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A new Starbucks is planned for North Branford!
The new Starbucks will be located at 286 Branford Road in North Branford! The coffee shop will be built on the site of a former Professional building that was demolished years ago. The new building will feature Starbuck's latest prototype with a drive thru, large outdoor patio, and large interior lobby. The coffee chain will occupy 2,465 square feet. No timeline has been announced for the coffee shops opening. Drawings have been submitted to the town, though permits have yet to be issued.
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Got the chance to check out the new Casadoro Ristorante & Bar at 2929 Berlin Turnpike in Newington!
The new Italian restaurant is the latest concept from the DORO Restaurant Group; owner of Doro Marketplace, Zohara, Treva, Avert, Artisanal Burger Co, and the new No Mames Cantina in Wethersfield (coming soon). The building has been beautifully renovated from the former Bertucci’s that occupied the space beforehand. The interior blends a modern look with industrial elements. I got the Mushroom Ragu, a blend of tagliatelle, wild mushrooms, truffle, porcini butter, and grana padana. My friend got the ribeye served with broccoli rabe and roasted potatoes. The food was delicious and cocktails were great! The restaurant serves a large variety of Italian food including pastas, pizzas, seafood, steak, salads, and other Italian classics. Check out the menu here: https://www.casadoroct.com Definitely worth a visit! Find them at 2929 Berlin Turnpike in Newington, CT The restaurant is open: Monday thru Thursday 11:30am - 10:00pm Friday thru Saturday 11:30am - 11:00pm Sunday 11:30am - 9:00pm Connecticut's first Duck Donuts is scheduled to open in March! An exact date in March has not been released yet, though March 2025 is listed on the location's website.
The Pennsylvania-based donut shop chain will occupy the former Smoothie King space at 350 Boston Post Road in Orange. The restaurant's menu includes donuts, donut sundaes, breakfast sandwiches, coffee, espresso-based drinks, lemonade, refreshers, cold brew, and much more. Check out their full menu here: https://www.duckdonuts.com/menu/ Stay tuned for a grand opening date! Duck Donuts was founded in 2006 in Duck, North Carolina. The shop quickly became a favorite of locals and exanded rapidly to over 110 locations, including some internationally! Planet Fitness is NOW OPEN in New Milford!
The fitness giant has opened their new New Milford gym after a quick construction phase and years of speculation. The gym is located at 124 Danbury Road, the former TJ Maxx space at Sunny Valley Shops. The gym brings a new lower-priced gym option to town. With memberships as low as $15 a month. Planet Fitness will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting today, January 29th, at 5:00pm. The gym is open: Monday-Thursday 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM Fri: 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM Sat & Sun: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM A new coffee shop is coming to Enfield!
Black Crow Coffee is coming soon to Enfield! The new coffee shop will be located at 9 North Main Street, the former TrackStar Nutrition space. The coffee shop will serve coffees, teas, iced and seasonal beverages as well as small pastries from the North Main Street space. The shop will be owned by Anthony Barbosa according to business filings with the state. No timeline for their opening has been annnounced. The shop recently applied for a zoning permit to allow them to operate in the space. Stay tuned for more information! Garlic Restaurant announced the closure of their Naugatuck location; the restaurant will close on Feburary 1st after 3 years of business.
The restaurant is located at 664 Rubber Avenue in Naugatuck. The restaurant serves Latin-American cuisine including empanadas, arepas con queso, crazy corn, tacos, quesadillas, burritos, nachos, tortas, grinders, and much more. Garlic plans to relocate though the new location has not been announced yet. Make sure to follow their Facebook (tagged above) for more updates. The restaurant said in a statement: "Dear customers we will be permanently closing our Rubber Ave location. After 3 years of serving the Naugatuck and surrounding towns. Thank you for being part of this dream and for supporting us through these years. Thanks for letting us share with you our culture and flavors. We invite you to join us in our last week. We would love to see you before we close our doors on February 1st. Stay tuned for our new location." Garlic is the second restaurant this week to announce their closure in Naugatuck. Yesterday Tuck’s Tavern announced their pending closure on February 13th after 5 1/2 years in Naugatuck. Let’s check out Connecticut’s two local marketplaces! The Shops at Riverton and The Shops at New Hartford!
