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2014 In Review: Businesses, Hospital Made Big Strides In Danbury

DANBURY, Conn. – Businesses made big news in the city in 2014, with the opening of new stores and restaurants in the Danbury Fair Mall and an announcement from Praxair about a new headquarters. 

Rich Beattie, 33, center, is the first-time business owner behind the new Chick-Fil-A franchise at the Danbury Fair mall.

Rich Beattie, 33, center, is the first-time business owner behind the new Chick-Fil-A franchise at the Danbury Fair mall.

Photo Credit: Salvatore Trifilio, File

Big crowds cheered as Chick-Fil-A opened for business at the mall in November. About 100 people camped out for the night in the mall's parking lot to win a free meal a week in the fast-food eatery's trademark opening giveaway

The number of other new stores also opened for shoppers at the Danbury Fair Mall: 

  • UNIQLO, a global clothing retailer, held its grand opening in November, offers shoppers its unique brand of Japanese clothing. 
  • In September, Canadian athletic brand favorite lululemon athletica joined the lineup to the delight of fans of the trendy workout clothes.
  • Fun times snapped into place as LEGO opened its first store in the Nutmeg State in March.  
  • Kusulyn began serving up Asian fusion fare in March just as longtime food court fixture Sbarro pizza place closed down.
  • Arhaus Furniture made a splash with its first in Connecticut by opening in a two-story location in February. 

The mall displayed new holiday decorations, with a new Santa Headquarters sponsored by HGTV. The Danbury Fair also celebrated the installation of fuel cells to power the 1.3 million-square-foot mall with clean, reliable energy.

Gov. Dannel Malloy traveled to Danbury in October to announce that Praxair Inc., a global leader in industrial gases and applications, plans to invest $65 million to build a 100,000-square-foot world headquarters at a yet-to-be-named site in the city. 

Danbury billionaire Peter Buck was once again named to the Forbes 400 list. Buck, co-founder of Subway restaurants, is worth $2.6 billion. 

Buck also gave back to the community, donating $30 million to Danbury Hospital, which unveiled the new Peter Buck and Carmen Lucia Pavilion in June. The hospital also opened its new Emergency Department in September.  

In crime news, Garfield Sanderson, 20, of Bridgeport, was charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Jeliel Kingston, a 23-year-old from Bridgeport, after a fight at Mambo Cafe on Elm Street in downtown Danbury in May.

In community news, three Girl Scouts from Danbury completed projects to earn Gold Awards: Taryn Ramey built a memorial garden at her church; Caitlin Sharif led a green team at her church to preserve environmental resources; and Claire Tensa created a tour about the lives of children at Weir Farm National Historic Site. 

And 12-year-old Olivia Cotter took a star turn by landing the lead role in "Annie Jr." at the Musicals at Richter.

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