Chirag Shah has spent his career building communities.
He’s done it as the number one coach for Compass, helping realtors work more efficiently, lead more fulfilled lives (and make more money).
He’s worked with clients in 38 states, including professional athletes. He has offered career and life lessons, inspired creativity, and unlocked passions.
But for years, the man who cared so much for community spent little time in his own.
The realization that many remarkable people in Westport and Fairfield County were spending unproductive hours commuting to and from New York — and, like him, leaving their families behind, in communities they barely knew — was a life-changing moment for the life coach.
And it led directly to the creation of Content Studio of Westport.
A launch party last week brought together many of the men and women Shah hopes will take advantage of his big, bold space on Saugatuck Avenue next to the Goddard School.
Chirag Shah, at last week’s party. (Photo/Charlie Scott)
He’s transformed a former mini-market into a cutting-edge podcast studio, event space, stage and bar.
It’s a place to produce content like podcasts, social media videos and livestreams; expand entrepreneurial ideas and networks, and grow businesses, right here in Westport. There’s no need to hop a train to the city.
Although it’s close enough to the station so that other creative folks can come to us.
Pro quarterback Chris Streveler uses Content Studio to deliver a keynote address for his business. He also recorded Instagram reels.
Shah is like many people who moved to Westport recently. He loves everything about this place: the schools, beaches, Longshore, library, restaurants, shopping and amenities.
“This is a magical place,” he says. “You can know your neighbors. You go to Compo, and see and feel the joy and happiness. Your kids can run around and play. You can see the sunsets.”
He grew up not far away. His parents owned a stationery store in Larchmont, They taught him the values of hard work and customer service, which he held true as he built up his own consulting businesses.
Shah moved here in 2019. A year later, the pandemic shifted work from office to home. He recognized the benefits of casting aside the daily commute. But he felt the need to separate his home and work lives.
Could he do it here?
He found vacant space across from Dunville’s. Though a prime location, no one had figured out how to use it effectively.
Content Studio occupies the space to the right of the Goddard School.
Shah envisioned it as an office for his coaching practice.
But he also built it out (with a warm, welcoming, New York/tech vibe). His vision was a place to come, be creative, build a brand, host or attend an event — and then head off to your kids’ activities, have dinner together and put them to bed.
He calls himself “a conduit of gathering people to foster relationships that wouldn’t exist — and to help them have dinner with their families. I want their lives to be fulfilled, professionally and personally. Every kid deserves to have their parents present.”
Over 100 people got a close look at Shah’s space last week. They came from all walks of Westport life, and from around the county.
Jay Norris — a co-founder of Content Studio — tapes a podcast and creates videos there. He addressed the launch party crowd. (Photo/Charlie Scott)
As they ate, drank, chatted, toured the production studio, and met Shah and Jay Norris, the Westport entrepreneur who is a co-founder of Content Studio, they glimpsed the possibilities for doing some of their own work — and hosting their own events — in the very cool space.
And just a few minutes after they left, they were home.
(Click here for the Content Studio website. Click here for the Instagram.)
Chirag Shah interviews a podcast guest …
… and a client uses the large screen for a Zoom meeting.
Content Studio production room. (Photo/Charlie Scott)
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Great job everybody. Adding this asset to our town is golden. I hope it is a huge success. Thanks Dan for this excellent coverage.