Blaze Pickleball is planning to open in the former Best Market space at 175 Lowrey Place. The new pickleball facility would feature 7 courts in the 33,000 square foot space!

The facility applied for a zoning special permit yesterday (09/30) to operate a pickleball facility in the former retail space. The space was previously planned to house a Sky Zone Trampoline Park before they canceled their plans earlier this summer.
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No date for a TPZ hearing has been set yet. We will keep you posted.

We have some new scoops to share including updates to previous items in this abbreviated business brief. A more comprehensive update will happen in October.

-The new Shell station at 50 Fenn Road is NOW OPEN! A conversion of a Mobil station that had been closed for well over a year has resulted in a refreshed, sleek looking station and convenience store now known as Voilet Mart!

-My Home Kitchen and Bath showroom is coming to 2231 Berlin Turnpike, the old Fastenal space! They offer “high quality cabinets, countertops, tiles and accessories.” They also do kitchen and bathroom remodeling. We will reach out to them for an opening timeline. To learn more, visit their website at www.myhomekitchenandbath.com.

-El Diamante Meat Market is coming to 2551 Berlin Turnpike, the former Songbirdz space in Cody Plaza next to The Sloppy Waffle! Not much is known about the business itself, aside from the fact they obviously are a meat market. An electrical permit filed with the town identifies the business name as La Estrella Meat Market. We will follow this development and keep you posted.

-Playa Bowls (3313 Berlin Turnpike) at Meadow Commons is getting closer to opening! They are aiming to open by October 12 (that date is tentative). The new restaurant is currently hiring.
https://workforcenow.adp.com/.../recr.../recruitment.html...

-We are still unsure when PJ's Coffee will open, however, it should be soon. Stay with us for further updates.

-Cloud9 Vape Shop recently moved their store from 451 New Britain Avenue in Newington to 260 Newington Avenue in New Britain (formerly Subway). A note on the door of the previous location confirms the new store just over the town line as the same business. Reno has listed the 451 New Britain Avenue space for lease.

-A follow up clarification to a previous update back in July, Al's Landscaping and Nursery (204 Kelsey Street) had changed to Niro Garden Center. After a few months, the name has changed back to Al’s Landscaping and Nursery.
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-Join the Newington Chamber of Commerce and the community for the annual Newington Waterfall Festival! It will take place this year on Saturday, September 28, 2024 (rain date Saturday, October 5, 2024). This event is held along Market Square and will feature local businesses and vendors, crafters, performances, touch a truck, and of course the Chalk Walk hosted by the Newington Art League, Inc. where local artists display their drawings on the blacktop. Don’t miss it!

The Newington Kiwanis Flea Market is back this Sunday, August 25th!

Join the many vendors who set up in the municipal parking lot in Market Square each Sunday during their Spring (last Sunday in April through end of June) and Fall (last Sunday in August through end of October) sessions.

Interested vendors are required to pay $15 for a space at the flea market. Shoppers are asked to support the event with a $1 donation to enter.
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Proceeds from the flea market go back to the community in the form of grant donations and scholarships!
Hours are 8am-2pm each Sunday. Visit their website at https://k03927.site.kiwanis.org/ for more information on the Newington Kiwanis Club and what they do!

The chicken restaurant planned for the former Batteries Plus space at 3384 Berlin Turnpike is now identified at Dave's Hot Chicken!

Dave's Hot Chicken is a fast-casual Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant serving chicken sandwiches, tenders, sliders, fries, and more.
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This would be Dave's Hot Chicken's first Connecticut location with 3 additional locations in development in the greater Hartford area. We had previously reported a chicken restaurant was planning to open in the space under the LLC LuLu & Bru's Chicken Coop LLC.

100% Chiropractic is planning to open in Meadow Commons (3333 Berlin Turnpike) and it appears that Crumbl has pulled out of the development.

100% Chiropractic will be the latest addition to the lineup of tenants which includes Shake Shack, CAVA, Sally's Apizza, Beso Taco Bar, PJ's Coffee, and Playa Bowls.

Crumbl Cookies appears to have pulled out from the development; they have been removed from the lease plan on the broker’s website. The cookie chain had previously stated they were delaying their opening until 2025. The cookie chain has started closing under-performing locations and canceling planned-stores around the country as the company has over-expanded.

According to the latest leasing plan, 100% Chiropractic will be taking a space next to the west of Playa Bowls. They specialize in chiropractic care and whole-body health. Newington will be its first Connecticut location. They have locations throughout the country.

No word on when they will open. Stay with us for more Meadow Commons updates!
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For more information, visit their website at www.100percentchiropractic.com

Bark & Hearth is a sourdough micro-bakery located in Newington, CT.

A hobby became a business for Kelly Damon. A veterinarian by day, the working mom of two found a love for sourdough bread making.

