Business in Paradise

Stratford’s Paradise Green was not fully living up to its name on the morning of July 23.

The skies were gray, and the only break from days of heat and humidity was a sprinkling of rain which was just enough to induce worry about plans without the relief of a cancelation. Yet at two businesses along Main Street, across the road from the Green itself, broad smiles were easy to find.

The City of Stratford was holding ribbon cutting ceremonies for a pair of businesses on the same block, and the families of owners at both Spot Cleaners and Skincare Studio Medical Spa were on hand not to open their doors for the first time, but to mark a new chapter in the story of each business.https://iili.io/dxc48Je.png

Stratford’s Economic and Community Development Director Mary Dean considered the dual event a rousing success and an indicator of good things to come.

“We’re really excited because before it was Skincare Studio that was a smoke shop in the middle of a family neighborhood,” Dean said. She praised the Spa’s owner, Terri Miller, for making the effort to literally clean up the space and add a new attraction to the area. “And we have Spot Cleaners, owned by a gentleman who chose Stratford. He’s from the White Plains area and he is looking to move here and fully be part of the community.”

Dean said it was an exciting moment both for the businesses and the town. While ribbon cuttings are typically used to mark the start of a business, she indicated that expansions or transfers of already successful businesses are also important to celebrate as they demonstrate that Stratford is a place where small businesses can not only be launched but also built.

“It’s really important to support them and let people know that they’re here and open for business,” Dean said of why her department organized events like ribbon cuttings. “Sometimes if you’re driving by it’s hard to see business signs when you’re trying to deal with traffic. This highlights the new businesses and gives everybody kind of a foot in the door to let people know that they’re here.”

“Even if there isn’t a large group that attends,” Dean added, “it’s more about the media helping to advertise them and letting them meet with the mayor and she can share it on her social media.”

Stratford Mayor Laura Hoydick noted that the continued development of businesses was a sign that their owners in turn cared about the community.

“Terri already has a business here so to expand to a second location is really great. She obviously is a Stratford person and loves the community. I’m really proud of what she’s accomplished here,” Hoydick said. “And our next business, Spot Cleaners has been a stalwart, established business in Stratford for a long time, so I’m glad to see somebody is taking over.”

Terri Miller, the owner of The Skincare Studio Medical Spa, the first of the two ribbon cuttings, is a nurse of 15 years. She has training in dermatology and plastic surgery.

“Really and truly, this place is a hub for any and every skin type,” Miller said of her goals for the spa. “Anybody who has skin problems, skin concerns, acne, hyperpigmentation, rosacea. We do microneedling, chemical peels, and facials and cosmetic treatments of course. We also do Botox fillers, we’re a complete hub of anything and everything that someone would want to do to advance their skin and body.”

According to Miller, opening a second location for her business in Stratford was both practical and community directed. The services she offers are hard to find in the eastern end of Fairfield County, and medical spas in Fairfield, Westport, or Norwalk often charge higher prices.

“And on top of that not everybody understands all skin types,” she added. “But we do. So, we’re able to treat everybody properly.”

An 11 year resident of Stratford who sends her children to the local schools, Miller has also seen how Paradise Green has gained offerings like the Open Door Tea Room and Foodies Cookbook Shop that are making it a destination with Stratford.

Joining Miller were her employees and family for the ribbon cutting, alongside representatives of both the city and the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC). Champagne and pastries marked the event.

Down the street at Spot Cleaners Ricardo Aguirre, who that morning had commuted all the way from White Plains along with his extended family introduced the mayor to his daughter, and in turn her baby boy, along with his extended family and coworkers.

“I have to thank all of you guys,” Aguirre said to the organizers and visitors as his family shared batch-made ice cream with the visitors and some customers who came in for drop off, “because of the support you’ve given me. It’s amazing. It’s my first experience as an owner, and I had to have a lot of hope. Hopefully everything is going to work out the way it’s supposed to. I’m going to try to do the best that I can.”

Aguirre stressed that the business uses organic methods and the latest machines, eliminating many of the odors from harsh chemicals he encountered working at other cleaners and laundries. By performing the entire process on site, Spot Cleaners can keep close track of any item dropped off, and ensure it is only handled by trusted employees, according to Aguirre.

“I live in White Plains, but my whole life I’ve been working in the Fairfield area,” he said. “I’ve been working in this place as a manager for 15 years and I had the opportunity to take this place over and I’m here now.”

Aguirre said that his next ambition is to move his family to Stratford.