The Shops at New Hartford is located at 37 Greenwoods Road, on the fourth floor of the former Ovation Guitar building.The building is an extraordinary destination that supports local vendors nestled in the charming town. The commitment to quality is evident, as each of the over 50 vendors provides unique, must-have items that you never knew you needed. It's nearly impossible not to discover a treasure that you'll cherish forever while simultaneously supporting local talent. The owners began their venture with the sister store, The Shops at Riverton, located in the historic Old Hitchcock furniture building in Riverton, CT. The Shops at Riverton is located at 2 School Street. Like their sister location, The Shops at Riverton is made of a large variety of small artisan vendors, providing unique items and gifts! Both of The Shops are more than just a market; their welcoming atmosphere ensures that every visit is an enjoyable and memorable experience. The Shops host a variety of events, from baby goat cuddles to live music, so be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram (tagged above) to stay up-to-date on their exciting happenings. Both The Shops at New Hartford and The Shops at Riverton offer an amazing day out and are well worth a trip to Northwest Connecticut. Add these unique shopping experiences to your travel plans today! The Shops at New Hartford and The Shops at Rivertom are both open Wednesday thru Sunday from 10am-6pm. P.S. Don’t miss the baby goats in New Hartford on February 8th and 9th from 11-4! Bring the kids!(Pardon the goat pun.) Connecticut's first Paris Baguette is coming soon to West Hartford!
The new bakery cafe will open this year at Corbin's Corner in West Hartford! The eatery will occupy 3,500 square feet between J Crew Factory and Nothing Bundt Cakes. The plaza, not including The Corbin Collection, is now fully occupied! The bakery chain sells pastries, cakes, donuts, savory pastries, salads, sandwiches, wraps, coffees including espresso beverages, loaves of bread, frappes, smoothies, and much more! Check out their full menu here: https://parisbaguette.com/menu Paris Baguette is a South Korean-based chain of bakery cafes with over 100 locations in the United States and 3,600 locations in South Korea. No timeline for their opening was immediately available. Check out more of this week's West Hartford business news from We-Ha.com here: https://we-ha.com/west-hartford-business-buzz-january-27-2025/ Tuck’s Tavern will be permanently closing their tavern on February 13th, after more than 5 1/2 years of serving the Naugatuck community.
The tavern is located at 876 Rubber Avenue in Naugatuck, CT. The tavern featured pub grub, local craft beer, and televised sports. The restaurant will continue normal operations until their closure at the end of business on February 13th. The owners said in a statement: "Dear Tuck’s Tavern’s Friends and Customers, It is with heavy hearts that we announce our closing, effective February 13th. After more than five and half years of proudly serving our community, the time has come for our family to say goodbye. This decision was not made lightly, and it is with deep gratitude that we reflect on the countless memories we’ve shared with each of you over the years. From the regulars who’ve become like family, to the newcomers who’ve made Tuck’s their home, we have been incredibly fortunate to be part of your lives. The laughter, the stories, the celebrations, and even the quiet moments – each one has meant the world to us. We want to thank you for your unwavering support, for choosing to spend your time with us, and for being a part of our journey. Although this chapter of our lives is closing, we leave with full hearts and memories that will last a lifetime. We invite you to join us in our final weeks to raise a glass, share a meal, and reminisce about the good times we’ve had together. We will be open through February 13th, and we would love to see you before we close our doors for the last time. Let’s Get Tucked Up! Thank you again for the memories, the laughter, and the friendship. You will always have a special place in our hearts. Sincerely, Tuck’s Family" The Wethersfield Diner has permanently closed its doors after decades of business at 718 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield. The business opened in the 1950s, with the current business owner taking over in 2015.
The diner is hosting an auction today, January 27th, with a preview period from 9am-10:30am. The live auction will begin at 10:30am. Items to be auctioned: Ice machine, Freezer, griddle, stove, broiler, walkin, 2 Roof Units (Trane), Hood system, hot water heater, booths, chest unit, stainless steel counters, worktop, dishes, counter-height diner stools, shelving, smallwares, stainless walls, stainless steel trim/tops, and tabletop jukeboxes. The diner closed on January 22nd to make way for a new mixed-use building. The current building will be demolished for the construction of a new 4-story building with 1 retail space and 18 apartments. Stop by and purchase a piece of Wethersfield history. Have you checked out Stafford Cidery - home of Crazy Cock Cider yet? The rooster-themed Cidery is located at 68 Main Street in Stafford Springs.