In the summer of 2022, Damon was looking for something to do in her free time and sourdough bread baking interested her. She began baking for family and friends for holiday parties and gatherings, who loved her bread. They had asked her if she would consider selling her products.

When her oldest child was diagnosed with Autism, pulling resources from her profession as a small animal veterinarian at Shelton Veterinary Center in Shelton, CT, Damon came up with the idea of getting him a service dog. She needed help raising funds, and hoped to do so by selling her bread. That is when the concept of a hobby-baker to bread-for-sale came to be. The goal was met, and she is still on a waiting list for the dog, which can take up to two years to find the right fit.

Damon obtained a cottage food license and started selling bread out of her home in August, 2023. All her baked goods are sourdough-based. She offers a range of scrumptious treats from original (plain) loaves to cookies, brownies and more. Weekly specials are determined based on availability of local produce and seasonal inspiration. Examples of flavors available include the award-winning jalapeno cheddar sourdough, as well as double garlic, double chocolate, blueberry lemon and cranberry walnut, with new combinations always being considered. The “bark” in Bark and Hearth stands for dog treats, which Damon is also licensed to sell. She assures they are “heartily approved of by many picky pups”!

Kelly takes pride in being a women-owned small business that supports other local businesses, using their quality products. Flour comes from Massachusetts and Vermont, sea salt from Martha’s Vineyard, cheeses from Vermont, and produce is grown in her own backyard or sourced from local CT farms. There are only 3 ingredients in a plain sourdough loaf. You know what they are and can pronounce them. Offerings are preservative free and something you will not find in a grocery store. Damon is the sole baker at Bark and Hearth, but she also has an unofficial support staff! Her kids are the cookie-stealers, her husband is the dishwasher, and her two poodles Dublin and Cabot are the quality control team for the dog treats!

Damon is motivated by providing products that are good for the body and for the soul. She loves hearing from her customers how much they enjoy her baked goods. Especially kids. She is very involved with the community and tries to attend as many local festivals as possible. You can find her regularly every Sunday at the Blue Back Farmers' Market Sundays from 10am-1pm. In the month of April, which is Autism Awareness Month, she offers a sprinkle-swirled sandwich loaf inspired by her son, one of his favorites. 100% of proceeds from the loaf go to Autism Speaks!

Aside from the Farmer’s Market, regular “drops” and “pickups” occur via Bark and Hearth’s website (link below). There, you can view the most current offers and events and even sign up with your phone number for text alerts when new sales start.
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Visit Bark and Hearth on the web:
https://www.hotplate.com/barkandhearth
CHECK OUT THIS SPECIAL OFFER FOR FOLLOWERS OF THE NEWINGTON SCOOP:
Use promo code SCOOP10 at checkout to receive 10% off your Bark & Hearth purchase!

We have a few new scoops to tell you about. Read about them in this "mini" brief!

-Verizon (36 Fenn Road) will be moving their location to 12 Fenn Road, the newly built annex to Fenn Road Plaza joining Jersey Mike's Subs, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Salsa Fresca Mexican Grill, and Haven Hot Chicken. Verizon will round out the building to achieve 100% occupancy! A sign on both the current and future location confirms the move. No timeline on the move has been given. Work is beginning on the interior build-out of the new space. The Fenn Road location has been under the Wireless Zone franchise for years.

-The Shop Newington (287 Main Street) will be relocating their barber shop to 139 Lowrey Place, the former Garrett's Barber Shop/Galaxy Salon space at Northwood Plaza! The Shop joins Sky Zone as new tenants to the downtown shopping center. Buildout of the new space has begun. No timeline on the transition at this time. Also, no word if a new tenant has been found for their current space.

-Gas Man (476 Fenn Road) is now branded as a Citgo gas station. The station has been under the Gas Man brand since opening over a decade ago. Ahamed LLC remains as the business owner. Building and Electrical Permits were filed with the town back in January. The transition has finally been completed.

-The former Hartford Veterinary Hospital space (2300 Berlin Turnpike) has been sold to Nutmeg Properties, LLC as of June 26, and will once again be home to a veterinarian! Nutmeg Veterinary Hospital will be opening in the space well known in town as being the office of beloved veterinarian William Haines. Dr. Haines sadly passed away last year, and Hartford Vet closed their doors. Once we know more about Nutmeg, we will give an update.

-I just found this one. The building at 27-33 East Cedar Street has recently added two tenants. A&D Homecare has occupied the former Paper Station space at 29 East Cedar Street. Their address when searching them online is still listed as 27 Garfield Street. Rejuvenate Massage Therapy and Spa has occupied a former accounting office at 31 East Cedar Street next to Roma Tailors. Again, I am unsure of how long both businesses have been there, however it had to have been recent. Not much information can be found on them online. Just thought it would be good to point out this information.
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Any thoughts on these updates? Let us know what you think in the comments!

