Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Let’s make 2018 a big year for our Ridgefield small businesses and put a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods and services for the betterment of our community.
Three questions with Richard Hastings of Hastings, Cohan, & Walsh, LLP
Why did you start your business?
My family moved to Ridgefield when I was in the second grade. After I graduated from Fordham Law School, I knew that I would be returning to Ridgefield because it was such a special place. I began my legal career working for an attorney in Ridgefield and then opened my own firm in 1988 with my third-grade classmate Mark Allan. Mark went on to become a minister and I now practice with George Cohan and Patrick Walsh both of whom I have known for over 40 years. I have lived or worked in Ridgefield since the early 1960s and have raised my family here. I could think of no better place to be practicing law. It reminds me of a coffee mug I have that says "Ridgefield, a small town is like a big family.”
How many people do you employ? Any youth or seniors from the community?
We currently employ 9 people. We have been participating in the Ridgefield High School student internship program for over 25 years. It has been a great pleasure watching so many of those students evolve over time. Many of these students have gone on to become lawyers and check in with us on a regular basis to update us as to their progress. It is really quite rewarding to know that you have had some small part in the personal development of these young people.
We do business locally whenever possible. I opened my first savings account at the Ridgefield Savings Bank in 1964 and still do business there which is now known as Fairfield County Bank. A partial list of the wonderful merchants that we use in town would include: Nature's Temptations; Fairfield County Bank; Squashes; Ridgefield Hardware; Ridgefield Supply; Addessi's; Books on the Common; Colonial Cleaners; Cheers; Cake Box; Olly Court; Audrey Road; Huttons; Tazza; Steve’s Bagels; Harmony Spa; Dapper Den; The Toy Chest; Ridgefield Winter Garden; Marty Motors; Georgetown Auto Body; Limestone Service Station; Turkey Ridge; Purple Frog; Ridgefield Running Company; Ridgefield Bicycle Company; Rodier Flowers; Ridgefield Playhouse; The Prospector; Bikram Yoga; Montanari Fuel and numerous wonderful local restaurants.
Richard Hastings tags Suzanne Brennan of Addessi Jewelers.