A new coffee shop is opening soon in Middletown!

MOTW Coffee & Pastries plans to open on December 13th at 425 Main Street in Middletown, the former Saladbar restaurant next to Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore. Join them on 12/13 for festivities and deals from 10am to 10pm including $1 lattes!

The coffee shop features specialty espresso coffee including lattes, cappuccino, Americano, Cortado; as well as Matcha and Hot Teas. The cafe serves empanadas including chicken, beef, spinach, and samosa fillings. The menu also includes milk-cakes, muffins, cookies, cakes, and more.

MOTW stands for 'Muslims Of The World', the menu has a Middle Eastern influence including Yemeni Chai, Egyptian Teas, Jasmine Pearls, Baklava, Burma dessert, Halal Empanadas, and other offerings.
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The family-owned chain currently has 13 locations. They have a lone CT location at 296 Crown Street in New Haven that opened in 2024 and another coming soon in New Britain at The Highrailer.

Noci Gelato will officially open the doors of their new Glastonbury location this Friday, December 5th!

The new gelato and coffee shop is located at 2235 Main Street in Glastonbury. This is their second location behind their original in Historic Wethersfield!

The shop serves way more than gelato! They serve espresso coffees, affogato, cannoli, baked goods, and will now serve breakfast quiche, breakfast cannoli, and much more! Their new location also features a dining room and outdoor patio!

The new shop is located at 2235 Main Street in Glastonbury.
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They are open:
Thursday to Monday 8am-8pm
Closed Tuesday & Wednesday

Station 1633 Table & Tavern is NOW OPEN in Windsor!

The new restaurant is located at 20 Union Street in Downtown Windsor; the former Union Street Tavern. The new firehouse themed restaurant is located in a historic fire station, originally built in 1927.

The menu features tavern cuisine including their 'First Alarm Starters' including wings, calamari, guac & chips, charcuterie boards, and more. You'll also find salads, Fish & Chips, a variety of steaks, pastas, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, tacos, and much more on their menu. The tavern features an extensive cocktail list along with wines, beer, hard seltzers, and others. Find the full menu here: https://www.station1633.com/

Station 1633 is co-owned by the owners of Tunxis Grill and Agave Grill; a great combination for food & drink!

Find Station 1633 Table & Tavern at 20 Union Street in Windsor!
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They are open:
Monday through Saturday 11:30am-10pm
Sunday 11:30am-9pm

The last holiday season for the Enfield Square Mall in Enfield.

The mall will most likely close in the first half of 2026 to make way for Enfield Marketplace; a new mixed-use development on the site. Plans call for new commercial/retail space and 465 residential units across the site. The existing building will be demolished (except for Target) for the new development.

The mall is not decorated, albeit for the exception of a single unlit Christmas tree in front of the former Sears. It does not appear that Santa will be making an appearance at the mall this year.

The mall still has a few tenants open including: WuKong Tea, Target, Integrity Martial Arts, Mediterranean Kebab House, Mozaic Cafe, GameStop, Pelley's Sports, Dionysus Theatre Company, CM Repairs & Accessories, & Custom Creations.

Recently a number of tenants relocated from the mall including:
-Second Floor Games (now Twilight Cards & Games) moved to 154 Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor.
-Moz.pizza has opened a new location at Meriden Mall
-Da Money Pit relocated to 2011 Riverdale Street in West Springfield, MA.
-New Life Church merged with Crossroads Community Cathedral in East Windsor.
-North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce relocated to 699 Enfield Street in Enfield.
-Relaxation relocated to 47 Palomba Drive in Enfield.
-Galaxy Pops and Beyond relocated to 980 Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor.
-SSUPhoto Designs relocated to 978 Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor.
-After Hours Events moved to 148 North Road in East Windsor.
-Stateline Video Games will be opening a new location at 357 N Westfield Street in Feeding Hills, MA.
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A final day has not been announced for the mall. The developer stated recently that demolition work could begin as early as this spring.

The new Avanti Grille officially opens today!

The new reincarnation of Meriden's Avanti Restaurant is NOW OPEN at the Watch Factory at 122 Elm Street in Cheshire, the former 122 Elm Street Tavern space.

The new opening comes just over a year after their Meriden location closed. The new restaurant is smaller than their previous space, but they are still turning out some of your favorite dishes.

