Unique Atmosphere Makes 'Gifts in a Basket' a Downtown Destination

When a rare opportunity came before Renee Belanger and Mike LeFay to go into business for themselves in 2004, the Southington High School graduates jumped at the opportunity. Both had experience in the retail industry, but this was a chance for them to achieve their dreams of owning their own store.

Sitting along North Main Street in downtown Southington, located below Branford Hall Career Institute, continues to provide a warm, colorful atmosphere and unique gift choices centered around gourmet foods for residents throughout the community.

“This has truly been a family-owned business fro the very beginning,” said Jeanette Rush, who operates as the bookkeeper and a cashier for the business. “Renee operates it during the day and Mike comes in to take over at night. It’s been a blessing to be involved and it lets me spend a lot of time with my daughter (Renee).”

Decorated inside with a variety of basket designs and offering gourmet snacks and teas, candy such as chocolate covered, sea salted caramels and more than 50 flavors and blends of gourmet coffee, the store is a popular spot for those December holiday gifts.

The store, which will provide consignment for quality items that can be sold in baskets, also offers an array of ornaments and snowmen for the season, as well as scented candles taken in from The Auracle, which previously occupied the storefront next door before closing earlier this year.

Baskets start at $35 and aside from a few pre-packaged deals for last minute shoppers, each one is customized to the specific needs of each customer, both Belanger and Rush said Thursday.

The atmosphere has also provided a welcoming coffee break for students over the years, with those at Branford Hall encouraged to come get a cup of coffee and enjoy the rebuilt storeroom, which features cabinets built of apple field crates and a wide variety of colorful products, Belanger said.

The former DECA member at Southington High School said the business has survived in recent years, but it hasn’t been easy with the tough economy taking its toll on the small store.

“The first two years of this tough economy, we were able to maintain sales for the most part, but this past year has been difficult,” said Belanger. “In August, we were forced to lay off three part time people because sales had declined. Things are starting to pick up again, but it hasn’t been easy.”

Aside from fewer requests for baskets, Belanger said the store has also faced challenges as a result of a decline in the number of students at .

To combat these challenges, the store has expanded its snack listings and brought in foods such as hot pockets, ice cream and iced coffee to draw additional students and local residents. The store has also unveiled several new programs in the past year including a partnership with to offer slices four days a week and transforming the corner of the store into a spot for vendors one or two days a month.

Cathy Marandino, owner of the traveling business ‘Mini New York City,’ said it has been a great way to reach out to local customers and provide a location in town where people can come for their jewelry, designer handbags and more from the New York brand.

“It’s convenient and it’s been a great partnership for us both,” Marandino said. “They provide a great service to the community and I hope that with these innovative ideas, ‘Gifts in a Basket’ will remain a friendly local business in the community for years to come.”