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This was one of the snowiest winters in recent memory in Connecticut. There seemed to be almost an epidemic of roof collapses as buildings all over the state gave way under the weight of accumulated snowfalls. Many of those affected were businesses. WNPR’s Harriet Jones went to visit with one of them, to see how the recovery is progressing.
One snowy day last February, the two staff working at Alexandra Litor’s French bakery in Stafford Springs heard the sounds of the building collapsing all around them.
“The two storeys above were down, the other side of the building was down, but fortunately the bakery was still holding, so people were able to get out. So I’m glad it was just the equipment we lost and nothing else.”
But the blow to the business was tremendous. Thousands of dollars worth of fittings and supplies had to be written off, and the bakery had lost its only kitchen space.
“Even with insurance it’s been difficult to start over again – it’s not something easy. Especially when you have equipment that cost so much money in it. You know, finding other space, getting all your inventory back – it hasn’t been easy.”
Litor runs La Petite France with her husband Romeo. She came here from Paris six years ago to finish her MBA at UConn.
“Because a lot of people ask me, why are we here, coming from Paris – well because I came here to study first.”
Romeo Litor has a culinary background, and when Alexandra finished her MBA, the couple stayed in Connecticut and bought the bakery, which had been a mainstay in Stafford Springs for more than two decades.
“I take care of the paperwork and all business aspect, and he takes care of the baking.”
Two years ago, the business was doing so well that Litor felt confident enough to branch out into another, more prominent and expensive location, in West Hartford center.
“Bonjour Madame – Bonjour!”
It’s a cozy place with an eclectic mix of furniture, a hand painted mural of Paris, an art exhibition on the walls, and macaroons, éclairs and other treats in the pastry case. Litor says the business plan here required a new approach… with a high overhead, she has to attract in a lot more foot traffic.
All of the baking for both locations was done in Stafford Springs, but when that location was lost in the February roof collapse, Litor’s immediate problem was how to keep the West Hartford location open – now their only retail space. For the minute, she’s rented a workspace in Somers.
“The kitchen in Somers is working good for now. I see it as a temporary solution, but it’s working for now. You know, we have West Hartford that we have to keep going. So we roll up our sleeves and find ways to make it.”
Litor says she’s on the hunt for a new kitchen and she’d love to expand into more cafés. She says despite the setbacks, she’s glad the family decided to stay in the US to pursue their small business dream.
“It’s easier here where still there are more entrepreneur than in France, and they are more open to it.”
France has more regulations, she says, around hiring employees.
“And also here, you know I think it’s easier to get the money to get started. While in France, nobody wants to lend you money if you don’t put almost half of it. So no, I think it’s easier here.”
And she says Connecticut is receptive to what La Petite France has to offer.
“People are very happy to be able to find authentic French in Connecticut. Some people come almost every day for their croissant, their coffee, all their bread, and to be able to talk French and, yes!”
For WNPR, I'm Harriet Jones.