We now know the new tenant of the former Batteries+Bulbs space at 3384 Berlin Turnpike!

A Planning and Zoning Application was filed today for a new fast casual restaurant to be named LuLu & Bru's Chicken Coop. Not much is known on the details of the new restaurant, aside from the fact they will specialize in chicken. Indoor dining as well as takeout will be offered.

A lease has already been signed. However, that is contingent on the outcome of the Special Use Permit that has been requested by the applicant, John Coughlin. He will go before TPZ at a future meeting to be scheduled. We will reach out to him for more information.

We can confirm that the co-owner of Hungry Pot will be opening a new restaurant called Hungry Bowl!

The new Newington restaurant would serve all you can eat Mongolian Bowls, Sushi, and Ramen. The restaurant is working to secure permits to begin construction on the former TGI Fridays at 3025 Berlin Turnpike!

Are you excited about a new dining option on the turnpike? Did you ever try Hungry Pot? Let us know in the comments!

Catch up on latest business news in town with the Newington Business Brief! In this edition, we will recap previous news, including openings, closings, and looking ahead to future developments. We are also celebrating the first anniversary of The Newington Scoop with a few surprises! There is so much going on in town, we could not cover it all in this update! If you do not see it below, we are working on it!

Here is the brief:

-Dunkin' (79 East Cedar Street) opened in their new space on May 23. The building previously was a Santander Bank branch that closed in 2019. The longtime location at 1095 Main Street closed permanently May 19, just prior to the new location opening. The new shop now has a drive-thru and outdoor seating!

-Artisianna - Olive Oils and Balsamics (2600 Berlin Turnpike) held a grand opening event on June 7 and 8 and a ribbon cutting with the Newington Chamber of Commerce on June 10. The local specialty foods shop relocated within the same building at 2600 Berlin Turnpike to a first-floor storefront!

-Hound and Home is NOW OPEN in their new space at 1042 Main Street, the former Flowers Etc! The pet store had been located at 2600 Berlin Turnpike. Muddy Paws Barkery is also merging their business in to the new space. Check them out!

-A ribbon cutting was held at Flash Car Wash (16 Fenn Road) on June 24 with the Chamber!

-CAVA (3323 Berlin Turnpike) opened their Newington location to the public on June 28 with a Community Day event on June 27 offering free meals to customers who pre-registered. They even matched any donations made to Food Rescue US - Hartford!

-Also at Meadow Commons, PJ's Coffee and Playa Bowls will be opening very soon. Sally's Apizza is also coming soon. Stay with us for continued updates.

-Millyard at Meadow Commons (98 Pane Road) and The Pike (227 Pane Road) are progressing well. Millyard has already welcomed new residents while The Pike will be doing so within weeks. Visit their Facebook pages to learn more. Both housing developments are currently offering tours of their units. Pictures are attached!
Smoke City Tobacco and Vape opened recently at 2435A Berlin Turnpike!

-NewGen Pickleball (77 Pane Road) was supposed to open in June, but that did not happen. The new building they will be in is still finishing construction. NewGen will be joining SafeSplash Swim School in the new building. We hope to get an update soon!
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-The future Sunbelt Rentals (67 Pane Road) is still very much under construction. The former Frink’s Garden Center is undergoing a complete transformation to an equipment rental facility which is moving from its current location at 2258 Berlin Turnpike!

-Al's Landscaping and Nursery (204 Kelsey Street) has recently changed ownership. It is now known as Niro Garden Center!

-WeHa FiT moved their facility from 261 Park Road in West Hartford to 600 North Mountain Road in Newington!

-The Community Room Café has announced plans to open at 39 East Cedar Street, in a large portion of the Century 21 building. The real estate office, now known as Century 21 North East, still has an office in the building. Since we broke the scoop, their petition was approved by Planning and Zoning! Read the post here: https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid02syGRrBF3Eq7DTDZtWAPtKzzfE78YBsmSL5H6Rnsm12VTpRmpDC4ewuVPmhNP7DSVl

-We were “first on the scoop” this week with word on a replacement for TGI Fridays at 3025 Berlin Turnpike. The co-owner of the Hungry Pot franchise filed an LLC with the state for a new restaurant likely to be named Hungry Bowl. Hungry Pot has locations in Wethersfield and Manchester. We will keep an eye out for more on this and a timeline for opening!

-CT Breeder (2221 Berlin Turnpike) announced on their Facebook page recently they hope to be open in their new Newington location by September 1st!