The Cidery creates their own variety of ciders onsite in Stafford. Their ciders include Sanity, Toast, Sock Hop, Sweet Vanilla, Chocoholic, Hot Cock (it’s a chicken themed Cidery), Gingerade, Warm N Fuzzy, Marshin’ My Mallow, and Old School Smartphone (BlackBerry). The Cidery also carries local wines, beers, Hosmer soda, and Non-Alcoholic options. Check out the descriptions in the pictures. For my gluten-intolerant and vegan readers, all ciders are gluten free and vegan! The interior is a warm and cozy atmosphere with very welcoming staff. They have a small bites menu for the peckish customer; though Downtown Stafford has restaurants like Mike's on Main and Stafford House of Pizza that will deliver to the Cidery. You can also bring your own into the space. The Cidery also hosts many local events! The venue will host a vegan dinner with a cider pairing on January 31st! Tickets are still available here: https://facebook.com/events/s/sushi-cider-night-with-chef-si/1140783777573216/ . They will host a setback card night on February 1st, Puzzle Swap on February 2nd, Trivia on February 8th, and a Cookie Decorating Class on February 9th. Details can be found on their Facebook and on their website at www.StaffordCidery.com Find them at 68 Main Street in Stafford Springs. Their hours are: Thursday 5-9pm Friday 4-9pm Saturday 1-9pm Sunday 1-6pm Make sure you try this gem in Stafford Springs. And while you’re there, check out the surrounding small businesses on Main Street! It is a great and welcoming community! Maru 67 has set their opening date for their new conveyor belt AYCE sushi restaurant. The new sushi restaurant will open on January 30th! The restaurant will be located at 320 Center Rock Green in Oxford; the former Tea with Tracy restaurant space in Quarry Walk! Check out the video (from Food of CT) on the conveyor belt system below! The restaurant will feature AYCE sushi along with a rotating conveyor belt carrying a large variety of sushi around the restaurant! Guests can pick the type of sushi they want from the conveyor belt. Prices are $26 for lunch (11:00am-4pm) and $35 for dinner (4pm-close). The restaurant will also serve sashimi and a variety of Japanese dishes. With fresh ingredients, expert craftsmanship, and a comfortable dining atmosphere, Maru 67 provides the ultimate Japanese dining experience. The restaurant will be open: Mon-Thur 11am-9:30pm Fri-Sat 11am-10:30pm Sun 12pm-9:30pm Find them at 320 Center Rock Green in Oxford or online at https://www.maru67.com/ Hyde's Home & Farm has announced the closing and liquidation of its store at 217 Otrobando Avenue in Norwich.
The store will be liquidating all their inventory and assets. Take advantage of big savings storewide including shelving, products, forklift, tractors, and other store items. Discounts vary based on the product. Sales range from 10-75% off. The store opened in 2022, replacing an Agway store that occupied the site before. An exact closing date was not immediately available. CVS Pharmacy will be closing two Hartford locations, including their lone location in Downtown Hartford. The news of the closures has been confirmed with CVS corporate.
CVS has made the difficult decision to close their locations at 777 Main Street and their location at 690 Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford. The location at 777 Main Street is the anchor tenant for the ground level retail spaces. The CVS location at 690 Wethersfield Avenue will permanently close on February 21st with prescription transferred to the nearby 908-910 Maple Avenue location. The CVS location at 777 Main Street will permanently close on March 11th with prescription transferred to the location at 150 Washington Street. All colleagues are being offered comparable roles within the company at other stores. These are the only CVS closures planned for Connecticut at this time. The 3 other locations in Hartford will remain open including 150 Washington Street, 479 Blue Hills Avenue and 908-910 Maple Avenue. Image from Ronni Newton at We-Ha.com. Please read their article linked below! The Laurel is NOW OPEN in West Hartford!
The restaurant is a new concept from Ashley Flagg, former Executive Chef at the Millwright's in Simsbury. The Laurel replaces the pug-themed Corner Pug space at 1046 New Britain Avenue in the Elmwood section of West Hartford. The Laurel describes itself as "An exploration of global cuisines, utilizing locally sourced ingredients. Our food and bevergae menus are forever evolving, always unique, and designed to be shared." The menu doesn't have a specific nationality; its broken up into 4 sections including Chilled, Vegetable, Seafood, and Meat. The menu has vegetarian and vegan options. Find their full menu here: https://www.thelaurelrestaurantandbar.com/ Check out a full write up and review from our friends at We-Ha.com here: https://we-ha.com/the-laurel-brings-unique-globally... Find them at: 1046 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, CT The restaurant is open: Monday 5pm-10pm Thursday 5pm-10pm Friday thru Saturday 5pm-11pm Sunday 5pm-9pm Closed Tuesday & Wednesday Dave's Hot Chicken will officially open its doors today in Milford, marking the chain's first Connecticut location!
