36 Eleven opens in uptown Norwalk

NORWALK — When getting ready to open a new store, some might have to seek out supplies but for Norwalk's new business, they had everything they needed. 36 Eleven DIY & Decor had its grand opening Friday morning at 9 W. Main Street in Norwalk. The new store offers paint, furniture salves and waxes and kitchen and furniture refinishing. Owner Courtney Gomez previously worked for Duncan and Co. Home Galleries and took over the space in December. Furniture restoration and refinishing became a passion of Gomez's a few years ago and she helped the Duncan family run their store until it closed in late 2020. She became close to the late owner Julie Duncan and knew she wanted to continue the work they started. "I saw how much light she had and I wanted to continue to carry that on," Gomez said. "That's why I'm in this building, it just means so much. It's bittersweet in a way, I wish she could see this." Gomez hopes to make 36 Eleven a place for those with projects to come and know where to start. The store will also be offering classes to teach people different do it yourself projects and Gomez does custom pieces as well. "I love painting furniture and bringing old pieces back to life," she said. "It's crazy how much a space can change with some new hardware and some paint." Gomez chose all the vendors in the store, nearly everything coming from a small business owned by women. "The paint I have is from a Michigan female-owned business. Being able to give back that way and help others out in the process means so much to me," she said. "It's all about just being able to get out there and help people." Gomez said the classes will start in two weeks and will teach customers the basics, walking them through a project from start to finish. "We have the basement of the building as well, we're making space for that and to make sure it's completely safe," she said. "We're excited to have those here. We'll also have a DIY bar, where you can take projects home." While opening a new business, Gomez is also a mother of three with a full-time job and is planning a wedding later in the year. Luckily, the store and redoing furniture is Gomez's getaway. "I wouldn't have been able to do this without all the support," she said. "This is how I walk away from my daily stresses and I want to give that opportunity to somebody else. I do this because I love it, no other reason." Gomez said they considered operating out of her home, but she wanted a place for customers to come and see the product. 36 Eleven also offers home decor items, candles, bath bombs and soaps.