-The former Mobil station at 50 Fenn Road will be converting to Shell. Read our post here:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid02skAJUd2yzjG4dpPwcmR87QFdAb6FXjYAk8Qf2r2e9FJBrYDFbWHrTjJY5gpcnBvTl

-Sky Zone Trampoline Park has plans to open in the former Best/Local Market space at 175 Lowrey Place. They have submitted plans to TPZ; however, a Public Hearing has not been scheduled as of this post. We will keep you posted on the date. See our posts here:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid02y6yRNeefygEnMZbX5M59rur4eHdcW9rPECe89aSVFJ3srH5qdxdtRaA6VkamMcXfl
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid02ddQw2TRhrHiu2L2zbannT7knQshoX9bEKUxFCXEjUEDGxyT91xHRYVUHvzZbJcJPl
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-The Hartford HealthCare campus (181 and 184-200 Patricia Genova Drive) has been taken off the market after briefly being up for sale. At the last Economic Development meeting this past Wednesday, it was stated that the sale of the property was put on hold until a comprehensive study of the downtown area was completed with the expertise of a consultant soon to be hired by the town. This study is being done in hopes of coming up with a master plan to make the downtown area a more successful business district with the collaboration of all businesses and property owners. We are following this process closely and will keep readers informed!
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-The Newington Commons shopping center (150-206 Kitts Lane) was recently purchased and improvements are planned for the property. See our story here:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid022ptAeYfGo1Ng71UCnf4S9fgnDgMChMRuUtM46hWkCLeAHSYsnCXGBo4LHyE5fR6sl

-Bob's Stores Footwear & Apparel (172 Kitts Lane) will be closing along with the entire chain. The company has been having financial difficulties for years and have gradually closed locations and most recently even opened new ones. The Newington store was to close back in 2020 but stayed open. This time, the closure appears to be permanent. See the post from The Connecticut Scoop here:
https://www.facebook.com/theconnecticutscoop/posts/pfbid0Y8XAhtVxSimc5F5PdKcajniceLdXnJdjcoP69WMJJVi7ycdFfhRpzZ4Y4KmGu9UFl

-The town approved the purchase of the OFI property (28 Garfield Street) at the June 25 Town Council meeting to house a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The lease for OFI expires early next year. At that time, the town would take ownership of the property. A new location would likely be found within town for OFI.

-Yankee Mattress (3277 Berlin Turnpike) closed their Newington location recently after only a few months in business. They opened just before the holidays last year. No reason was given for the closure. Their other locations are in New York.

-Construction is continuing at the future DORO owned restaurant at 2929 Berlin Turnpike. DORO plans on opening an Italian-themed restaurant at the site of the former Bertucci’s space similar to Treva in West Hartford. A complete overhaul of the building has commenced, and new landscaping and a patio are included in the plans!

-ICYMI: We recently expanded with the launch of The Berlin Scoop! The neighboring town of Berlin, which includes the Berlin Turnpike along with the Farmington Avenue area and Kensington, has seen an uptick in business openings and new developments. We have been featuring news from Berlin for several months, and have decided they needed their own platform. Just over the town line at 224 Berlin Turnpike, Fancy Sushi recently opened, and T-swirl Crêpe is coming soon. To see these stories and more, LIKE and FOLLOW The Berlin Scoop on Facebook. We also have a section for Berlin on the Connecticut Scoop website. Instagram is coming soon!

-The 42nd Annual Life. Be. In. It Extravaganza will be taking place on Saturday, July 20th, with a host of events leading up to the big day each evening beginning on Wednesday, July 17th. The Newington Scoop has partnered with Newington Parks and Recreation this year to give our followers a special offer! Check back with us on Monday for an announcement!

Now for a celebration of our own! We reached a milestone this month as The Newington Scoop celebrates our first anniversary! I am so grateful to have been given the chance to run a local news page and help support the Newington business community and economic development. Our purpose is to help get the word out on what is happening with the many businesses who are in our backyards and bring us several essential and unique services. A big thank you to Scoop founder, Jean-Luc Dube, who offered me this opportunity a year ago. He is a wealth of knowledge and has assisted me in getting the most accurate information on all business developments in town. Please stay tuned for a few surprises during our Anniversary month. Thank you for your support so far!

VISIT US ON THE WEB-Do you prefer a web URL to view our stories or know of someone who doesn’t have social media? We have everything you are looking for at www.theconnecticutscoop.com. There, you will find every story you see here, in addition to stories from our Scoop family across Connecticut! Check it out!

Do you have business news you would like to share? Are you a business who wishes to advertise on The Newington Scoop? We are always looking for a few extra pair of eyes and ears, especially in Berlin. If you would like to share your story, send us an email at [email protected].

Reading this Business Brief on another group? To see more content and stay with the scoop, give us a LIKE and a SHARE. The Newington Scoop.
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Did you know we are also on Instagram? Follow us there: www.instagram.com/thenewingtonscoop

Several followers have reached out to me asking about the opening date for CAVA (3333 Berlin Turnpike).