The new Nashville hot chicken restaurant is located at 1611 Boston Post Road in Milford, part of Milford Square, a shopping plaza home to REI, Sleep Number, Panera, Jersey Mike’s, and others. Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant serving chicken sandwiches, tenders, sliders, fries, and more. The spice level is on a scale from no spice up to reaper level. The chain has locations planned across Connecticut including in Newington, Southington, Stamford, and many others. The franchisee for New Haven, Rackson Restuarants, has signed on to bring 8 locations to New Haven/Fairfield area; while John Coughlin has signed on to bring 4 locations to the Greater Hartford area. Find them at 1611 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT The restaurant is open daily from 11am-11pm. Lots of Milford news this week! Total Wine & More is coming soon to Candlewood Plaza Shopping Center in Brookfield!
The wine-beer-alcohol superstore will be located in a portion of the former Bed Bath & Beyond space. Total Wine will occupy around 25,359 square feet, leaving 19,000 square feet for another tenant. The new store has filed for building permits with the town and is anticipated to begin construction soon with an opening in fall 2025. The new liquor store will feature an expansive collection of wine, beer, and spirits along with a Wine Education Room, Cigar Humidor, and tasting area. This is the most recent major addition to the shopping center since Big Y Supermarket opened last year in the space originally planned for Amazon Fresh. Total Wine currently has 4 Connecticut locations including Milford, Manchester, West Hartford, and Norwalk. DORO Restaurant Group's latest restaurant is now under construction in Wethersfield!
No Mames Mexican Cantina is coming soon to 1140 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield. The restaurant will occupy the former Pasta Vita space in the plaza with Homegoods and Pet Supplies Plus. The restaurant will be focused on authentic Mexican cuisine and plans to open in early 2025! You can follow along with their progress on their new Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/nomamesmexicancantina and online at https://www.nomamesmexicancantina.com/ The new restaurant recently held a kitchen takeover of their sister restaurant, Zohara in West Hartford. The event was sold out and deemed a success! DORO Restaurant Group has also leased the former BevMax space in the plaza with plans for a new commissary bakery. The new commissary will help fuel further growth of their restaurant empire. DORO operate the new Casadoro Ristorante & Bar, Avert, Treva, DORO Marketplace, Artisanal Burger Company, and Zohara restaurants. Have you had a chance to try the new Yemerica Coffee in West Hartford? I stopped by on Monday for a coffee after getting rid of the snow.
The coffee shop is beautiful on the inside, the upscale furnishing and lighting make the space feel warm and inviting. The space has plenty of seating to relax and enjoy the atmosphere. The coffee shop has a private space that can be reserved as well. The menu consists of typical coffee options like Americano, pour over, matcha, cortado, cappuccino, refreshers, and more. The menu also has a number of Yemeni coffee options like Royal Arabic Coffee, Aryasi, Adani chai, Mofowar, Qisher, Baidhani, and Moroccan Tea. They has a selection of baked goods and food. Check out their full menu here: https://www.yemericacoffee.com/menu Read more about this business from our friends at We-Ha.com here: https://we-ha.com/yemerica-brings-unique-coffee-shop.../ Make sure you give them a try. Find them at 1000 Farmington Ave, Suite 100, in West Hartford! The coffee house is open 7am-11pm everyday! DinerLuxe has officially reopened in New Milford!
The retro diner recently reopened their diner under the original ownership! The diner is located at 108 Danbury Road in New Milford. The diner was originally opened in 2014 under the ownership of the Serroukas family. The family sold it in 2019 and its closed in 2022. The Serroukas family bought the business back last year and has reopened it with a revamped menu! The menu consists of all day breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Items on the menu include waffles, pancakes, soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, fajitas, pastas, seafood, steaks, and much more. Check out their new menu here: https://dinerluxe.com/.../uploads/2024/12/PROOF122024_2.pdf Check them out at 108 Danbury Road in New Milford. The restaurant is open daily from 6am-11pm. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is coming soon to Bristol!