They are open:
Weekdays 11:30am-9pm
Weekends 11:30am-10pm
Closed Monday
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*Hours subject to change*

A new gift shop and produce market has opened in Colchester!

The Good Earth Gift & Garden is NOW OPEN in Colchester; the new store is located at 582 Norwich Avenue.

The store celebrated their opening this morning. Inside you’ll find a wonderful selection of organic produce, gifts, baked goods, coffee, fudge, self-serve olive oil & balsamic vinegar, and much more!

Find them at 582 Norwich Avenue in Colchester
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They are open:
Tuesday through Saturday 6am-6pm
Sunday 8am-4pm

Saybrook Home has set the opening date for their new Cheshire location!

The new store will officially open on Friday, December 5th; and continue their opening celebration all weekend! The new store is located at 1973 Highland Avenue in Cheshire, at The Shops at Stone Bridge.

Don’t miss their opening weekend celebration with FREE gifts with qualifying purchases. Along with the FREE gifts, customers will save more on their purchase, the more they spend. All purchases over $2500 for that weekend will be entered into a drawing to be randomly selected to have their entire purchase paid for! The winner will be drawn on December 14th.

Other celebratory giveaways include:
-Friday (12/05) – Hostess Basket with entertaining essentials.
-Saturday (12/06) – Bedding Bundle
-Sunday (12/07) – Bath/Self Care Gift Set
-All Weekend (12/05-12/07) – Visitors will be entered to win a Bradington Young Leather Recliner ($2000 value).
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Giveaway winners chosen on December 8th.

A family-owned CT business for nearly 50 years, Saybrook Home provides bespoke design services that celebrate the individuality of each client, inspiring a lifestyle that embraces quality and comfort. Offering quality American-made furniture, hand-knotted rugs, window treatments, luxury bedding, home decor and more. With showrooms in Old Saybrook and Glastonbury, Saybrook Home is excited to be opening a third location in Cheshire.

Find them at 1973 Highland Avenue in Cheshire, CT or online at http://www.saybrookhome.com/

Store Hours:
Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
For the month of December hours are 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily!

Buffalo Wild Wings has set their opening date in Enfield!

The new Buffalo Wild WIngs will officially open on December 8th at 130 Elm Street in Enfield, the former TGI Fridays space at Freshwater - Stateline Plaza.

The new sports bar features dozens of TVs (with sports games on most of them), a large bar, dining room, and new Buffalo Wild Wings GO take-out area with a separate entrance.

We broke the news back in May of the plan for an Enfield location. The property is roughly 5,700 square feet, sitting vacant since TGI Friday’s abruptly close in October 2024.
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Check them out on Monday, December 8th!

Kuyi Sushi has closed their doors in Cromwell.

The Japanese restaurant was located at 34 Shunpike Road in Cromwell, part of the Cross Roads Plaza. The restaurant closed in the previous weeks and the interior stripped of furniture & fixtures.

Kuyi Sushi has occupied the space for 10 years, originally opening in 2015. We were unable to get in contact with the restaurant owners for more information on their future plans.
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The landlord is now marketing the space for a new tenant. The 3,060 square foot space features a full kitchen according to the leasing brochure. Find more information here: https://charterrealty.com/.../Cromwell-Crossroads-Plaza...

A new restaurant has opened in East Windsor!

Poke Kitchen is NOW OPEN at 84 Bridge Street in East Windsor, in the Geissler’s Plaza.
The restaurant serves Hawaiian poke bowls, like sushi in a bowl, alongside other Asian-favorites. The restaurant also serve Boba or bubble tea, a mixture of tea, fruits, and tapioca or flavored pearls.

The business joins the other diverse tenants in the plaza including The Battle Standard (alongside their tavern called The Scarred Bard), Geissler's Supermarket, Swede's Jewelers, Star Hardware, Kaman's Wine & Liquor, and many more.

Find their full menu here: https://www.pokekitchenct.com

Find them at 84 Bridge Street in East Windsor
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They are open daily from 11am to 8:30pm

Green Olive Diner will be permanently closing their Meriden restaurant.

The restaurant will permanently close their doors on Sunday (11/30) at 2pm. Green Olive is located at 443 South Broad Street in Meriden.

Green Olive has been a fixture of Meriden for over 15 years. The restaurant serves pizza, calzones, American favorites, and Mediterranean cuisine. They also served a large breakfast spread and other diner mainstays.
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Stop by for one last meal.

