10 Things To Love About Winsted, Connecticut
Nestled in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains in Northwest Connecticut, the small town of Winsted is the unpolished gem of upscale Litchfield County. Winsted’s charming Main Street looks a bit like the setting of a Hallmark Christmas movie. Beautiful examples of ecclesiastical, Victorian, neoclassical, Greek Revival, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival architecture abound here.
A 2022 Wall Street Journal article highlighted how Winsted not only survived the COVID-19 pandemic, but thrived as city dwellers realized they could work from anywhere, including this small town, remotely.
Every summer, tourists flock to Winsted’s own crown jewel, Highland Lake. One of the largest lakes in Connecticut, Highland Lake is known for its crystal-clear water and is a popular spot for swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing.
Here are just some of the places we love in Winsted, located at the crossroads of Route 44 and Route 8.
1. 2nd Home Lounge In 2021, Cheryl and Sean McGlynn transformed an old building at 524 Main Street into a welcoming and cozy lounge for adults. Take a seat on the couches and comfy chairs and relax with friends over a good beer or glass of wine while enjoying some tasty, light, fare. 2nd Home also offers books to read and games to play. Local art adorns the walls and area musicians perform here every Friday and Saturday.
2. Often touted as the best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurant in Connecticut, Noujaim’s Bistro, 430 Main Street, is the proud creation of owner George Noujaim. Chef George, who loves to welcome every diner like family, honors his Lebanese heritage by creating spectacular Mediterranean dishes. Actor Erik Estrada even stopped in recently for dinner. Next door, Noujaim’s also manufactures its own hummus and other specialty foods.
3. Retired fireman Alan Nero bought the former Strand Theatre in 1985 and created the Gilson Cafe and Cinema, where patrons can eat dinner or snacks and have cocktails while watching first-run movies. Nero named the space in honor of his film industry mentor, Warren Gilson. The Winsted landmark also hosts live jazz performances on Sundays.
Photo courtesy American Mural Project
4. A thriving artist community is blossoming in Winsted. A former hosiery mill, Whiting Mills, at 100 Whiting Street, is now filled with studio spaces for local artists and craftspeople. The nearby American Mural Project, at 90 Whiting Street, is the largest indoor collaborative artwork in the world with a 120-foot-long, five-story-high mural that honors American workers. Both buildings are also used for community events, classes and live performances.
5. At 58 Main Street is LiVE.AtHome. Owned by Jackie McNamara, LiVE.AtHome is a funky and fun gift/clothing/home store featuring new handcrafted, repurposed and fair trade merchandise, clothing and gifts, including many that celebrate Highland Lake. The store hosts paint nights, charcuterie design classes, murder mysteries and psychic readings.
6. Next door to LiVE.AtHome is Cura Di Se, which means self care in Italian. The store, at 60 Main Street, features healthy protein shakes, power bowls, and boosted teas. Cura Di Se was created when owner Rebecca Corcoran left her job as a pediatric medical assistant to focus on her own health and homeschool her younger son during the pandemic. The store also offers events like fitness and nutrition classes and tasseography (that's tea leaves and coffee grounds fortune telling).
7. The Curious Cat Bookstore started as a popup business in LiVE.AtHome, but it has now found a permanent home at 386 Main Street. The bookstore is run by Stacy Whitman, who has more than 20 years of book publishing experience. The Curious Cat features books for all ages as well as bookish items like stickers, games, and puzzles, and hosts author events, game nights and book clubs. On Oct. 8, the bookstore will host a special cat-centric event with cat-themed books, purr-fect cat-themed gifts, and adoptable kittens from an area rescue organization.
8. In 2019, brothers Matt and Nate Day and Nils Johnson opened Little Red Barn Brewers in an old factory at 32 Lake Street. The popular spot boasts an open taproom, food trucks and live music. They also host local fundraisers and community events. They are now expanding their space for weddings, meetings and other events as well as for an ax-throwing gallery.
9. The Soldier’s Monument and Memorial Park, at 84 Crown Street, is a castle-like, square granite Gothic Revival tower that overlooks Winsted and honors local soldiers who served in the Civil War. A bronze statue of a Civil War soldier stands watch atop its parapet. Within its walls are the names of more than 300 local soldiers who enlisted in the Civil War. The monument and park were dedicated on Sept. 11,1890. The tower, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is closed most of the year but opens for tours on Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, and Veterans Day.
10. Where can you see a cherry red 1963 Chevy Corvair up close and learn about scalding coffee cups, the Ford Pinto, and dangerous toys? At the American Museum of Tort Law located at 654 Main Street. The museum, which opened in 2015, was developed by Ralph Nader, a well-known political activist, author and attorney who was born and raised in Winsted. The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 12-5 p.m. and Sundays from 12-4 p.m.
Please Support Rural Intelligence
We want to continue delivering the entertaining, informative and upbeat stories in the inimitable Rural Intelligence style, despite a pandemic. But we need your support to keep us going. Please consider making a donation; even a small amount helps secure our future. Support us now.
(If you prefer, mail a check to: 45 Pine Grove Ave., Suite 303, Kingston, NY 12401.)
Support Now