Nate Checketts, chief executive officer, Rhone:
Ben and I and our four other siblings grew up going to the Darien Sport Shop. It was the store in our area that we all loved — they had a ski and snowboard section with the latest in tech, elevated womenswear that my mom and sisters loved and a formal shop that my parents used to make sure we had our Sunday best. I’m pretty confident the first blazer I ever owned came from DSS. Before we were even purchasing skis or blazers, we always went to the Sport Shop to see Santa. What was amazing is that 30 years later I would bring my little kids back there to see the exact same Santa! Darien Sport Shop was also our first wholesale account for men’s and women’s items. They have supported and believed in us from our very beginning, and I could not be more proud to call them a valued and trusted partner today. Happy 80th DSS!
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Andrew Rosen, cofounder, TWP:
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Darien Sport Shop has been more than a retailer to TWP — they’ve been incredibly supportive and believers of what we’re doing from the beginning. From championing new brands to building incredible relationships with their customers, Darien Sport Shop has built a business with integrity and staying power.
What I respect most about Darien Sport Shop is they are old-school merchants. The team really understands product and the customer and how to connect the two. We had our first sellout with Darien Sport Shop, which is representative of how well Gina knows her customer. They always have an exciting assortment and have been an amazing partner.
Patrick Kiely, senior vice president of strategic partnerships, Peter Millar:
Seeing customers’ reactions as they came face-to-face with the U.S. Open Trophy this past summer was something special to witness. For a brief moment, Darien Sport Shop became more than a retail destination. It became a place where people could experience a piece of golf history up close, something they would never expect to find in the middle of a specialty shop.
Moments like that are what make DSS unlike any other retailer. They embrace adventure, say “yes” to unique opportunities, and create experiences that customers remember long after they leave.
That same spirit is reflected in their partnership with Peter Millar. From the very beginning, DSS believed in the brand, investing in the relationship early and spending days alongside the Peter Millar team. It was never just about carrying product. It was about building something together through trust, shared values, and a genuine commitment to one another’s success.
I’ve had the privilege of attending events there, and you can feel the magic the moment you walk in. DSS isn’t simply a store; it’s an experience, a gathering place that feels like an extension of the family. Customers aren’t just welcomed. They’re remembered, cared for, and made to feel at home. That warmth is woven into everything they do and is a big part of what makes DSS so exceptional.
Gina has carried forward the spirit of hospitality her father created, honoring that legacy while making it her own. The culture of genuine care and connection has been passed down through generations, and it’s why Darien Sport Shop feels like so much more than a place to shop. It’s a place where relationships are built, memories are made, and people always feel like they belong.
Mary McCann, president, Kinross
For over 24 years, Kinross has been proud to partner with Darien Sport Shop. From Steve Zangrillo’s leadership to Gina’s today, we’ve seen how their passion and dedication foster lasting relationships within the community and vendors, creating meaningful connections well beyond the sales floor. We’re especially proud to be a leading partner in their business and to collaborate with their exceptional sales team who are passionate about the products they sell. Congratulations, Gina and team. We are honored to celebrate this remarkable 80-year milestone with many more years ahead.
Gail Tomsich, account sales lead, Kinross:
I was walking through the parking lot on a busy December Saturday to help the store sell Kinross. I overheard two guys talking. One of them said, “This is my annual tradition — the Saturday before Christmas. In less than two hours, I’ll start and finish all my Christmas shopping at Darien Sport Shop.”
I had to smile. There’s something to be said for knowing exactly what you want — and knowing that everyone on your list is going to love and be happy with their gift from Darien Sport Shop.
Shep and Ian Murray, cofounders and co-CEOs, Vineyard Vines:
From the very first time we walked in with ties for sale, Mr. Z was both an advocate and mentor as to how to operate a specialty store. He was always impeccably dressed in a three-piece suit and greeting customers by name. We would often wonder that if Mr. Z was one day painting the store, would he be wearing his signature three-piece suit? He handed out lollipops to kids, showed the ladies the newest accessory and would walk with the men to the men’s department to show off the latest sportswear.
Mr. Z always wanted the DSS to be the hub of the community and he achieved that goal. Always supporting local businesses and charities and being the meeting point for families in town. He was civic-minded and put philanthropy and community at the forefront of all he did. Mr. Z was also an incredible merchant with an eye for the next new and exciting brand, gift or trend. That knack for building great assortments has been learned by Gina and she continues to build upon her dad’s legacy.
