SNIPES USA, one of the largest sneaker and urban-wear chains in the world, is NOW OPEN in Bristol!

Snipes has opened their doors in theformer Payless Shoesource space at Bristol Plaza, between Five Below and Dollar Tree. The store will occupy 7,489 square feet of space. The plaza is located at 641 Farmington Avenue in Bristol.

The Connecticut Scoop was the first to bring you the news of their plans for a Bristol location back in September. This location joins Snipes other 20 Connecticut locations.

Make sure you check them out!

Winter isn’t slowing down plans for new (and renewed) business along the busy Queen Street corridor as we head into the new year.

-The renovation of Southington’s first Dunkin’ is complete. The shop, at 856 Queen St., underwent a quick facelift that included the installation of new equipment, furniture and signage. The store reopened to customers this week. It opened in 1969 as the first Dunkin’ Donuts location in town.

-Work continues to meet an early-2025 grand opening deadline for a new Five Below in the plaza anchored by Shop Rite at 755 Queen St. Crews in the last several weeks began the project in earnest as the former CVS Pharmacy storefront was gutted. Exterior construction also moves forward ahead of signage installation.

-Just steps from Queen Street, On the Mend Medical Supplies & Equipment is gearing up for a grand opening at 50 Spring St. The business specializes in providing an array of home medical equipment, in addition to assessments and consultations. The company additionally operates locations in Southbury, upstate New York and southern California. The Southington store replaces aGift Store and the After Hours entertainment venue.

-The former Starbucks adjacent to Denny’s that has been vacant since the coffee shop chain relocated north on Queen Street in 2022, will be occupied again in 2025. According to plans on file at Town Hall, the spot opposite the I-84 ramps is being transformed into the Queens Mart convenience store. Applications show the site was originally proposed as a cigar and tobacco shop by owner Mocha Yemen LLC of Westbury, New York. The company purchased the 18-year-old building for $1.5 million earlier this year.
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-The demolition of the former Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard at 279 Queen St. is expected to begin soon. The shop didn’t open in the spring for its 21st season after the franchisees couldn’t reach a lease agreement with property owners. A new Aroma Joe’s drive-thru coffee shop was anticipated to be open at the site by the end of the year, but owners are now planning a 2025 debut, in time for the chain’s 25th anniversary. It will join locations in Bristol and Waterbury and more than 100 in New England and Florida.

Work continues this week on a new Caliber Collision shop on South Main Street in the Plantsville section of town!

Calito Development Group LLC received town approval nearly one year ago to construct the 12,670-square-foot facility. The site is located between Apple Valley Bowl and a commuter parking lot. Previous proposals for an outdoor sports center and then a truck wash never came to fruition.

The Caliber Collision franchise in Southington will employee about 30 people, including technicians and paint sprayers. The chain comprises over 1,800 shops nationwide, including locations in Berlin, New Britain, Milford, South Windsor and Ridgefield.
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An opening date in 2025 has not been announced.

A new downtown dessert shop is gearing up for its second week in business!

A La Mode Dessert & Ice Cream at 159 Liberty St. specializes in crafting gluten-free treats “without the gluten-free taste…guaranteed to trick any gf hater.” In the shop’s first week in business, owner Alexis Sone and staff hit the ground running with an array of treats and a limited Thanksgiving menu that included cannoli dip, pumpkin bread, cakes and brownies.

A La Mode Dessert & Ice Cream is located in a mostly residential area of Liberty Street just north of Eden Avenue. The shop is open Wednesday through Saturday 11:30-7 pm; and Sunday 11:30-4 pm. Their website www.alamodegf.com is under construction.