MILLERTON — As Candy-O’s celebrates five years on Main Street, owner Gillian Osnato is preparing for a move that blends business with personal history.
The retro candy shop, which opened in 2021, will relocate two doors down, consolidating with The T-Shirt Farm — the longtime family business founded by Osnato’s late father, Sal Osnato.
After her father’s death in April 2025, Osnato spent a year running both businesses, often racing back and forth between storefronts, supporting staff, greeting customers, and keeping operations running.
“It got to a point where I couldn’t really be present in either space the way I wanted to be,” Osnato said. “One or the other was always going to suffer.”
The decision to consolidate, she said, was driven as much by sustainability as by sentiment. The T-Shirt Farm had long been defined by her father’s presence, and maintaining that connection — while also running a second business — proved increasingly difficult.
“He was such a fixture,” she said. “I’m not him, but I do take after him. Not being there consistently, I think people felt that.”
The move will allow Osnato to bring the two businesses together under one roof, creating a space that reflects both her father’s legacy and her own evolving vision.
While Candy-O’s signature offerings — including novelty sweets and packaged treats — will remain, Osnato acknowledged that some customers may miss the freshly-scooped ice cream. She said the new space may still offer pre-packaged pints, but will no longer serve scooped ice cream.
Looking into the future, Osnato said her long-term goal is to combine the T-Shirt Farm and Candy-O’s into a general store-style model, featuring custom apparel, gifts and locally sourced products.
“My dream is to create something that feels like a general store,” she said. “T-shirts, candy, grab-and-go snacks, but also things that feel a little more modern, a little more vibrant — but still affordable.”
The transition will happen in stages, with the new space expected to open in early April and continue evolving through the summer season. A full rebrand, potentially incorporating a name that nods to her father, is likely to follow next year.
In the meantime, Osnato said she is focused on simplifying operations and reconnecting with customers.
“It’ll be more manageable, and I’ll be able to actually be present,” she said. “I’m really excited. I think it’s going to be something special.”
