This year marked several significant milestones for business members of the Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce. Here's a look at some community mainstays. 

Liberty Bank, 192 years 

Liberty Bank was first chartered in 1825, which means it lays claim as the oldest bank in Connecticut. Today, the community bank serves more than 200,000 personal and business customers.

Liberty’s website advertises that “we get to know you and greet you by name,” and in 2013, the bank was one of six in the country to be recognized by the American Bankers Association for its commitment to the communities it serves.

The Old Saybrook branch is located at 90 Main Street, which offers full-time hours and is even open until 3 p.m. on Saturdays.

90 Main St, Old Saybrook 888-570-0773 www.liberty-bank.com

Reynolds’ Subaru, 159 years 

Reynolds’ has been in business since 1859 when, according to the company’s website, Ephraim Otis Reynolds started serving the carriage-riding public by building two and four-seat carriages with canopy tops and open conveyances.

The business name has changed over the years, as has the business itself. It transitioned from carriages to servicing automobiles around 1915, added boats and a marina, and added a Subaru dealership. The sixth generation of Reynolds currently works here -- the business includes Reynolds’ Garage and Marine -- and the dealership was recently named the No. 1 Subaru dealership in the country.

Hayden Reynolds, general manager and owner/principal, says the company’s formula for success is simply that, “We try to make sure every customer’s experience is enjoyable and memorable.”

264 Hamburg Road, Lyme, 860-434-0028, https://www.reynoldssubaru.com/

Lyme Art Association, 104 years

The Lyme Art Association was incorporated in 1914 after presenting fine art exhibitions starting in 1902. The Association’s early exhibitions included works by painters such as Gifford Beal, Childe Hassam, Will Howe Foote and Carleton Wiggins, among others. 

Development Director Gary Parrington said the Association is grateful for the community’s support for the arts as well as the Chamber and business community’s support. 

“The Chamber is all about business, and our business is art,” Parrington said. “And that is part of the formula for sustaining the art business, is the economy. Our mission is to sell our members’ artwork.

“By selling the artwork, the artist makes money to continue what they’re doing, we can continue to run our gallery, members of the community have the opportunity at enriching themselves by bringing representative art into their home and into their lives. And that economic cycle is self-perpetual, and that’s the art of the economics in this business.” 

90 Lyme Street, Old Lyme, 860-434-7802, www.lymeartassociation.org

Old Lyme Country Club, 102 years 

The Old Lyme Country Club was established in 1916 and is one of the oldest private clubs in Connecticut. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t approachable. 

The country club considers itself “a low-key, family oriented club,” according to its website. In addition to its 9-hole course, the club has tennis courts, a pool, wading pool and Snack Bar. The Grill Room serves lunch and dinner, and brunch on Sundays. The club also offers musical events and lectures year-round, card games, and even has a book club and a Club Chorus. 

40 McCurdy Road, Old Lyme, 860-434-1639, www.oldlymecc.com 

Saybrook Hardware, 90 years 

Saybrook Hardware has been in the same location since it was founded back in 1928. Owner Jessica May is a second-generation owner, with her parents having purchased the business in 1985. 

May credits a good location on Main Street and her “secret weapon” in manager Brian Toolan for the company’s success, as well as the way it treats its customers.

“We have wonderful employees who really care about our customers and we put customer service first. … That’s just been the hallmark, and we will always go the extra mile for people,” May said.

132 Main Street, Old Saybrook, 860-388-3706 www.saybrookhardware.com

 

Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce, 79 years 

Executive Director Judy Sullivan said people get involved in the chamber because of their businesses or organizations, then realize how valuable the services and programs are and want to become more involved and see that sustained.

The chamber’s own longevity and success can be credited to its dedicated and hard-working volunteers, Sullivan said. 

“Really, our strength is in our volunteer corps,” she said. “The Board of Directors is all volunteers and we operate the chamber with less than three full-time people. So it’s definitely the strength of our volunteers, and that new ones come on all the time.”

1 Main Street, Old Saybrook, 860-388-3266, www.oldsaybrookchamber.com

  

The Paint Shop, 63 years 

The PAINT Shop opened in the mid-1950s when Charles “Curly” Haynes set up shop next door to the post office on Main Street. According to the shop’s website, Curly had been born into a family of painting and decorating contractors and added a sales-oriented mindset to the mix. Curly sold the business to Gene Girdwood in the middle to late ‘60s. 

Current owner Andy Scott started working at the shop in 1977, immediately after his 16th birthday, and purchased the business at 28. Scott said the company’s success can be credited to providing fair and competitive pricing for a quality product, making sure to have enough inventory to meet customers’ demands, and helping solve their problems. 

“(You need) to really know your product better than anybody else,” Scott said. “I’ve always looked at retail as problem-solving. People come to me and say, ‘How do I do this?’ or ‘Here’s my situation, help me.’ What you’re basically doing is problem-solving. You need to know what you have and how it works so you can best advise your customer.”

59 Main Street, Old Saybrook, 860-388-2345, www.thepaintshop.com

Luigi's Restaurant, 62 years 

Luigi’s was established by Italian immigrant Luigi DiBella, who originally sold stuffed Italian sandwiches next door to his shoe repair shop. He first opened a small restaurant in Madison, before selling it and opening Luigi’s Restaurant.