CAVA (3333 Berlin Turnpike) will be hosting a Community Day event this Thursday June 27, followed by the official grand opening this Friday, June 28!

To attend the event on Thursday, you must reserve a time slot to receive a digital ticket for a free meal (link below). Hours that day are 10:45am-2pm and 5-8pm. Any donations from guests made to Food Rescue US - Hartford will be matched!
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Follow the link to sign up for the Community Day: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../meadow-commons-community...

They are currently hiring for the new Meadow Commons location. While visiting the new center, I noticed increased activity in the area of the new CAVA, including the future PJ's Coffee and Playa Bowls. Please stay with The Newington Scoop for further updates on all openings.
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To apply for a job, click on the following link: https://harri.com/cava-usa...

As we look forward to our first anniversary since our launch in a few weeks, I wanted to share my appreciation for your support so far in the efforts to bring you local business news! We love collaborating with our friends in other local media to bring you accurate and up to date news!

We work with our local sources, local news pages and tips from the community to bring you news that matters to you, before the big guys.

In an age of media consolidation under big mainstream media; it's great to foster a sense of community and have multiple local companies working to keep the public informed! We couldn't do it without the help of the community & local partners; and for that we are thankful!

We are hearing from our sources that Sky Zone Trampoline Park is planning a new location in the former Best Market / Local Market space at 175 Lowrey Place!

The trampoline park is still subject to local approvals. The park would be in stark contrast to previous proposals for the property including potential apartments.

We've reached out to Sky Zone to confirm their plans, they have not responded at the time of this post. These plans match the chain's previously announced search for a new location in the greater Hartford area. The chain was searching for a space to open in the first half of 2024.

These plans are still subject to change.
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Do you think this is a good use for the former grocery store? Let us know in the comments.

Newington is the place to be in the next few weeks! In this special Newington Event Brief, we wanted to give you the scoop on several exciting events presented by the Newington Chamber of Commerce and Newington Parks and Recreation and sponsored several local businesses, as well as a few business milestone events!

The Annual "Cruising Newington" Classic Car Show takes place this Thursday, June 13 from 5-8PM along Market Square. No cutoff year. $10 per car entry. Rain dates are June 20 and 27. Be sure to support your local restaurants and businesses in the Center while you are there!

Also on Thursday, visit Mill Pond Park (123 Garfield Street) for Newington Goes Country from 5-10PM! Newington Parks and Recreation in conjunction with Country 92-5 and Happy Harry Wine & Liquor Discount Warehouse (2400 Berlin Turnpike) will be putting together a family fun event featuring live performances, attractions, food trucks, a beer and wine garden and much more!

On Friday (June 14), come back to Mill Pond Park for Food Truck Friday! Enjoy a wide variety of food trucks in the park along with a live performance by "Mass Con-Fusion". This event will take place from 5-10PM. Happy Harry's will also sponsor the event.

Rock+Soul is having their official Grand Opening celebration this Saturday, June 15 from 1-4PM with service giveaways, product raffles, refreshments and free goodies! Rock+Soul is celebrating 1 year in their new Newington space, but will be celebrating 5 years in business soon. They were never able to have an official grand opening due to COVID. Come see them at 39 Market Square!

Evolution Yoga & Wellness Co. is celebrating their 1-year anniversary in business! They are a yoga and wellness studio that offers several classes, as well as Friday "Pop-Up" events featuring local vendors! They are celebrating their first year open all day on Friday, June 21 with FREE Yoga classes, local vendors, special deals, a gently-used clothing swap, as well as a toast at 7PM! Join them at 122 Market Square!
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If you have an event you would like us to share on The Newington Scoop, send us an email at [email protected].

Artisianna - Olive Oils and Balsamics will be holding a Grand Opening celebration on Friday June 7 and Saturday June 8 at their newly relocated store at 2600 Berlin Turnpike (first floor)! The shop had previously been located on the second floor of the same building and moved down to a storefront back in March.

Artisianna specializes in oils and balsamics with a wide assortment of flavors and sizes. They also offer specialty foods, foodie gifts and more!

They will have demos, popup vendor shops, and other exciting events both days. You can even make your own dressing!

The Newington Chamber of Commerce will also be hosting a Ribbon Cutting for Artisianna on Monday, June 10 at 5PM.
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To learn more, visit their website: https://www.oliveoilsandbalsamics.com/

Yankee Mattress Company has closed their only Connecticut outpost in Newington. The mattress store was located at 3277 Berlin Turnpike, in the Total Fitness Superstore Plaza.

The store's location has been removed from the store's website. There is no word yet on what might replace the mattress store. The store opened in November 2023.
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What would you like to see open in this space next? Comment below!

NewGen Pickleball is coming soon to Newington! They plan on opening the new facility on June 3 at 77 Pane Road!

