Getting Creative in the Commercial Zone
North Canaan refresh draws artists
By Andra Moss
Artist and interior designer Ruthann Olsson, who formerly ran her business from the Royal Arcanum building in Norfolk, has found a new commercial—and artistic—home in North Canaan. She joins a recent influx of creative entrepreneurs bringing their businesses to the community.
Olsson says she feels lucky to have found a large space for Ruthann Olsson Interior Arts and Design inside 96 Main St., the former home of Wheeler & Taylor Insurance. “The building’s architectural details make it especially inviting in working with interior design clients, while also accommodating a good space for a painting studio,” she notes.
North Canaan is “teeming with positive energy,” says Olsson, including that of her co-tenant, Canaan native Haley Schopp of the law firm Considine Arnold & Schopp LLP, and her favorite upholsterer of many years, Dooley Collins, just across the way at 93 Main St.
That more and more artists and others are finding their way to North Canaan may be due in no small part to John Considine of Riga Construction, the owner or co-owner of several downtown buildings. He has long been focused on creating a more cohesive and attractive commercial strip. Considine’s son, Kyle, and his business partner, Will Perotti, have also invested in downtown Canaan real estate, including the two buildings sited at the prime corner of Railroad and Main Streets.
These buildings have recently received fresh new exteriors, as well as new tenants. Westerlind, the outdoor fashion brand with stores in Litchfield, Millerton and Great Barrington, has opened its first outlet at 1 Railroad St., most recently home to Covered Bridge Electric Bike (which has moved to Kent). The outlet is open Thursdays through Sundays and offers 30 to 70 percent discounts on men’s and women’s clothing.
State Line Auctions & Estate Services, which had long held the prominent corner space across the street, has relocated to 14 Clayton Rd. According to Considine, 80 Main St. will now be divided into two units, with the lower half soon to be occupied by a sculptor from New York City.
Other anticipated arrivals to the downtown North Canaan art scene include art dealer Denise Bibro, moving into the historic 1883 white colonial building at 109 Main St., and artist Peter Cusack, who is opening a studio/gallery in the former Episcopal church building. Both are owned by Considine. With François Dischinger’s Yo Studio, a photo studio, artist workspace and gallery already established at 91 Main St., the stretch offers significant potential as an arts district.
Don’t forget the kids! Canaan Kids Art space, operating since July of last year in the ground floor of The Colonial Theatre, is practically bursting out of its space. Executive Director Breete Graves explains that “We’re primarily an afterschool club focused on creative play and self-expression for kids six to ten years old from Norfolk, Sheffield, Salisbury and Canaan.” The non-profit hosts community-wide events on the weekends and once a month set out materials for family open studio projects. Ninety percent of their craft materials are donated. Graves welcomes gifts dropped in the bin located in the adjacent parking lot.
Across from the theater, at 32 Railroad St., is new event space called The Palms. It accom-modates up to 45 guests for gatherings, celebra-tions, creative workshops and small business pop-ups. Its new neighbor is A+ Detailing, of-fering vehicle, boat and machinery deep-cleans. Considine feels good about this new direc-tion for downtown North Canaan, saying he is a firm believer in the philosophy of “build it and they will come.” He has been invest-ing in the town for decades, noting that “Our thought was to buy as many of the properties in the downtown as we can, to make an im-pact. When people start seeing things happen-ing all over town, you get something stirred up and people will want to come do business in this community.”
Not solely content with refreshing the buildings he owns, Considine is also contributing new building stock. “We are putting up a building for Northwell Health on a lot I own next to the municipal parking lot,” he said, noting that they will rent from his company and that it will be a physical therapy facility. At the other end of town, Considine is expanding into property he owns behind the Berkshire Hills Design showroom (14 Church St.) to create Berkshire Hearth and Outdoors, which will sell wood and pellet stoves, outdoor kitchens and appliances, firepits, fireplace inserts and varieties of stone. Whatever the catalyst, there is no denying that change is in the air in North Canaan. “If we can get Canaan known for being an arts community, that would be fantastic,” says Considine. As for Olsson, she is busy getting set up in her new space and meeting her neighbors. “In time I will establish ‘open’ hours for those who just want to stop by for design or to visit,” she says. In the meantime, it’s ‘by chance or appointment’ and she encourages visitors to give all of downtown Canaan a fresh chance, as well.