Walter Stewart's Market has been a cornerstone of the New Canaan retail scene for 100 years.

The little neighborhood market, which is the oldest in town, has a large and loyal customer base. Descendants of Stewart continue to operate the market. Dealing with competition over the years has not always been easy, but credit for the stores success goes to the employees.

"Everyone understands how important it is to make it a real pleasant experience shopping here," said Current General Manager Alex Stewart, great-grandson of the founder.

A seven-month-long celebration to commemorate the market is set to kick off next week, but no official date has been set.