Saybrook Fish House in Rocky Hill temporarily closed over the summer after a fire heavily damaged the interior of their restaurant; but now rebuilding work is underway.

The restaurant suffered a fire in their laundry room, causing major damage to the restaurant. The longtime restaurant has been stripped of damage and the interior will be rebuilt with new finishes, furnishings, and fixtures.
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Saybrook Fish House has been a fixture of Rocky Hill since 1978, serving seafood, steak, and much more. Stay tuned for details on their triumphant return to the Rocky Hill dining scene.

Take a look at some of the progress they recently shared.

Thank you to our reader who reached out to us for an update.

A new restaurant has opened its doors in Hartford!

Florida Restaurant & Bar is NOW OPEN at 681 Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford, the former CASONA Lounge. The new business bills itself as "Hartford's Premiere Destination for Entertainment."

The restaurant serves Spanish-influenced foods including fish, steak, seafood, salads, soups, pork chops, burgers, and much more! Patrons will also find a curated wine list, beer, and handcrafted cocktails! Find their full menu on their website here: https://floridahartford.com

Florida Restaurant plans to have fun events including DJ nights, live music, and other experiences.

Find them at 681 Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford.
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The new restaurant is open:
Wednesday & Thursday 4pm-10pm
Friday & Saturday 4pm-2am
Sunday 4pm-1am

Stew Leonard’s is still in negotiations for a potential Orange location; though the negotiations remain stalled.

The landlord, Brixmor, has been in negotiations for over a year with Stew Leonard’s for the former Christmas Tree Shops space at Colonial Commons. The negotiations remain stalled over the proposed rent.

The store would be Stew Leonard’s forth CT location if it moves forward. The Leonard family continues to scout for other possible locations in the area.
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Stew Leonard’s has CT locations in Newington, Danbury, and Norwalk. The chain has other locations in New York and New Jersey. The chain previously attempted to build a location in Orange, though after 15 years of seeking approvals, they threw in the towel. The previous Orange site is now home to a Fedex warehouse.

Malachy's Public House will soft open their doors today!

The new Irish pub is located at 171 Quinnipiac Street in Wallingford, the former Tap & Vine space. Tap & Vine closed in August after 9 years of business.

The Irish pub will have warm and welcoming presence, with traditional Irish eats and a curated selection of beers! The soft opening was announced on their website, www.malachys.com
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They are open:
Wednesday through Monday 2pm-1am
Closed on Tuesdays (except 11/25)
Closed Thanksgiving

Sicily Coal Fired Pizza is bringing a new restaurant to Glastonbury!

The Middletown pizza shop will open a new restaurant named 'The Sicilian Oven' at 2882 Main Street in Glastonbury, the former Bertucci's space. Bertucci's closed in August.

The new restaurant is owned by Anthony Prifitera of Durham. Prifitera opened Sicily Coal Fired Pizza in 2021 before expanding with The Wine Bar at Sicily & Speakeasy in 2024. Prifitera previously operated a chain of Irish pubs called Humphrey's Grille & Bar in Branford, Wallingford, and Wetherfield.

Stay tuned for more information on their opening!
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Hat tip to The Scoop Glastonbury who broke the news over the weekend!

A new tavern has opened in North Haven!

The Sly Fox Tavern is NOW OPEN at 630 Washington Avenue in North Haven, the former Cockeyed Crow Bar & Grill. The restaurant opened on November 10th.

The restaurant is owned by Salvatore Gagliardi, owner of Giulio's Pizza & Top Shelf Lounge in North Haven. The restaurant is NOT related to the Red Fox Restaurant Group.

The restaurant serves typical tavern fare including pasta, salads, burgers, sandwiches, wings, and much more! They also have an extensive beer, wine, and cocktail menu.
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Find them at 630 Washington Avenue in North Haven!

KPot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot is under construction in Hartford!

Construction is well underway on the new restaurant, they will be located at 475 Flatbush Avenue in Hartford in Charter Oak Marketplace. They aim to open in late December or early January.

KPot is a chain with over 170 locations throughout the United States. This will be their third Connecticut location behind Hamden and Orange.