Pickleball has become one of the fastest growing sports in the country! Indoor pickleball courts have started opening in buildings that were once old warehouses or stores. They provide a safe space for games.

NewGen will feature fully enclosed courts and a climate-controlled environment for year-round play. You can even reserve a space in advance!

NewGen joins SafeSplash Swim School at the newly built space at 77 Pane Road! Visit their website for more information and rules here: https://newgenpickleball.com/
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Are you excited to have a Pickleball facility in Newington? Will you be playing there? Tell us in the comments!

The new Dunkin' location at 79 East Cedar Street has set a targeted opening date of this coming Thursday, May 23!

It has since been confirmed that the other downtown location at 1095 Main Street, which has operated in the space for many years will close permanently today (5/19) at 7PM. The status of that location had been in question since the new location was announced.

The new shop will feature walk-in service, in addition to a drive-through, which was already in place from the former tenant, Santander Bank that had closed the branch in 2019.

One of our very first posts back in July highlighted franchisee Cary Gagnon's plan for a second Dunkin' store in the center of town. A Pre-Application was heard, and eventually Gagnon officially came to the town with a Public Hearing, which was approved.
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How do you feel about the new location? Is it more convenient for you? Tell us in the comments.

Cutting Edge CT will be relocating their Berlin store to the former Bungalow on the Ave location at 945 Farmington Avenue in Berlin!

The full service snowboard, skateboard & bike shop has been located in Berlin since 1987 in various locations around town. They are currently located at 146 Mill Street.

The shop plans to open in mid-June in the new location. Bungalow on the Ave. closed in February after 3 years in business on Farmington Avenue.

It continues to be a very exciting and constantly evolving business environment in the Newington/Berlin area, and we have been keeping track of all the details. In this edition, you will find a rundown of openings (in addition to a few coming soon), an update on the many development projects followers have been asking about, and more. We might have the ‘scoop’ you are looking for!

The following businesses recently opened in/near both Newington and Berlin:

-F45 Training (30C Fenn Road) had their soft opening March 16. No word on an official Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting ceremony at this time.

-Haven Hot Chicken (12 Fenn Road) opened on April 13. A Ribbon Cutting ceremony was held by the Newington Chamber of Commerce. The Newington Scoop was invited to a preview event on April 10. Check out our post here:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid0YQkY73GWVRuzn2skELTrSkJ28UYDA7zNjbz7m3FixeVVk7h1FJBZVgWaZgDYtUzol
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-The Portuguese Club of Hartford (730 North Mountain Road) reopened on March 30 after a fire closed the facility back in 2017. A gala was held on March 30, with an official Ribbon Cutting on April 5.

-Middlesex Orthopedic & Spine Associates (505 Willard Avenue, Suite 1C) opened April 1 with a Ribbon Cutting.

-LaserMaxx (3005 Berlin Turnpike) opened on April 8. It was previously the longtime home of LaserQuest, which will continue the same concept with laser tag, an arcade and an escape room!

-Stone House By Temponi (1912 Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield) opened their new showroom March 16. They were previously located at 1979 North Broad Street in Meriden. They will retain the property as their fabrication shop and remnant yard until they complete work on a neighboring property to their new showroom at 1900 Berlin Turnpike for those purposes.

-The Encore Bar & Grill (1861 Berlin Turnpike, Berlin) opened March 27.

-Starbucks (1041 Farmington Avenue, Berlin) opened March 20.

-Quinceanera Dresses (196 Berlin Turnpike, Berlin) recently opened.

-Barbology Barbershop (154 Webster Square Road, Berlin) recently opened. They are located at Stick Village across from Ocean State Plaza.

-Miss Britt's Academy of Dance opened yesterday (4/23) at 1400 Berlin Turnpike in Berlin (in Ridgeway Plaza)! To learn more and to sign up for a class, visit their website: https://www.missbrittsacademyofdance.com/

-MEADOW COMMONS IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS TOMORROW (4/25) with the opening of Shake Shack at 3329 Berlin Turnpike (Suite 6)! They will be having their ribbon cutting at 10:30am with the Newington Chamber of Commerce followed by the Grand Opening at 11am. Shake Shack will donate $1 for every burger and sandwich purchased, to help Connecticut Foodshare!

-We also brought you the scoop Monday that Beso Taco Bar is the latest eatery to sign on to the new development! ICYMI, see that post here:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid02puYHPPbrWQpcpXpYfTfB9RMjcy2cC6HU7oZ8s9B8sVZ5kC4NDdC1Q1PBP9FFSAbBl

-The first tenants of Millyard at Meadow Commons should be ready to occupy their units shortly as well. Read our latest update on the new mixed-use center:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid02sTjoHeR89GgeNFaLfPGF28tqVjx3uNLoAtDZrMjkufZie4Aj1j8aSKpSE8A9RsoFl

-Just around the corner from Meadow Commons is The Pike at 227 Pane Road. This has been an ongoing construction project consisting of 151 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Units are now available and initial occupancy is expected as early as June! Visit their website to learn more about the newest housing option in town: https://www.thepikenewington.com/

-Steelwrist relocated their North America headquarters from Berlin to Newington at 240 Pane Road back in December. They share the space with Shucco USA LP which downsized operations last year. Steelwrist was previously located at 576 Christian Lane in Berlin since 2018. New England Crane/Connecticut Crane & Hoist took over the Christian Lane facility as of February.

