Meet a Ridgefield Dad: Charles Moschos of Ridgefield Vintage
Charles Moschos loves meeting interesting people, Ridgefield, clothing, coffee and being a girl dad.
The Ridgefield father of three daughters and his wife discovered Ridgefield six years ago and haven’t looked back. With a background in menswear and a basement full of carefully curated vintage treasures—Charles was encouraged to open a pop-up shop in Beacon Hill Marketplace “for the holidays.” Three years later, Ridgefield Vintage has become one of the most thoughtfully collected, high-end yet approachable, and interesting destinations in town. If you haven’t stopped by yet, it should absolutely be on your summer bucket list.
Charles is also one of those Ridgefield dads who genuinely believes in his community and its potential.
Serving a signature blend of locally roasted coffee, and once a week homemade from scratch banana bread, the shop offers an incredible collection of men’s and women’s vintage clothing and accessories. Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee also showcases fellow local small businesses, including Kira Kira Jewelry, Wild Blueberry Kids, and Some Books.
Think vintage college sweatshirts, perfectly worn Ralph Lauren polos, and pieces that look like they could have belonged to Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and John-John in 1993. At least, that’s what first caught Ridgefield Moms’ eye.
This Father’s Day, Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee is offering 50% off select vintage ties because, sometimes, you just have to get Dad another tie.
Here’s a little more about one of Ridgefield’s coolest dads.
How old are your kids, and how long have you lived in Ridgefield?
CM: We moved here six years ago, right at the beginning of COVID, and we have three daughters Mariella 11, Zoë 8, and Ava 6.
Why did you choose to live in Ridgefield?
CM: Once our third daughter was born, we knew our walk-up apartment days in New York were coming to an end. We started looking all over the area. I had absolutely no prior knowledge of Ridgefield, but one day, while scouting around Katonah, we somehow ended up driving down Main Street Ridgefield.
I remember thinking, “This is the perfect little town. It’s literally right out of a Hallmark movie.”
Then we started discovering all of its advantages. We kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Ridgefield Moms: So, has it dropped?
CM: No, no. I mean, we came back to reality, but we truly couldn’t be happier.
How did Ridgefield Vintage come to be?
CM: My wife used to visit the neighboring shops that had opened the year before. She noticed this space was available and looking for a pop-up tenant. She said, “you’ve been hoarding clothes for years. Open a shop for two months and get this stuff out of our basement.”
I’ve always collected things that interested me and held onto clothing from places where I’d worked, so I thought it could be fun for a couple of months. But once I started doing it, I realized how much I loved being in a store again and talking to the people who came in. I thought maybe I could really give this a go.
And, I love coffee. And coffee was a way for people to come in and see the store
Tell us about the banana bread.
CM: (Laughs.) My daughter makes her great-grandmother’s recipe that my wife taught her. She makes it completely from scratch, and honestly, people come in just for the banana bread. She’s very particular about it. She’s incredibly entrepreneurial, and it’s really cool to watch.
Why do you love what you do?
CM: I love the feel and energy of a great store, I search them out whatever city I’m in, and having my own store has really let me express my self creatively in terms of style and design. And I love that you never know who’s going to walk through the door.
What is one thing that has surprised you about living in Ridgefield?
CM: The arts & culture. There’s a genuine appreciation and respect for the arts here that I wasn’t expecting. Between The Aldrich, The Playhouse, and A.C.T, it’s a real focus of the community…that and how many creative and interesting people there are in the area It’s been a blessing that I get to meet them through the store
What do you see for Ridgefield Vintage in the next five years?
CM: Seeing the reception the community has had to the store, and the brand, I think there is so much more that we could do in town and offer Ridgefield
For as much as there is here, I feel like there is still so much needed and I’d love to take the same things that work about RVC and apply them to different businesses. There could be a restaurant, a motel, or all kinds of different experiences connected to what we’re building. My wife, Joanna, who’s a filmmaker, comes from a entrepreneurial background as well so we’d love to keep expanding
What is the best part of being a girl dad?
CM: Oh man, it’s great. I didn’t have a sister growing up, so being a dad to three girls has definitely softened me up.
What is your greatest indulgence?
CM: Linguine and clams.
Which talent would you most like to have?
CM: I’d love to speak several different languages.
Favorite restaurant in Ridgefield?
CM: Luc’s. I know that’s probably a common answer, but it’s true.
One of your favorite places in town?
CM: Martin Park, right down the road. We live off Route 7, so it’s only a couple of minutes away, and it feels like a completely different world when you drive in. We love hiking around the lake at Topstone. We’ve never done the beach, but they have a beach and a lifeguard there, too.
We really love the natural side of living here. Ridgefield and Redding offer so much beautiful outdoor space.
QUICK THIS OR THAT
Introvert or extrovert?
It depends who you ask. I’ve been told I’m an extroverted introvert.
At a movie: Candy or popcorn?
Popcorn.
Cook or order in?
Definitely cook.
Coffee or tea?
Obviously, coffee.
Be embarrassed or be afraid?
I’d much rather be embarrassed.
Camping or glamping?
Glamping (laughs)
Broadway show or TV show?
Broadway show.
Text or call?
Both.
Sauna or cold plunge?
Sauna.
