Date: Fri 21-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

c1-Newtown-Hardware-Sorrentino

Full Text:

THE NEWTOWN HARDWARE BUILDING TAKES SHAPE

WITH CUTS

Brick by brick, board by board, window by window, the new building being

constructed to house Newtown Hardware and Drug Center is taking shape at 59-61

Church Hill Road.

Workmen last week labored under the hot July sun applying some details to the

building's exterior as well as preparing the interior.

Planned is a 10,650-square-foot building, about two-thirds of which will be

used by the hardware store, with the remaining space used by the pharmacy.

Additionally, the building will have a 6,000-square-foot basement for storage.

The two businesses are now located in Newtown Shopping Center on Queen Street,

a facility they will vacate after the new Church Hill Road building becomes

available for occupancy. The new building is located next to Pizza Palace of

Newtown.

The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) last October approved plans for the

new building sought by Michael and Valerie Sorrentino. Mr Sorrentino has been

the hardware store's proprietor since 1977. The business first opened in 1951.

Through the construction of new facilities, Newtown Hardware will get more

storage space, a new store layout, and lower operating costs. Architect David

Coffin of Ridgefield designed the new building.

Mr Coffin designed the commercial building to visually harmonize with the

area's vernacular architecture.