What Makes a Town Center: Litchfield

There’s something about driving up North into Litchfield County, through New Milford, past New Preston, into Litchfield’s town center, that feels like entering a different part of Connecticut — a Connecticut that is more a part of New England than an outside suburb of New York.

While driving up the long straight road of Route 202, the space around me widened as things began to slow down. I put on my Willie Nelson CD, and felt myself ease into my car ride, abandoning the normal annoyance of being stuck behind a too slow car on a two lane road. Not before a stop at Bantam Bread Company, did I finally see Litchfield’s town center come into view, feeling as though I was approaching something of another time, the sense of old New England style and tradition sitting like an aura around the entire town center.

Not much changes in Litchfield as time moves forward. The classic and historic homes and buildings around the town center honor their history and tradition by being part of the Borough of Litchfield. 

Litchfield’s Borough governs one square mile around the town center, and was incorporated in 1818 as one of the first of only two villages in Connecticut. In 1959 the Borough was designated as the State’s first Historical District. In order for the Borough of Litchfield to retain its traditional style, the owners of the property and structures need permission to do any modifications.

The Borough also manages the clearing and cleaning of the sidewalks, as well as monitoring any signage posted on the green.

“We’ve done a good job keeping Litchfield’s Borough colonial,” says Borough warden, Lee Losee, who’s held the position since 1999. “Litchfield is a unique town that draws many tourists and visitors,” says Losee.

Melanie Forstmann, an employee at Flora and Fauna on South Street agrees.

“We have so many visitors from all over,” Forstmann explained. “From New Jersey to Cape Cod, and even one customer from England who always stops here during her yearly visit to town.”

And it’s no wonder why. Like many of the storefronts in town, Flora and Fauna is an eclectic shop with a beautiful array of gift and jewelry items — from scarves, to handbags, to the owner Cynthia Bosson’s self produced cosmetics.  

“The store’s done very well during this tough economy,” says Forstmann, “the items are unique at a very reasonable price point.”

Losee also believes business in Litchfield is on the upswing, although he acknowledges the recent economy has hit some very hard.

“We’re not immune," he says. "Some businesses more than others — but there are those who are hanging on by their fingernails.”

Like many of the area towns, Losee believes in the power of attracting foot traffic into the town center. He notes the Litchfield Hills Road Race, the MS walk and the Summer Concert Series as events that have successfully drawn people to the town.

Losee takes a simple approach to evaluating the Borough’s economy, noting that last fall, the amount of parked cars in the center of town alerted Losee that things weren’t going well.

“There was half the amount of parked cars on a Friday night, which is our busiest night, than what we’ve seen in past years,” he explains. However, Losee has seen an increase of parked cars just this winter. “Things are picking up,” he says optimistically.

This seemed evident during my recent Saturday afternoon visit. Although Mother Nature was letting out a cruel, cold wind that particular day, the streets were peppered with pedestrians, and a stop at The Village Restaurant and Tap felt like stepping into a scene from Cheers. All seats around the bar and in the booths were filled, as the bartender greeted the customers by name. There was a chatter among them all, those at the bar talking over their shoulder to those eating at a table, commenting on the game or festivities from the night before, creating a very comfortable and at home atmosphere.

For Litchfield, their commitment to tradition is what keeps their town center thriving. Patience and perseverance are classic lessons, which are easily evident in Litchfield’s classic town center.