The Connecticut gift shop has become a gathering place where stories are shared.
It grew from the simple need to build a community.
After the death of her husband, Anthony, in 2014, Anita Cilfone found herself adrift, wondering what was next.
“What I am I going to do with my life?” she remembered asking. “I had no clue.”
Just three years later, she opened Bella Luna, a gift shop on the corner of Routes 63 and 109 in Morris, and began curating a collection of friends and faithful customers. She has also built a successful business that caters to both local artists and shoppers.
She named the store Bella Luna after her first granddaughter. Her customers say it has a peaceful, relaxed atmosphere, she said.
The corner in Morris is also home to the Penny Farthing tea room and bakery, a popular stop, as well as two restaurants, La Guera Cantina and Giovanni’s. The gift shop property faces the meadow of South Farms, a private farm and outdoor venue.
Bella Luna and Penny Farthing are inside a restored 1760s barn and commercial building, which were once a stagecoach stop and inn in Morris. The restoration, by property owner Dave Robert. began after he and his wife, Diana, purchased it in 2010.
“I was looking for an investment property to run my excavation business out of,” he said. “The property needed a lot of work; (it had) an overgrown yard, a leaky roof on the commercial building and some structural issues.”
One option, he said, would have been to level the buildings and build something new. But Robert saw potential there.
“I learned of the fascinating history dating back to before the birth of the nation,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in old homes, and knew that by saving what is here, it would be beneficial to preserving the rural and historical character of the town.”
Robert didn’t have a clear plan after the restoration, but that all changed when he met Cilfone in 2016, through a friend.
“She had been working in retail for years and it was her dream to have her own shop,” Robert said. “I saw her passion and willingness to take a risk and felt that she would have the determination to make it a success.
“She sold me on the concept of creating a boutique that people would come to for a shopping experience,” Robert said. “We both agreed that in addition to exceptional customer service, it was essential to create a space that is unique, inviting, and has a relaxing vibe.”
Cilfone said, “Dave was so excited, so supportive of the ideas we came up with. We brainstormed together and we both had a vision to remodel the building that would be beautiful. He’s done that.”
The interior of the store features original barn wood for its counters and displays, as well as open beams in the ceilings and wide windows for plenty of natural light.
The store’s displays feature Cilfone’s many wares: fragrant scents and candles; jewelry, linens, women and children’s clothing, a baby corner, beach accessories, and a variety of handcrafted gifts by local artisans.
There’s also local maple syrup and spices, hostess gifts, fair trade items from Asia and Central America, and body care products.
A collection of aluminum jewelry by The Artist Jay is set with colorful stones, one of Cilfone’s most recent finds, with earrings, necklaces and pendants that are lightweight and fun to wear, she said.
By the entrance, a collection of glassware decorated with baked clay designs and bright summer colors are by a local artist. In a corner by the register, a collection of small framed paintings by another local artist are displayed near a row of handmade pens by a Torrington artisan, who uses antiques to create his unique writing instruments.
“That artist is coming over to bring more stock in,” she said. “People love these pens. They’re all very special.”
Outside, Bella Luna’s gardens are in bloom for the summer, and are decorated with lawn and garden ornaments and chimes. Next door, England natives Deb Sowerby, Clare Andrulis and Alison Delello, the owners of Penny Farthing, have been a welcome addition to the corner in Morris. The bakery and tea room recently added Thursdays to their hours and are now open through Sunday.
Robert said he enjoyed designing and building the displays inside Bella Luna as well as the bakery next door.
“I’ve always loved woodworking … (Bella Luna) was a rewarding project for me, and got me thinking about what to do with the renovated space next to the gift shop,” he said, adding he met the partners and eventually developed a plan to move their wholesale bakery business to a retail café space.
“In January 2023, the commercial bakery was completed and the (Penny Farthing partners) used it for their wholesale business while I did the final design and build-out of the tea room,” Robert said.
Cilfone loves her English neighbors and the people they attract.
“They’re just wonderful, and they’ve brought business to the area here,” Cilfone said.
Anyone who walks through the doors of her shop becomes part of the Bella Luna family, Cilfone said.
“When I first opened, it was on my 65th birthday,” she said. “I started with family and close friends as customers and people volunteering to help out. Everyone was so supportive, and that hasn’t really changed.
“When customers come in, they share their stories with us; everyone just starts talking,” Cilfone said. “It’s a community here. It’s a special place.”
Her dog, a tiny Shi-Poo mix named Maggie, is the store’s official greeter. “She loves everyone,” Cilfone said, stroking the little dog. “She is part of the family too.”
To reach Bella Luna Gifts, visit bellalunagifts.com, find them on Facebook or on Instagram.