Barbara Gale enjoys going out for a cool scoop of ice cream as the weather warms up. What she doesnt appreciate is how much it costs to put gas in her car to travel to get the treat.
You think twice when youre going out, said Gale, who dropped in at the Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop in New Canaan with friend Elizabeth Conway from Ireland. I drive for a living. My company pays for miles, not gas. Everything is going to be affected."
Downtown New Canaan merchants hope the high prices at the pump wont keep people away from the shopping district, even as the weather improves.
Anna Valente-Krolikowski, a lifelong New Canaan resident and owner of the Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop, said she's seen an increase in the cost of the delivery of supplies. Shes a tad concerned about less foot traffic, though shes hopeful people will keep making the trek to Main Street. After a tough winter, she said, We need a good, warm summer.
Candy Nichols co-owner Elizabeth Correa is being cautious. Though many visitors to her store come downtown specifically to get kids clothing, the shop gets a good share of walk-up traffic as parents or grandparents find something interesting or cute while browsing.
If people come to town less (often), that can kind of make or break your day, Correa said. Its something to think about. It is a concern.
Nicholas Type, co-owner of the Filling Station on South Avenue, said the gas prices have not hurt his traffic. The restaurant raised menu prices at the start of the year to compensate for higher prices for ingredients. The price of beef is up 35 percent since 2010. But Type says the prices for the food at his restaurant might put the Filling Station at an advantage.
Were at a different price point. Were not expensive, so in a weird way, it helps us, Type said. Were not seeing anything yet, which is good.
Are the high gas prices causing you to make fewer trips into town and elsewhere? Let us know by leaving a comment below. You can also visit our Facebook page.
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