Over the years we did countless trunk shows, shared lunches with the team in the break room and have felt the great support from DSS. We have seen the store change over the years and think Vineyard Vines products and fixtures have been displayed in just about every corner of the store as things are continuously shuffled around to create newness and excitement for their customers.
There really is no other store like the Darien Sport Shop and we have learned so much from the Zangrillo family over the years. We are grateful and appreciative to have worked together for nearly three decades and look forward to many more to come.
Alex Holderness, cofounder, Holderness & Bourne:
I lived in New York City for most of my 30s and probably heard about Darien Sport Shop a hundred times before making the trip up to see it for myself. That trip was during the early days of Holderness & Bourne and the point of it was to pitch them on carrying our line. We had a great meeting with Gina and her team, but ironically instead of leaving that day with orders for H&B, I walked out with two pairs of skis, a gorgeous scarf for my wife, and some very cool new sunglasses. The brand assortment was fantastic, and the customer service was unforgettably good. I ended up moving to Darien a few years later and have been a loyal DSS customer ever since. They are exceptional people doing an exceptional job. They literally make it fun to be a customer. How rare and special is that?
John O’Donnell, founder, Johnnie-O:
I showed up for my first call with Gina with one polo in hand. That was my entire line! And to this day that Original polo is still one of our bestsellers. She really believed in the concept. God love her!
Jason Polukord, senior sales manager, 34 Heritage:
It took a while to break through the ice there, but we finally got in, and in the last two years, our business has finally exploded and we even got a shop-in-shop.
But the day we were first putting our line in, a colleague and I were using a steamer to make sure the jeans looked good. I went back to the stockroom and that’s when the smoke alarm went off. I came out and realized that the steamer had set it off.
Gina came out to see what was going on and said, “Oh, it’s you guys.” And then she told the fire department they didn’t need to come.
Well, that’s how you make a name for yourself, I guess.
But it’s truly a blessing to be part of their family business. They are wonderful people and really make you feel at home.
Paul Danchak, territory manager, Vuori:
I’ve only had the pleasure of working with Darien Sport Shop for the past seven years. But Aly [Turchioe, director of buying] and Trevor [Harvey, buyer] have been an absolute pleasure to work with over the years. They are always incredibly responsive, kind and courteous, and they make doing business together easy. In an industry built so much around relationships, that really stands out.
Darien Sport Shop is such an iconic retailer, and reaching 80 years is an incredible accomplishment. We feel extremely fortunate at Vuori to have a partner like them and to play even a small part in their story.
Congratulations to the entire Darien Sport Shop team on 80 years!
Erica Trinder-Torre, head of East Coast sales, Frank & Eileen:
Gina has the most energy of any person I’ve ever met. Darien Sport Shop’s reputation is that of a landmarked institution and that reputation is well earned for good reason. We’re thrilled to be included in their impeccable assortment and love that customers can discover Frank & Eileen with this one-of-a-kind retailer. Since Day One they have been a partner that is as dedicated to the success of our brand as we are. And Gina has the most energy of any person I’ve ever met. Congratulations to Darien Sport Shop on this remarkable achievement!
Cody Fikes, U.S. specialty wholesale director, Rodd & Gunn:
My first-ever store visit as a Rodd & Gunn rep was Darien Sport Shop. Looking back, they may have set the bar a little too high for every store visit that followed. The team brings incredible energy, style, and expertise to everything they do. Great stores sell products. Great retailers create communities. For 80 years, Darien Sport Shop has done both.
From one 80-year-old brand to another, happy 80th birthday. Here’s to the next chapter and many more years of success together.
Gareth Baxendale, U.S. sales director, Rodd & Gunn:
We have been working with Darien for over 10 years now. We started with a couple of rails in the back room and have built quite a substantial business and loyal customer base. In the early days, our success could be largely attributed to a dog. The people of Darien and the Darien Sport Shop love dogs and we had an English pointer named Gunner who was our brand ambassador. We would do trunk shows at Darien and Gunner would attend and would always be the star attraction. Customers would make the trip to the store just to see Gunner with his warm and loving nature.
As Gunner became older, he still visited the store, but it was not possible for him to be at every trunk show. I must say it was tough on the ego to see the excitement of a customer for a Rodd & Gunn trunk show but the disappointment of Gunner not being there and interacting with just me.
One thing that stood out to me with my time working with Darien is the loyal customer base they have. Even the challenges and restrictions of COVID didn’t slow down the customer enthusiasm and support for local business. The holiday period of 2020 was a challenging time for many people in the world but the spirit within Darien was enduring.
