Greenwich Magazine | Valarie Foster
Luxury fashion retailer Scott Mitchell is feeling honored and humbled. Honored because he and his family are this year’s recipients of the Greenwich Historical Society’s History in the Making Award. Humbled because of the high esteem he holds for the nine award winners that have come before: Allan Houston, Barbara and Ray Dalio, Indra Nooyi, Derek Boothby, Thomas Foley, Curt Welling, Marie and Charlene Von Saher and Lewis Lehrman.
“It is so meaningful to our family that the Greenwich Historical Society is recognizing us for our commitment and contributions to Greenwich, the community where we own a business, send our kids to school, and live,” says Scott, who runs Richards of Greenwich. “When I looked at the list of past winners I thought, we are certainly in marvelous company.”
Debra Mecky, executive director and CEO of the Historical Society, explains this award was established in 2003 to recognize community leaders who are the history makers of our time. This is the Society’s way to acknowledge the place these remarkable people hold in a long history of Greenwich philanthropists who have made a positive impact on our world.
“Since arriving on the Greenwich Avenue retail scene in 1995, the Mitchells have had a profound impact on our town:’ Mecky says, explaining the decision to honor the family. “Their dedication to this community and the philanthropic causes they support have set a high bar for compassion and excellence.” The History in the Making Award will be presented at a fundraising dinner Thursday, October 24, at Belle Haven Country Club.
Although the family is know for it’s retail business, Scott explains that philanthropy has always been a key concept that the Mitchells embraced from an early age.
This family retail business began in 1958 when Ed Mitchell, tired of his daily commute from Westport to New York, told his wife, Norma, that they were opening a men’s clothing store. Ed Mitchell was born in an 800-square-foot former plumbing supply store in Westport, and according to Scott, his grandmother worked just as hard in the store as his grandfather.
“My dad [Bill Mitchell], did not grow up with any means,” Scott says. “My grandmother
and grandfather could not afford their home in Westport, so every summer they moved out, stayed with family on Long Island, and rented it out.”
The second generation of Mitchells joined the store in the 1960s, the store moved in 1979 to the Post Road, and expanded in 1993 to 33,000 square feet of retail space, changing its name to simply Mitchells. Two years later they acquired Richards of Greenwich from Eddie Schachter and his daughter, Susan Schacter, then an 8,000-square-foot luxury men’s retailer. It moved in 2000 to its present 27,000-square-foot award-winning space that includes women’s fashion, jewelry and accessories.
There are now four generations involved in running the eight stores dotted throughout the United States that comprise Mitchell Stores. Although the family is known for its retail business, Scott explains that philanthropy has always been key and a concept that the Mitchells embrace from an early age.
“I was taught, just like everyone else in my family, that we have to spend money, time and effort to give back to the community that has been so good to us:’ Scott says. “We like our communities to be strong, able to survive, and it is why we are taught from an early age to give back locally.
We are all involved in so many ways. Soup kitchens. Camp scholarships. We are on the boards of local nonprofits. So are our kids and spouses. It’s our way to say thank you.”
And thank you they do, in so many ways. On October 24, the same night of the History in the Making dinner, Pink Aid’s Pink After Dark event, a fashion show that brings light into the lives of families battling breast cancer and poverty, takes place at Mitchells of Westport.
“We are splitting up that night. There will be a big table of Mitchells at the History in the Making dinner, and there will be Mitchells in Westport:’ Scott says. “It means so much to us that on one night we will be honored for being community-minded in Greenwich, while running a charity event in Westport for a much-needed organization. We are so blessed.”
Family Philanthropy: How it began
When Scott Mitchell’s dad. Bill, was young, he remembers that kids going back to college each fall would go door-to-door asking for a handout. One day Bill’s dad, Ed, answered the door and gave some cash to one such man. Bill asked: “Pop, what are you doing?”
Ed Mitchell’s reply, which has become the family’s mantra and commitment to philanthropy: “If you don’t give when you can’t, you’ll never give when you can.”
“Everyone in my family-my brothers, cousins, spouses, our children-have a bone-deep philosophy to give back to our communities,” says Scott.
