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.

Plato’s Closet is now open in the Shop Rite Plaza at 750 Queen Street!

The national chain sells and buys new and gently-used clothing, footwear and accessories tailored to teens and 20-somethings. Customers are being encouraged to bring in their items for consideration. The store asks that they be in “great condition, freshly laundered, and currently in style.”
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The new Plato's Closet is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The location's website is: https://platoscloset.com/locations/southington-ct/

Dave’s Hot Chicken is planning a location at West Street and Executive Boulevard!

Franchisee John Coughlin of Lulu & Bru’s Chicken Coop LLC will appear before the Zoning Board of Appeals on Tuesday (Nov. 26) for a continued public hearing on a variance request to install signs larger than permitted by town regulations.

Dave’s Hot Chicken is in the early stages of construction at 99 Executive Blvd., in a portion of the former Chip’s Restaurant, which closed in 2022. The remainder of the building is occupied by a month-old Hartford Healthcare GoHealth Urgent Care facility.

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 the chain’s third Connecticut location, all of which are under construction. Work continues at sites on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington and the Ridgeway Shopping Center in Stamford.

Ani's Kitchen at 1244 Meriden Ave. is ready to welcome hungry customers! The new restaurant will debut with a soft opening starting on Tuesday (Nov. 19)!

On its new Facebook page, Ani’s Kitchen bills itself as a spot “where every meal is a celebration of home cooked family meals.”

“We can't wait to welcome you and serve you delicious meals crafted with care and passion,” reads a post from Saturday. “Your support means the world to us as we embark on this exciting journey, and we promise an unforgettable dining experience with top-notch food and exceptional service.”

Ani’s Kitchen will be open for breakfast, lunch and a “supper club" (details to come on what that'll be like!) Hours beginning with the soft opening are 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. A website and online menu are expected to be unveiled soon.
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The restaurant replaces Bird Dog BBQ, which closed after 10 months in August.

The former Step Saver building at 213 Spring St. is on the market for $1.3 million. Commercial Connection Real Estate LLC has the listing.

The 15,040-square-foot office and warehouse has been mostly vacant since publication of the weekly Step Saver/Observer newspapers were shut down in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A screen-printing company later utilized a portion of the building.

Property owner Step Saver, Inc. is a subsidiary of the Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury. The company acquired the business from founder and publisher Anthony L. Urillo in 2000. The Urillo family began printing The Step Saver, a weekly free advertising and classified mailer, in 1963. They established the weekly Observer newspaper in 1975. Both were printed at the Spring Street facility.

The 2.52-acre parcel includes a bocci court installed by Urillo in the 1970s.
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According to town records, there are outstanding personal property and real estate tax bills attached to the site.

The Play It Again Sports franchise at 685 Queen St. continues to look for a new owner.

The store first announced over the summer that current owner Janet Carangelo planned to retire and was ready to sell after nearly 20 years. The business, which buys and sells quality used sports and fitness gear, is operating as normal in the plaza anchored by Taco Bell and Mattress Firm.

According to the BizBuySell website, the asking price is $600,000. Inventory and equipment are included in the deal and Carangelo is committed to helping in the transition to a new owner.
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Play It Again Sports is a brand of Winmark. More than 280 locations in North America are individually owned and operated.

Crystal Bees has permanently closed its doors! The sprawling entertainment complex was located at 240 Spring Street in Southington.

The entertainment complex featured bowling, food, live music, events, and much more. The complex opened in 2016.

The restaurant said in a statement:
‘It is with heavy hearts that we announce Crystal Bees will be closing its doors effective today. Since opening in 2016, we have had the incredible pleasure of serving the greater Southington community as a place for friends, family, and fun. From unforgettable birthday parties to live music nights and everything in between, each moment we’ve shared with you has meant the world to us.

Over the years, we’ve faced many challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and we were fortunate to weather that storm thanks to your support and resilience. However, the current economic landscape has made it increasingly difficult for us to continue as a restaurant and entertainment venue.

We understand this news may be disappointing, especially for those who had tickets to upcoming shows or booked parties and events with us. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Rest assured, all ticket purchases and event deposits will be fully refunded.

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Crystal Bees would not have been the vibrant space it was without you, whether you joined us for bowling nights, battled it out in the arcade, enjoyed delicious meals at our bistro, or raised a glass at the bar. We are forever grateful for the memories we created together, and although this chapter is ending, the memories we’ve shared will always have a special place in our hearts.’