Microsoft Retiree Finds Ideal Second Career At Southbury’s Starlight Baby

By John Voket

As a high-profile executive with the Microsoft Corporation, Maureen Vizvary had one of the world’s best examples of how well corporate philanthropy works. But when she decided to leave the company after adopting a Siberian orphan named Oksana, she also decided to create a business where she could enjoy her daughter’s company while offering educational and philanthropic opportunities to other parents in the region.

In mid-May, Ms Vizvary and her husband Mark opened Starlight Baby Boutique in a beautifully renovated barn at 33 Bullet Hill Road in Southbury. Referred to by locals as “the barn” for decades, the familiar red landmark had been built in the 1800s and previously served as an antiques store.

When Ms Vizvary saw the barn she knew it presented the perfect backdrop to her vision of Starlight Baby. Restoring it was a huge undertaking for an expert crew, developers and an architect, and although it is fully updated to current building and safety standards, “the barn” still has a lot of old-fashioned New England charm with rough-hewn wood and exposed beams.

In fact, the builders were able to preserve the entire ceiling on the lower level, which is all original wood.

Besides being an architectural and historical landmark that carries the feeling of “old meets new,” Starlight Baby offers an array of imported baby gear and unusual hard-to-find baby gifts  and first-time visitors were witnessed literally gushing over the layout and selection, including lines of the most beautiful and practical items to pamper any baby (and parents).

During a recent visit by The Newtown Bee, Ms Vizvary pointed to a prominent rack containing spectacular hand-beaded Christening gowns.

“This one is being shipped to a christening in Moscow in just a few days,” she said, noting that any item in the shop can be gift wrapped and packaged for worldwide delivery via UPS — even overnight if required.

“We really try to offer all the essential items needed to spoil a baby and offer a beautiful gift registry solution to many new parents,” Ms Vizvary said. “We personally greet every customer and follow through with one-on-one personal consultations to help customers and parents make educated decisions on the right baby products for their child.”

And while this boutique offers top-of-the-line products providing a combination of quality, style, and value, Ms Vizvary is adamant about keeping her line accessible to all by featuring very affordable prices.

She runs on ongoing promotion discounting her full line of Stanley Young America furnishings at 25 percent off. Her newest product lines include Bug-A-Boo strollers, Britax car safety seats, as well as Baby Lulu and Room Seven clothing lines.

She is looking forward to expanding her lines with a broader inventory of gift items as the holiday season approaches, and invites anyone “with a baby in the family” to stop in, no matter where on the planet that baby is.

“We have in-store and on-line gift certificate programs, and will ship purchases anywhere,” she said.

Among the other offerings at Starlight Baby Boutique are a range of breastfeeding supplies, safety equipment to “baby proof” one’s home, stuffed toys, books, learning games, foot stools. and theme-oriented hangings and beautifully hand-painted wall clocks.

However, Ms Vizvary said Starlight Baby wants to be known as more than a boutique.

“We want the shop to become known as a place that offers community outreach,” Ms Vizvary said. “We are scheduling free parenting seminars with expert speakers on topics ranging from reading to your children to introduction to breast feeding to how to adopt to preparing for your child’s financial future, safety first, and more.”

Starlight Baby is also an advocate for supporting orphanages around the world by having semiannual fundraisers that encourage people to donate gently used designer clothing that will be sold and the profits donated to charity.

Starlight Baby has plans to hold community events as well, beginning with a Baby-Parenting Fair next summer that will include all-day seminars, carnival games, face painting, live music, and just a fun time for ever one. All the profit will benefit orphans in African Bush Villages and Hannah’s Hope Orphanages around the world.

To learn more about Starlight Baby, visit www.starlightbaby.com or call 264-0588. The big red barn is located behind and below Southbury Car Center or behind Hines Brothers Garage.