“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is a phrase that has, for a long time, been very capable of describing North Canaan. It wasn’t always like that. Long ago, North Canaan was the pseudo-capital of the Region One area, all that was happening was happening here. As the years have gone on, the town has lost some of its luster as a rotating door of stores have opened and closed. Recently there has been growth and revitalization in the heart of town, which shows its true potential. No doubt the town has always been a little rough around the edges, it’s not as regal as Salisbury, it’s not as spacious as Cornwall, it’s not as charming as Sharon, it’s not… you get the point. But for those that know the town and have lived in North Canaan for years, they see the beauty and always have. Canaan Valley has some incredible views that compete with anywhere in New England, as well as all the hiking trails throughout the mountains in East Canaan. Honestly, though there is an unfortunate truth to the inner beauty of the town, it’s very easy to miss. If you aren’t from the area you may not know this, but there is a shortcut through Canaan known as North Elm Street. If you pass through Canaan on Route 7 your GPS will undoubtedly take you down North Elm, but I implore anyone to take a small detour to see the real potential of this budding town.
North Canaan has a wide range of food and snack options, some of the classic businesses are Collin’s Diner, Roma’s, Stateline, Picante’s, the Caddie Shack, during their season, and the Belted Cow at the Canaan Country Club. However, in the past few years, there have been a couple of new options open up right in the heart of town. The Blackberry River Bistro located on Main Street is a fantastic little spot with a wide array of food. From burritos to banh mi’s they’ve got you covered and it’s all delicious. The Bistro has been around since 2019 and survived the pandemic. To accommodate such times it was takeout only. Recently, it has reopened the in-house dining and it’s a fantastic experience with a charming atmosphere. If you’re looking to get a couple of cocktails with your dinner, all you gotta do is take a left onto Railroad Street and you’ll come across Industry Kitchen & Bar. Industry has an array of options from classics such as burgers and wings to something more adventurous like ahi tuna. With a real blue-collar feel to it, Industry is right at home in North Canaan. Opening in 2021 just after the pandemic Industry has been booming since its arrival. If you’re looking for a good meal with great service with a friendly hometown feel, Industry is your place. Let’s say you’re not really looking for much of a meal, and thinking about trying some local beer, then the Great Falls Brewery is the number one option. Brewing all their own beer, the brewery is a great spot in Canaan. No matter what kind of beer you’re looking for, they’ve got it, or even if you don’t like beer there’s some exceptional cider typically on tap. As well as having all the beer one could want, every week the Brewery brings in a different food truck to supply some snacks or meals for those that get hungry. Food and drinks aren’t the only thing shocking the heart of Canaan like an AED (automated external defibrillator), some very new businesses that would not not traditionally be associated with the town have opened up.
Nutrition on Railroad and its accompanying store KayCee & Co. Gift Boutique is a new and unique store to Canaan, located on Railroad Street. On the Nutrition side you can find smoothies, shakes, and fruit bowls with only the freshest ingredients for maximum quality. The smoothie bar offers a fun and unique way for people to interact and make new friends, not only with those working, but with the other patrons as well. Sharing the storefront is KayCee & Co. that offers plenty of uncommon knick knacks and mementos for your time in Canaan. A store like this hasn’t existed in Canaan for quite some time and is a breath of fresh air when it comes to downtown. Another “not-so-Canaan” business to open up is Covered Bridge Electric Bike. Located on the corner of Railroad and Main Street the store has a massive selection of EBikes to rent or buy. The store has two other locations, West Cornwall and Kent, both of which have seen a steady stream of customers. If the trend continues that should bring plenty of people to Canaan. With low-traffic roads and scenic views, this makes Canaan a prime place to house a shop such as this. I know nobody really wants to admit it but as an avid car driver I, and many others, don’t like to share the road, but if I’m sharing with those biking through Canaan, I’m more than happy to. All joking aside, the store is a very welcomed addition to the heart of Canaan. Another new non traditional business in Canaan would be Nerdy Visions. This tattoo parlor has a fresh and alluring twist on the ordinary tattoo shop. For a long time tattoos and tattoo parlors have been associated with darkness, grunge, and an overall negative stigma. Nerdy Visions is looking to break those stigmas and highlight the brighter sides for tattoos, such as the artistry and creativity of them. With a great attitude and sunny disposition the folks at Nerdy Visions will always greet you with a smile and help with any ideas, questions, or concerns you may have regarding tattoos for yourself or loved ones.
Just about a quarter mile down the street behind all the storefronts we’ll encounter the Music Lab. Established in 2016, possibly the most unique of all Canaan’s new businesses, the Music Lab offers a comfortable space for “teachers, students or enthusiasts” of music to come play or listen. This is a place that the entire community is not only welcome to, but encouraged to come check out. Maybe you love to play music, but you’re a little shy, no problem, the whole space can be rented out for private use. Maybe you’re just starting to learn how to play an instrument, but don’t have a reliable teacher, no worries there are plenty of people willing to teach. These are just a few of the new businesses that have come to breathe some fresh air into Canaan.
Revitalization is a term that has long evaded both Canaan and the Northwest Corner as a whole for a long time. People are typically resistant to change, and those of small towns are especially susceptible to that stereotype. Thankfully it seems as though these new businesses are being well accepted and supported within the community. John Considine, owner of Riga Construction and fellow member of the Canaan community is at the forefront of the reinvestment of the town. He sees Canaan as a flower that is just ready to bloom. John owns plenty of property throughout the town including the old church on the hill. Recently he sent out a message to the Northwest Corner Chatter Facebook page asking what members of the community would like and a new restaurant may be in the works. Another place that hasn’t opened yet is the coffee shop going in where Jim’s Garage used to be located. A quaint little coffee shop to supply Canaan as an alternative to Dunkin or McDonald’s is a welcomed addition to the town. Word around town is also that there is a new cafe/breakfast spot going in where Berkshire Country Cafe used to be which is another option for breakfast alongside Olde School Deli and Collin’s Diner. Of those reinvesting in Canaan, Will Perotti who has been working extremely hard the last few years to improve Canaan as much as possible. Ever wonder who puts the lights up on the buildings during the Holiday season? Wonder no longer, that would be Mr. Perotti who not only has worked on the businesses in town, but also worked on the apartments above to improve everyone’s quality of living. Will is a visionary for Canaan as well as John and they’re working to help Canaan bloom like the flower it is.
So, next time you find yourself traveling along Route 7 maybe take that left or right into the heart of town, I can guarantee there’s enough to do to keep you occupied. Between the old businesses and the new Canaan is certain on the cusp of a resurgence. With that being said, let me take you on a journey down Railroad and Main Street to get a more in-depth look at the resurgence of Canaan.
Khyra McClennon won the tip over Old Saybrook center Kylie Lake.Photo by Riley Klein
Tessa Dekker played four years of varsity basketball for the Mountaineers and was named to the Berkshire League First Team in 2025.Photo by Riley Klein
Sophomore guard Hayden Bachman got a taste of the postseason this year.Photo by Riley Klein