KPot is a unique, hands-on all-you-can-eat dining experience that merges traditional Asian Hot Pot with Korean BBQ flavors - but modernized with a full bar and a nightlife-like atmosphere.
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Follow along with the construction progress on their Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kpothartford?igsh=cHd6bXZham5lYmls

The Tasty Yolk is coming soon to Shelton!

The restaurant is coming soon to 99 Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton! They plan to open the new location in January.

The Tasty Yolk is a breakfast, lunch, and dinner including traditional favorites. Breakfast includes egg sandiwches, pancakes, loaded potatoes, and much more. Lunch & Dinner include their signature Mother Clucker, burgers, burritos, sandwiches, and other delicious items. Find the menu on their website here: https://thetastyyolk.com/
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The Tasty Yolk currently has 3 physical locations in Stratford, Bridgeport, and Branford; as well as a fleet of award-winning food trucks in the state.

The Bristol Bazaar has been transformed into a Winter Wonderland, just in time for Christmas shopping!

The store is now fully decorated for Christmas! All the halls have been decked, stocking filled, and every light illuminated in their wonderful store. The store is ready for holiday shoppers, with local made items to cross off your Christmas list.

The space is also host to Yellow King Brews, a coffee shop and cocktail bar. Stop in and try their new seasonal flavors and amazing hot chocolate flights! Yellow King Brews is famous for their espresso martini flights and craft coffees made with freshly roasted beans.

The Bristol Bazaar is a year-round indoor marketplace for dozens of Connecticut's artisans and makers. The owners create highly-immersive themes for the space, transporting shoppers into a new world. The space features products from just shy of 70 small business owners. The vendors have their individual spaces, but transactions are handled through a single checkout station in the marketplace.

Find them at 67 Race Street in Bristol, CT
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The marketplace's hours are:
Monday-Thursday 9am-8pm
Friday-Saturday 9am-9pm
Sunday 10am-6pm

Five Below is NOW OPEN in the Town of Hamden, Connecticut!

The new National discount store is located at 2100 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden; the former Party City space in Hamden Plaza. The store opened this morning with festivities continuing all weekend long.

The new store is larger than typical Five Below locations at roughly 12,000 square feet. Most Five Below stores are between 8,000 and 10,000 square feet. The opening marks Five Below's 28th CT location.

Five Below is known for its toys and games, tech, large array of candy and snacks, room decor, brand-name beauty and more. Most products are priced at $5 or less. Check out the all-new Five Beyond section for an assortment of products up to $50, with most priced under $25.
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Find them at 2100 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden!

A new mini-golf course is coming soon to the Amston section of Hebron!

Hebron Mini Golf is coming soon to 290 Church Street in Hebron; across the street from Scooter Bug's Ice Cream Stop! The developer for the project is Proud Light LLC, owned by Hebron resident Bria Comer.

The new course will feature 19 holes with various challenges including a pond, loop-shots, spray fountain, and much more! The new course will have a small clubhouse, serving sodas and bottled alocholic beverages (pending approval.)

The mini-golf course will be joined by a new plant nursery and supply center next door. The owner is Strong Wolf LLC; also owned by Bria Comer. They plan to sell plants, landscaping supplies, and more.
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No official opening date/timeline has been announced for either project.

A new restaurant has opened in Chester!

Kara Bella's Catering has opened a new restaurant inside Kaleidoscope, a vibrant collection of artists and crafters. The business is located at 56 Middlesex Turnpike in Chester.

The new restaurant features a variety of menu items including coffee, baked goods, cake pops, burgers, gyros, wraps, and a menu of changing daily special meals including American favorites like steak, meatloaf, wings, and much more!
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The restaurant is open for dine-in, take-out, catering, and bulk orders! Shop Kaleidoscope and take a lunch break at Karabella’s Catering!

Five Guys has permanently closed their Orange location.

The burger restaurant closed their doors suddenly late last week. The restaurant was located at 440 Boston Post Road in Orange, in the Home Depot Plaza.

The restaurant’s lease had come to an end and they were unable to come to terms with the landlord for an extension. Town officials have reached out to Five Guys to explore potential new locations nearby for the restaurant.

The Five Guys space along with the Work N Gear space are both being marketed for lease by the landlord. The plaza is currently home to Home Depot, Planet Fitness, and Work N Gear.
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What would you like to see replace Five Guys in Orange? Would you like to see Five Guys reopen elsewhere nearby? Comment below!