The smoothie shop will be located at 123 Farmington Avenue in Bristol, the long-vacant Family Haircut space at Bristol Commons! The eatery will occupy the space between AT&T and Bite & Tea. Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a chain of smoothie shops across the United States. The shop sells various smoothies, acai bowls, wraps, salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, and quesadillas. See their full menu here: https://www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com/menu/ No timeline has been announced for the shops opening. The smoothie shop will join the new Hibachi Buffet that will open next month. Stay tuned on our page for an opening announcement for the Hibachi Buffet! Tropical Smoothie Cafe has 1,500 locations throughout the United States. They currently have 3 locations in Connecticut including Newington, New Haven, and Milford. They are in negotiations to open a new location in South Windsor as well. Max’s Place, a shopping plaza in Old Saybrook, is preparing for an expansion. The plaza is currently home to Kohl’s, Big Y, Ulta, and others.
Max’s Place plans to expand their footprint, adding 4 new buildings including 2 multi-tenant strip centers, 1 drive-thru coffee shop, and 1 bank. Three tenants have signed onto the project including Chipotle, Starbucks, and Chase Bank. -Chipotle will occupy an end cap of one of the multi-tenant building. Initially Chipotle planned a free standing location with a drive thru, this was recently dropped. -Starbucks will be in a free standing building with a drive thru, patio, and interior dining room. -Chase Bank will be located in a free standing building with a drive-up bank service. No timeline for construction has been announced. Take a look at the renderings of the new buildings from Colliers Engineering & Design. Did you know Connecticut has a Scandinavian Gift Shop?
The Scandinavian Gift Shop is a village of small stores located at 149 Rockville Road in the Broad Brook section of East Windsor. The complex is comprised of the Main Shop, The Greenhouse, and the Bok Stuga. -The Scandinavian Gift Shop in the main building sells home decor, candy, dishes, products from local artisans, food, imported Scandinavian products, and much more. -The Greenhouse sells vintage items including second hand home decor, dishes, and other quality items from the area. -The Bok Stuga sells children’s toys, clothing, books, along with stationery, cards, cookbooks, and many other products from local sellers. The gift shop is a great place to find gifts for any occasion, or just to try new products from the Scandinavian region. A great unique offering set in a beautifully picturesque area of Broad Brook. Definitely worth the time to check it out. Find them at 149 Rockville Road in Broad Brook, on the Ellington/South Windsor townline. The shop is open: Wednesday thru Friday 11am-5pm Saturday thru Sunday 11am-4pm Closed Monday & Tuesday Warby Parker is officially opening its doors at The Shops at Farmington Valley on Saturday, January 25, 2025, bringing stylish and modern eye care to the heart of the Farmington Valley! The new location will be located in the old Cold Water Creek space (next to Golf Lounge 18) in the outdoor mall.
The brand-new Canton location will also be offering affordable, holistic eye care, including comprehensive eye exams and telehealth services to the heart of Farmington Valley. To celebrate, Warby Parker is hosting an exciting grand opening event on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 11AM - 7PM packed with exclusive offerings and activities including: ● Raffle Prizes You’ll Love: Enter for a chance to win a $145 Warby Parker gift card and a day on the slopes with four lift passes to Ski Sundown! Guests can enter the raffle inside the store via a QR code and earn a bonus entry by snapping a photo in their new glasses inside the gondola located outside the store. Tag @WarbyParker and @ShopFarmington in your posts or stories for additional entries. ● Sweet Treats: Savor delicious locally baked cookies from Small State Provisions. ● Exclusive Tote Bags: The first shoppers to make a purchase will receive a custom-designed tote bag, perfect for carrying their new frames and more. Here are all the details! When: Saturday, January 25, 2025 Time: 11am – 7pm Where: Warby Parker at The Shops at Farmington Valley, 110 Albany Turnpike, Suite #910, Canton, CT 06019 The Shops at Farmington Valley is redefining their collection of shops with new additions including Warby Parker, Nutmeg Sweet Shop, and Vio Med Spa. More tenants are opening soon including Sweetgreen, Blo Blow Dry Bar, and FP Movement (Free People)! Popeyes will be reopening their Wallingford location this year!
Popeyes will be reopening their Wallingford location this spring, years after a fire temporarily closed the restaurant. Popeyes is located at 860 North Colony Road in Wallingford. The restaurant originally opened in 2004, originally home to a Dunkin Donuts. The restaurant suffered a kitchen fire in August of 2022. The restaurant temporarily closed for repairs; but did not reopen. Years of speculation about the future have now been answered. Reopening signs can now be seen in the restaurant's windows and hiring has started for the restaurant! Popeyes is now hiring for team members, shift managers, assistant managers, and a general restaurant manager. You can apply for positions here: https://careers.popeyes.com/search |
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