-The Site Plan for 67 Pane Road by BSC Group was Approved with Conditions at the March 27 TPZ meeting. BSC Group plans to convert the former Frink’s Garden Center into a Sunbelt Rental facility. Modifications to the existing structure are currently being made. The current Sunbelt Rental location at 2258 Berlin Turnpike would be replaced by the new Pane Road location.

-The Farmer's Cow Calfé & Creamery is coming soon to 1241 Farmington Avenue in Berlin! This will be their second location in Connecticut. See our post for more information:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid02d86wo6UEmXWYSAXGCW7LgX4VTyh2ewfqhbz4Roed5HvzMfb5yTB42URFKjPhqseLl

-Wingstop announced plans to open a location just over the town line at the new Atlas Commons in Wethersfield at 1862 Berlin Turnpike. They join Starbucks as the first tenants of the new complex.

-The former Batteries + Bulbs space at 3384 Berlin Turnpike has been leased! We are still trying to figure out the new tenant. Signs on the windows clearly hint to the fact that a lease has been signed. No building permits have been filed as of this time. Stay tuned for updates.

-There has been curiosity from readers on what is happening at 50 Fenn Road; the former Mobil station. Passersby can see that the fuel tanks have been removed and the property gated. After doing some research, we were able to find building and electrical permits filed for the property in the last month for the removal of underground storage tanks and equipment and the installation of new tanks (see them in the photos). It is certain with this information that a gas station will come back to the site but is unclear if it will continue as Mobil or another brand. When it is known, we will give an update. The property was purchased from Trumbull Family Properties back in December, 2023 to Jurkoto Ljuboca & Bakar ABU.

-The future WoodSpring Suites at 712 Cedar Street appears to be nearly complete. We have reached out to WoodSpring for an opening date for the hotel and are waiting to hear back.

-Hound and Home LLC is merging operations with Muddy Paws Barkery and moving their storefront to 1042 Main Street, the former Flowers, Etc. space! See our post on this exciting news here:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid0fBFdLfRctgU7bqhr7h2XLt6tR45GbmfcZjvibFhvpXZZ4YuNmE8PaUERvjjqJ9PUl

-Buildout on the new Dunkin' space at 79 East Cedar Street continues. No word on when they will open.

-Another development project many are wondering about is the former Keeney building at 1170 Main Street. The property was purchased by Omni Broussard Two LLC in December, 2021. They came before the Economic Development Commission on April 6, 2023 with a presentation for the property to transform it in to a mixed-use development consisting of retail in the front, and manufacturing in the rear. The hope was that local businesses would utilize the space. Other uses envisioned were showroom space and a brewery. Data-Mail currently utilizes the industrial building on the East end of the property. There has been interest from potential tenants to occupy space for the past year, but the process has been at a standstill to the point where there was uncertainty that plans would still move forward. The Newington Scoop discovered an Instagram account tied to the development with the most recent posts highlighting the building’s 99th birthday this year, as well as pitching for a brewery to inquire about space at the complex. The link in their bio brings you to their leasing page with Sentry Commercial. Check out the cleverly named ‘1170 Main’ Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/1170main.nwngtn/

-The Kiwanis Club of Newington will be back with the bi-annual Flea Market for their Spring session beginning this Sunday, April 28 and running each Sunday through June 30 in Constitution Square! See our previous post for more information on this event:
https://www.facebook.com/thenewingtonscoop/posts/pfbid0y7Uj7qdqmqNLPRnxsM6SrrSbUStwpxmm8z7QV8udU3C2X8hKWhnfmvi6uR4xAVSNl
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-Join Karma's Closet for their Spring Fair! It will take place this Sunday, April 28 from 10am-3pm at their store located at 3153 Berlin Turnpike in the McBride Plaza parking lot. Owner Deanna Reney offers local crafters a space to sell their unique items in addition to selling them in the store. There will also be a sidewalk sale, bake sale and raffles! Stop by Sunday!

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Hound and Home LLC will be merging operations with Muddy Paws Barkery and moving to a new home!

The newly merged businesses will occupy the former Flowers, Etc. space at 1042 Main Street! Hound and Home is currently located at 2600 Berlin Turnpike, where they will continue operations until the new space is ready later this summer. The move will allow for more services and retail space.

