above:Â Iridescent Bling Boom Box with LED Speakers
Make It Personal
It’s been a busy year for SHEILA GROW, owner of SHE LA LA on Greenwich Avenue. She added both a third location to her roster of successful gift boutiques (New Canaan and Westport residents know her shops well) and a third daughter to her young family. While she has plans to expand the business even further with both e-commerce and, eventually, more brick- and-mortar stores, her current focus is enjoying her new spot in town. Her decision to open in Greenwich arose from what she saw as a void in the gifting space for a destination that truly had it all, from home decor, fashion accessories, clothing and entertaining staples to an entire baby and kids’ department. And then there’s the jewelry. There’s truly something for everyone (and in a range of prices that starts under $24), with fun and colorful statement earrings to luxe pieces from designers like Julie Vos. In-house personalization on most everything sold on the floor makes gifts that much more special, but there is also a variety of gifts-on-the-go that are ready to grab at the last minute. Celebrating the holidays in her latest space will involve decking the store with seasonal decor and setting up her favorite gifts like hand-painted ornaments and monogrammed aprons, but we’re guessing it’ll also be a time to reflect on the year when she welcomed a new baby and was welcomed into a new community.
She La La
73 Greenwich Ave.,
203-769-5444; shopshelala.com
Toy Story
For JARED GREENMAN, toys are a family business. As the current owner of the new FUNKY MONKEY on Greenwich Ave., Jared draws on the experience of four generations in the industry; his father, Stan, founded the popular Noodle Kidoodle stores before opening Funky Monkey on Long Island fifteen years ago. Both men saw potential in the Greenwich market and decided it would be the perfect place to open a second location and introduce customers to their vision of a colorful destination that is both modern and fun, featuring a wide assortment of the latest in on-trend toys and beloved classics. As the holiday season kicks off, Jared is excited to share his expertise with a new community of shoppers. Get started on December 5th, when Funky Monkey partners with the Junior League of Greenwich: All toys will be 10 percent off, and 10 percent of sales will be donated to Neighbor to Neighbor.
Funky Monkey
86 Greenwich Ave.,
203-769-5884, funkymonkey.toys
Photographs GROW: Xenia Photography; Store Interior, Thomas Mcgovern; GREENMAN: Bob Capazzo