Current owner Leonard DiBella is a third-generation owner and manager of the restaurant. He has seven children and an extended family of more than 50 members, many of whom work or used to work at the restaurant. According to the restaurant’s website, “Next time you are in, you are bound to see one!”

The restaurant offers a 10 percent discount on all purchases with an active military ID or to all those in uniform, including police officers. Luigi served in the First World War with the Allied Forces and his son Salvator served as a U.S. Army Corporal in World War II. Leonard’s oldest son, Michael, commissioned as an Army officer from MIT’s Paul Revere Battalion and holds the rank of Captain. 

1295 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, 860-388-9190, www.luigis-restaurant.com

Johnny Ad’s, 61 years

A postal worker from Middletown named John Adinolfo opened a small weekend seafood shack in 1957 and named it after his nickname, “Johnny Ad.”

With a dining room as well as outdoor picnic tables, Johnny Ad’s is open seven days a week, year round. It’s become renowned for its lobster rolls and hot dogs, and has wine and beer available. 

Current owners Bob Hansen and Tenzin Lama have owned Johnny Ad’s since 1995. 

910 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, 860-388-4032, www.johnnyads.com

Lewitz, Balosie, Wollack, Raynor & Giroux, CPAs, 61 years 

Joe Wollack’s father started his accounting practice in 1958 in a small office above the Old Colony Package Store at the corner of Main and Sheffield Street, and the firm grew from there. 

According to Wollack, one of four partners in the firm, the business is about “more than just number-crunching.” The company is involved with the community and with the chamber, which work together in a mutually beneficial relationship 

“It really is all about being part of the community and that the business community is an important aspect of living in town,” he said, “and anything that can be done to promote that, also promotes the overall vitality of the town and makes it a better place to live.” 

36 Elm Street, Old Saybrook, 860-388-4451, www.saybrookcpas.com

Johnson Floor Covering, 55 years

Johnson Floor Covering was founded by two brothers in 1958 who then sold the business in 1987. Jim Gendron became a partner in the early 2000s and then and took over as owner three years ago.

“I think the key to success for me is giving the same answer every time,” Gendron said. “Be honest and provide a service that people are looking for. We do what we say: we’re on time, prompt, and we get done what we set out to accomplish.” 

1654 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, 860-399-9131, www.johnsonfloorcoveringct.com

Angus McDonald / Gary Sharpe & Associates, 52 years 

Angus McDonald started his business in 1966 as a small land surveying company providing services for residential lot layout and subdivision design. It quickly expanded as McDonald applied his background and experience in civil engineering to provide more extensive offerings of survey and engineering design services. 

Gary Sharpe joined as an associate in 1970 and acquired his license to practice civil engineering in 1974, according to the company’s website. Today, Sharpe works alongside Angus McDonald, Jr in the well-known business.

233 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, 860-388-4671, www.mcdonaldsharpe.com

Appleby Plumbing, 52 years 

Owner Chuck Appleby started working at the company as his teenager and eventually took it over from his father, John H. Appleby, Jr. 

Chuck became a plumber’s apprentice, then a journeyman, and finally a licensed contractor before eventually running the company and expanding it, according to a story in The Day. He works long hours but said the friends he’s made along the way make it worth it. 

3 Buck Hill Road, Old Saybrook, 860-434-7820, www.applebyplumbing.net

Cloutier & Cassella, 51 years 

If you’re a law firm that’s been in business for more than 50 years, you’ve probably undergone a few name changes. That’s exactly the case with Cloutier & Cassella, LLC, which was founded in 1966 as the firm of O’Connell & Budney. 

The founding partners then were nominated and confirmed as Superior Court judges in the early 1980s, at which point the firm became Cloutier & Domnarski, LLC, a name it kept until 2001, when attorney Edward S. Domnarski, Jr., was named to the Superior Court bench. 

Today, the multi-service law firm includes three lawyers -- Edward M. Cassella, Thomas D. McLauglin, and James M. McClure -- and six paraprofessionals and paralegals. 

29 Elm Street, Old Saybrook, 860-388-3456, www.cloutierandcassella.com

The Monkey Farm, 50 years 

Owner Harry Corning credits good family backing, great staff, and some lucky breaks for his long run owning The Monkey Farm Cafe. One full-time bartender has been with him 28 years and another part-timer has worked there for 30. 

Corning added that it helped that he owns the real estate and hasn’t had to worry about a landlord raising the rent. And when he thought about selling, his three children -- Deb, David, and Laura -- stepped up and took over the day-to-day operations.

“I always kid them that it takes three of them to do what I did,” Corning said. 

Said Laura Corning: “We treat everyone like they’re our own -- and they are.” 

571 Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook, 860-388-4866, www.themonkeyfarmcafe.com

Walt's Market, 50+ years

Paul Kozey’s father started the business in 1960 and Kozey took over in 1993. Kozey said he graduated high school in 1981, started working with his father, “and then here we are now.”

Kozey said that although it can be tough for the smaller stores to stay in business, Walt’s tries to keep up with the times and make changes when needed, and offers “a good product at a fair price, and quality.”. Kozey knows a lot of customers by name and said that in a lot of cases, people grew up in the town, saw their parents shop there, and now the children shop at Walt’s. 

“A lot of these customers, they’ve been shopping here since Day One, back with my father,” he said. “We’re seeing the younger generation (too).” 

178 Main St, Old Saybrook, 860-388-3308