Newtown's newest taco restaurant has set their opening date!

Tacobarn will officially open their doors on Tuesday, November 11th! The new restaurant is located at 6 Glen Road in the Sandy Hook section of Newtown, in a beautifully renovated 200-year-old barn.

The new restaurant offers globally-inspired flavors, craft cocktails, and a truly unique atmosphere. The restaurant's owner, David Boyajian, a Newtown resident and owner of Sparrow Pizza Bar in WeHa, has transformed the historic barn into a two-story culinary haven blending rustic charm with modern sophistication. The main dining area and bar occupy the first floor, while a bright, airy second-floor loft provides additional dining space perfect for private events. An outdoor patio complete with seating and a fire pit extends the dining experience into Connecticut's countryside.

tacobarn's menu draws inspiration from flavors around the world—if it tastes good in a tortilla, they'll make it. The kitchen emphasizes fresh, high-quality ingredients in creative combinations that go far beyond traditional boundaries. Beyond tacos, guests can enjoy unique small bites, distinctive entrées, and expertly crafted cocktails, all designed to complement the restaurant's philosophy of simplicity and quality.
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Stop by and give them a try on Tuesday!

A new restaurant is coming soon to South Norwalk!

Brass & Bone is coming to 136 Washington Street in South Norwalk; formerly home to Washington Social and Music & Industry. Get ready for SONO's New Soul - New-Orleans inspired vibes blend elevated Americana cuisine with vibrant night life. 

The restaurant will be owned by Maxim Schiavone, John McGrath, Joe Magrath and Jon Ackerman.

The restaurant will feature a diverse menu of Elevated Americana with a massive nod to the rich culture and food of New Orleans. The team have worked tirelessly to create a menu pairing of the food and a top tier drink menu to ensure a dining experience to remember.

The space will feature live music and entertainment! They will be open for events on weekdays with bigger shows on weekends. The sound system and lights in the space are already incredible, and the owner plan to be adding more to both categories to ensure the best music experience in a small room that you can find anywhere.
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No timeline has been announced for their opening.

Connecticut's newest romance bookstore has set their opening date!

Blush Book Lounge: A Romance Bookstore will officially open their doors on Saturday, October 25th at 1:00pm! The store is located at 440 Howe Avenue in Shelton!

The store is a romance reader’s dream! Full of all sub-genres of romance books (from indies to big publishers), bookish merch and fun gifts! The store itself has been designed in such a unique way to welcome romance readers of every interest. From colorful murals done by local artists to local authors displaying their books, an unforgettable experience is destined for each customer.

The new bookshop will be owned by Jenna Zakhour. Zakhour is the owner of Blush Beauty Lounge; a local hair & makeup salon in Shelton. Zakhour and Sabrina Soto started a book club earlier this year called 'The Blush Book Club', being held the last Sunday of each month at the salon.
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Stop in for some early Christmas shopping!

Norwalk’s new children’s entertainment center has set their opening date!

Playhouse Sono will officially open their doors on November 1st at The SoNo Collection in Norwalk! The new indoor play center will be located on the mall’s third floor; replacing the former CAMP store.

Let your little explorers embark on a thrilling adventure in this captivating world of play, with soft surfaces, inclusive equipment, ball pits, slides and climbers, and a dedicated toddler room!

Enjoy delicious treats, tea, coffee & light dishes by Anntremet in the cozy café located right in the front of the new space. Relax while your child explores their world of play.

Pricing:
$22 per child (stay for up to 2 hours)
$10 dollars for each additional hour

The new complex will also offer children’s birthday parties and memberships for multiple visits starting at $69 a month for weekday visits.

Find them at 100 N Water Street in Norwalk; Third Floor!

They will be open daily from 9am to 7pm.

​A new cafe is coming soon to Redding!

The Given Inn Cafe is coming soon to 4 Old Mill Road in Redding; in the historic Georgetown section of town. The cafe describes itself as a 'Floral Cafe' complete with specialty coffee, small bites, fresh flowers for sale, artisan gifts, and a vinyl listening room.

