The Cannon

The building at 135 Dwight Street, New Haven, CT – formerly Quality Cleaners – was in the Candela family name since its construction in 1950 at a cost of $6000. It is a one-story, 1200 square-foot brick building with load bearing masonry construction and large aluminum windows at the western-facing Dwight facade. Its lot was subdivided from the northern 139 Dwight Street lot between 1911 and 1924, according to Sanborn maps. On 139 sat a house until construction of the YMCA building in the 1920s, when the house was razed for parking. Still a parking lot today, Quality Cleaners sits behind it as a visual stakeholder on Chapel / Dwight intersection. William Candela, who constructed the building, was also the first owner of the dry cleaning business, Dwight Cleaners and Shoe Repair. This, however, did not last long; the business was sold to Edwin Astrachan in 1952 and renamed Kent Cleaners. Since then, the building and the business have been independently owned and operated, briefly housing a Dental Supply company in the 1960s, operated by Frank P. Keefe, before becoming Quality Cleaners in the mid-sixties. Today, after several years on the market, the building itself is for sale by Edward Candela of Candela Brothers. The cleaners, however, is not for sale. The building has seen several changes over the years. Immediately after its construction in 1950, the front door was relocated. Then, after its brief Dental Supply occupation, a cinderblock addition was made to the rear in 1965 before restoring it as a cleaners. In 1967 the signs that still sit on the building today were put in place. While the building has seen very little change since this date, a large push was made in the 1980s to add two stories of dwelling units above. This was to be wood frame construction and would house 4 units, to be designed by Kenneth Gelband Architects of New Haven. The building permit was requested in 1987 and granted in 1988. Several variances were made to the property to allow housing to sit so close to the property lines. In addition, the leasing of four parking spaces were required from the YMCA lot, an agreement which was signed by the Candelas and YMCA. However, after falling ill that year, owner Edward Candela lost his permit after failing to begin construction within six months of its issue. The building was marked by the Connecticut Historical Commission as “commercial vernacular” shortly thereafter and has remained in its 1967 condition ever since. While the walls have seen little change on the interior, neither has the cleaners’ occupation; the woman operating the cleaners has been behind the counter for the last 28 years.

135 Dwight now operates as The Cannon, a restaurant and bar that specializes in vegan / vegetarian food. The Cannon occasionally hosts events like like music concerts, open mics, and soccer match viewings.