When Gabriela Anastasio started her luxury home goods business out of her living room three years ago, she said never could have imagined opening up a showroom at a popular outdoor shopping mall. But after years of finding an “amazing community” in Connecticut, Anastasio said she is opening the doors to her first showroom at The Shops at Farmington Valley in Canton next month. The home accessories store has signed a one-year lease to occupy the former J Crew space near Sur La Table.
The planned opening is made possible by the The Shops’ small business incubator team. “For select shorter-term deals we are able to utilize our Retail Experience and Incubation team, who specialize is helping small to medium size brands with the process of opening a brick and mortar location,” said Liz Ackerman, general manager at The Shops at Farmington Valley. “They offer additional support from interior concepting and window graphics design to overall operational milestone management,” Ackerman said.
“Their goal is to make what can sometimes be an overwhelming process feel less overwhelming.” Gabriela Anastasio’s business, Anastasio Home , is a producer of limited-run home accessories and upcycled luxury goods with a focus on stone, she said. “It seemed like just moments ago that we moved Anastasio Home out of my living room and into its first studio,” Anastasio said.
“This month, we will get the keys to our first flagship showroom in the posh Farmington Valley of Conn.