The holiday period in DSS has become somewhat of a tradition for me. There are customers I met 10 years ago who are now loyal to the brand and will come in during the holiday period to buy Rodd & Gunn clothing for their loved ones. Every year I see the people who helped build our brand in the U.S. and I am very grateful for their faith and trust in Rodd & Gunn.
It would also be remiss of me if I didn’t mention the strong support we receive from the sales associates. I feel that their genuine support of the brand and enthusiasm to introduce us to their customer has been the main contributing factor to our growth. The service they provide customers is second to none and their knowledge of product, trend and fabrication is outstanding. The relationship they have with their customer comes from a genuine place and not just as a means of transaction. I have been in this industry for 20 years and visited hundreds of retailers nationwide and I can honestly say there is no place like the Darien Sport Shop.
John Fiske, president of sales, Greyson Clothiers:
Darien Sport Shop has always held a special and cherished place in the Greyson pack. I still remember our very first appointment together, and the incredible support and enthusiasm they showed for our brand from the very start. As an early adopter of Greyson, they believed in us, let us dream, and gave us the opportunity to create an immersive brand expression within their store at a time when we were still relatively unknown. That kind of early faith means everything, and we’ve never forgotten it. The relationship has always felt more like family than business, built on a trust and respect that run so deep that Gina welcomed us to hire her son, Greg, right out of the stockroom — the kind of gesture that says everything about how much they believe in us, and we in them. We are endlessly proud of this partnership, grateful for everything it has given us, and truly excited for the great years ahead.
Hannah Ringquist, women’s account executive, Rails:
For nearly a decade, we’ve had the opportunity to build a strong partnership with Darien Sport Shop alongside Gina and her incredible team. Over the years we’ve expanded the Rails assortment across categories and opened dedicated Rails shops-in-shop for both men and women. Through our work together, we’ve seen firsthand the pride their team takes in what they do and how seamlessly they collaborate across departments. From the buying team to receiving and processing, there’s an incredible level of organization, attention to detail, and willingness to jump in wherever needed. That same care extends to the customer experience, with knowledgeable specialists who truly understand their categories and their customers. As we prepare to expand our women’s shop this September, we’re proud to continue growing alongside a team that has built such a special business over the past 80 years.
Sydney Crossfield, East Coast senior account executive, Mother:
When I think of our partnership with Darien Sport Shop, I think back to our first Mother trunk show in September 2024. The DSS team was immediately collaborative, embracing our ideas with such a strong “Yes” mentality that they encouraged us to really lean into Mother’s storytelling and cheekiness. We had just launched our Lil collection, so we created an installation with mannequin-sized floral props throughout the store — and the customer response was incredible. As partners, they created space for us to give their customer an expanded lens into how special our brand is. They are amazing partners!
We’ve continued that spirit every year, switching it up with activations like a floral arrangement bar and soon, an embroidery station. It’s become a fun tradition and a great example of how DSS gives its partners the freedom to bring their brands to life.
Alex Faherty, cofounder and CEO, Faherty Brand:
The first time we brought the mobile beach house to Darien, we parked it right in the parking lot right outside the entrance — it was such a fun way to introduce people to the brand and the team at The Sport Shop was so supportive of what we were doing. Gina and Mr. Z have always treated their staff and vendors like family.
Jimmy Richmond, national sales manager, Magnanni:
Darien Sport Shop embodies what makes specialty retail special: a deep understanding of its customers, personal service and a genuine connection to its community. Like Darien, Magnanni is a family-owned business, and that shared heritage is an important part of our partnership. Both companies have been built across generations on similar values: quality, craftsmanship and a commitment to lasting customer relationships. Reaching 80 years is an incredible testament to the trust Darien Sport Shop has built within its community and across generations of customers. As a fellow family-owned brand, we’re especially proud to celebrate this milestone alongside them.
Cecile Revah, CEO, Bugatchi:
As Darien Sport Shop celebrates 80 years, Bugatchi is proud to be a part of this exciting chapter in their history. Gina Zangrillo has been a driving force behind this legacy and as we’ve worked closely with her over the last year, her passion, vision, and dedication to her customers is evident. We are very excited to celebrate this milestone with Gina and her team and look forward to many more years of working together.
AG:
AG Jeans wishes to congratulate Darien Sport Shop on 80 remarkable years of style, community, and enduring excellence. As a proud partner, we are honored to celebrate this milestone and the legacy you’ve built. Here’s to another 80 years!