Hound and Home provides grooming services, dog washing stations, a retail store featuring food and supplies, including items from local vendors/artisans! The business is celebrating its first year open!

See their Facebook post in the attached image to see their announcement. Have you been to Hound and Home? Are you excited about their move and expansion? Tell us below!
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Visit them on the web at www.houndandhome.org

Beso Taco Bar is coming soon to Meadow Commons according to the latest leasing plan! The upscale taco bar will open next door to Sally's Apizza, separated by a small courtyard.

Beso Taco Bar is owned by Market Hospitality Group, owner of Marketplace, Mercato, Marketplace Tavern, and other restaurants throughout NY and CT. Beso Taco Bar recently opened their first location in Newburgh, NY. Market Hospitality Group has new restaurant coming soon in Cheshire and Glastonbury as well!

The menu features a plethora of Mexican-inspired dishes including a large variety of tacos, empanadas, and more. The drink menu has a variety of margaritas! Make sure you check them out when they open.

Check out their website here: https://www.besotacobar.com/
​and their menu here: https://www.besotacobar.com/eat

Haven Hot Chicken (12 Fenn Road) will be officially opening their Newington location on Saturday, April 13 at 11am!

The Newington Scoop (represented by our Scoop founder, Jean-Luc) was invited to a media preview event today to check out and sample the latest of several new chicken establishments in the area. Haven Hot Chicken was founded in 2020 and is the first dedicated Nashville-style chicken concept in New England.

They will offer several styles of their delicious chicken, ranging from "Country" (non-spicy) to "Haven" (spicy). Accompanying the chicken is their classic sides, such as french fries, creamy vinegar slaw, garlic dill pickles and mac and cheese. Vegetarian options are also available. Their famous banana pudding is not only a sweet dessert but comes with a satisfying story. The cost of a meal from the sale of each side of banana pudding goes to support "The Great Banana Pudding Drive" which helps Connecticut Foodshare. Haven has helped to raise funds for over 60,000 meals to help feed families in our state!

The Newington location will be their 7th. They also have stores in New Haven, Orange, Norwalk, North Haven, Storrs and Middletown. Fairfield and Oxford will follow shortly after Newington's opening! They will be open every day from 11am-10pm.
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The new location will be giving away their signature item "The Sandwich" to the first 203 guests at the restaurant beginning Saturday at 11am! Visit their website to learn more about their menu items: www.havenhotchicken.com

The Farmer's Cow Calfé & Creamery is coming soon to 1241 Farmington Avenue, in the former Arby's space!

Their menu offerings include sandwiches, wraps, soups, ice cream and more! They will be using the delicious, high-quality brand of products they are known for all over New England!

The Farmers Cow was started in 2003 as a cooperative of 6 family-owned farms. The first Calfe was opened in 2012. They currently have a Connecticut location in Willimantic at 86 Storrs Road. They are hoping to open the Berlin location in the next month or so. The location will feature a drive-through, which is already in place from the previous restaurant.

The addition of The Farmer's Cow continues an upward trend in the town of new businesses, specifically food establishments such as Sadie's Sunrise Cafe, The Encore Bar & Grill, Starbucks, Seed Bagel (opening soon) and more! Are you excited about all of these new options?
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Find out more information and view their full menu by visiting their website: https://thefarmerscowcalfe.com/

We are just a few weeks away from the opening of Meadow Commons, which includes the retail portion (3113-3333 Berlin Turnpike) and the Millyard at Meadow Commons residential component (98-100 Pane Road). Read ahead to hear a recap of what's coming to the retail side, when the residential side will be ready for occupancy, pictures and an estimated opening date of the first retail tenant!

Meadow Commons shopping center will consist of 12 retail spaces, 7 of which are currently leased. Those signed on are food establishments, including Shake Shack, Crumbl Cookies, PJ's Coffee, Sally's Apizza, Playa Bowls and CAVA. They all expect to open by summer of this year. A national grocer will be the largest tenant, and is leased to Amazon Fresh at this time, which is subject to change. They don't expect to open the grocery store until January 2025.

The residential portion, Millyard at Meadow Commons, just announced today that they will be welcoming their first residents in just a few weeks! They are actively continuing to offer tours of additional units on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Visit www.millyardliving.com to learn more.

While opening dates are often announced and can change, we have learned that the first tenant to open, Shake Shack (3329 Berlin Turnpike) has tentatively scheduled their opening date for Friday, April 26! Again, this is subject to change. Crumbl, PJs and CAVA are all anticipated to follow shortly thereafter.

The Newington Scoop visited the site on March 18 and took some pictures of the retail plaza. They are attached with this post.
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Are you looking forward to Meadow Commons? What restaurant are you excited to try? What other businesses would you like to see fill the 5 remaining spaces? Let us know!