials, a Newtown based global manufacturing company Soloff founded in 1969.
Celebtrating the 40th Anniversary of his Arrowhead Guitars business in 2020, Joe Proc a local musician, music shop and studio owner, holds a vintage Gibson Les Paul guitar autographed by Les Paul himself.
Newsylum Brewery opened its doors at Fairfield Hills in 2020 amid the pandemic, which provided an opportunity to at least serve customers outdoors.
Out with thi Inn - in with the Neugolds - the local couplem who already operate the Foundry Kitchen & Tavern in Sandy Hook, have taken over operations of what is now Marygold's on Main - which officially capped of 2020 launching take out catering services and booking their first wedding event.
Most of 2020 saw the transformation of the former Wheels Citgo and adjacent commercial space on South Main Street into the company's cafe-style convenience market, which opened officially in late summer.
The Graceful Planet hosted an open house in late August with staff and visitors enjoying the experience under distancing and mask wearing restrictions.
Melanie Mattegat, right, is assisted by her daughter, Lauren Morehouse, during a Julie Allen Bridals fitting. The South Main Street fixture celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.
Aquila’s Nest Vineyards owners Ardian Llomi and Neviana Zhgaba with their oldest son, Alexander, welcomed First Selectman Dan Rosenthal Rep Mitch Bolinsky on the occasion of their grand opening in the fall of 2020.
Cave Comics on Church Hill Road acquired new owner and comic curator Matthew Bania in 2020.
Nicole Russo-Henderson and Leon Henderson opened The Station Dance Academy on Mile Hill Road in 2020.
If anything is to be celebrated about Newtown's many businesses in 2020, it was individual creativity and collective resilience - and their true gestures of community spirit, like an occasional distribution of free food at the height of the pandemic by Steve Ford at Butcher's Best Market.
