[aDapperApe]

I am currently living in Hawaii and I will be moving to the east coast in a few months. I am looking to purchase a retail space or a mixed use property in a great neighborhood with a fair pricing market. My plan is to open a barber shop that will attract a specific clientele, so the location is KEY. I am looking for an artsy, new aged, buzzing neighborhood anywhere in CT. Any suggestions?

[Stylo]

Fair pricing meaning? Keep in mind lower Fairfield County has some neighborhoods that fit the bill, but are extremely expensive.

At the high end of the rent scale:
South Norwalk
Downtown Stamford
Downtown Westport
Downtown Fairfield

Slightly more affordable areas:
Black Rock
Branford Center
Downtown Milford (a new mixed use property just opened - Metro Point)
Downtown Middletown
Downtown New Haven
Wooster Square New Haven
East Rock New Haven
West Hartford Center

These places lack a younger crowd, but still have a little artiness:
Kent
Litchfield
Mystic
Essex
Chester

I honestly can't think of any other areas that fit the bill. There are nice areas, but the vibe you're looking for is harder to come by.

[Stylo]

Also, in general - New Haven is probably the artiest city in CT. Especially the East Rock/Audubon Street area. There are also some galleries and like-minded businesses starting to pop up in the ninth square district in Downtown.

[PJ1252]

I agree with Stylo New Haven is very artsy but stay in the East Rock section. The downtown area is like the wild west........ shoot em up bang bang.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by PJ1252

The downtown area is like the wild west........ shoot em up bang bang.

It really isn't. Not in the nine square area. Shootings are pretty rare in those parts. You have to go west from there past the Yale campus.

[JayCT]

I agree with Stylo. Downtown New Haven is very safe. The OP needs to clarify what they mean by fair pricing. Real estate [prices are set by what the market will bare and the flucuates from town to town. What is fair to you may not be fair to me. Keep in mind that in real estate it is all about location location location. There are no real bargains so you get what you pay for. Jay

[JayCT]

I should have also said I would add downtown Hartford to the list. There is a great arts scene there as well. Jay

[AnonChick]

East Lyme and Mystic would be my choices. Not sure how "fair" the pricing market is in either of these towns but they are both incredibly eclectic, mixing old New England (think mid-1700's) with a pretty significant arts culture, and modern comforts.

[trademark0013]

I've lived in New Haven all my life until college and then moving up here in NY. City is just like any other metro area in terms of danger: don't get caught up in street politics or wear fancy suits and Hublots walking alone at 2am and you'll be fine. It has it's artsy areas and its ghettos. Again, like every major city.

Now in terms of what you're looking for: what's your clientele exactly? I can give you more information if your looking for them based on culture, race, language, w/e. I've lived in Fair haven that has at least 10 shops in the entire area, all equally successful and have existed since I was a kid.

[kckc48]

How would you compare the Wooster Square and East Rock neighborhoods in New Haven in terms of amenities, walkability, ambience, safety? They often come up as the more interesting/artsy parts of town.