The drink menu includes espresso beverages (lattes, cortado, Americano, etc), teas, cocoa, cold brew, smoothies, cold-pressed juice, and much more. Food includes pastries, sweets, charcuterie boards, brushetta boards, quiche, soup, paninis, and more delicious items.

At The Given Inn, we pride ourselves on serving specialty coffee sourced from the finest beans with particular focus on altitude. Each cup is crafted to perfection, ensuring a delightful experience for all coffee lovers.
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Look for them to open soon!

Adams Hometown Markets will be closing their Shelton location!

The local grocery store will permanently close their Shelton location on or about October 11th according to staff at the store. The store is located at 200 Leavenworth Road in Shelton.

The grocery store has been a fixture of the neighborhood since they opened decades ago. The grocery store received an extensive remodel in 2018; bringing a new look and upgraded services. The closure of Adams will leave a large gap in the White Hills area of Shelton.
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Adams Hometown Market is an independent grocer, part of the IGA network. They will have 9 CT locations remaining; along with 2 in Massachusetts, 3 in NY, 1 in RI, 1 in Maine under the Rangeley IGA banner, and 1 in Pennsylvania under the Lake Region IGA banner.

Insomnia Cookies is coming soon to Downtown Stamford!

The cookie shop plans to open at 1 Atlantic Street in Stamford, part of 'The One' development. The project would begin construction this fall with an opening later this year according to construction plans and details; though these are subject to change.

The chain is known for their creative flavors, cookies baked fresh, and delivered until after midnight everyday! Insomnia Cookies include the Classic Chocolate Chunk cookie, the Snickerdoodle and Confetti Deluxe. The bakery serves brownies, brookies, vegan options and a limited-edition menu.

Insomnia currently has 3 locations in Connecticut including Hartford, New Haven, and Storrs. The chain is also planning a new location on LaSalle Road in West Hartford.
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Stay tuned for more details on their opening as we get closer!

Mighty Quinn's Barbeque has closed their Norwalk location.

The BBQ chain opened their Norwalk location at 11 Merwin Street in December 2024, part of The Waypointe development. The restaurant closed earlier this month, though an exact closing date was not announced.

The Norwalk location has been removed from Mighty Quinn's website and the restaurant is marked permanently closed on Google. Staff at their Forest Hills, NY location confirm the Norwalk closure, but stated they couldn't confirm if it was temporary or permanent. Questions to corporate about the closure were not returned.
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Mighty Quinn's joins a rash of abrupt closures in Norwalk in the last weeks and months. Yard House and Sedona Taphouse closed their restaurants in May. Pinstripes Bowling & Bistro abruptly closed earlier this week at The SoNo Collection due to the parent company's bankruptcy filing.

A new upscale restaurant is coming soon to Westport!

Dandelion is coming soon to 1595 Post Road East in Westport, part of the new Delamar Westport. The new restaurant is expected to open later this month.

The new concept will bring the warmth and vitality of the Mediterranean sun to your table. Their mission is to celebrate the vibrant flavors and rich culinary traditions of the region, offering a modern approach to the timeless 'cuisine du soleil.' Dandelion is a destination where culture and community come together in a stylish setting to celebrate the simple joys of Mediterranean cooking.
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The new restaurant will be owned by GHG Restaurant Group; owners of L'escale restaurant (Greenwich), Artisan Restaurant (Southport, West Hartford, and Traverse City) and La Plage (Mystic & Westport).

A new All-You-Can-Eat Hot Pot & Korean BBQ restaurant is coming soon to Downtown Stamford!

Top Pot Hot Pot & K BBQ is coming soon to 885 Washington Boulevard in Stamford, in the new 'The Smyth' development. The restaurant is a fun & interactive dining option features hot-tables for guests to use to cook their BBQ and Hot Pot! Top Pot will occupy 7,200 square feet of space on the ground level. The restaurant is gluten-free!

The Hot Pot menu includes a broth (10 options) with a variety of meats, vegetables, seafood, noodles, and/or tofu! There are over 30 options of meats/seafood including steaks, port, sausages, shrimp. clams, mussels, squid, and much more.

The Korean BBQ menu features beef, pork, chicken, and seafood. There is also a variety of vegetables that can be cooked alongside the meats including potatos, onion, corn, pumpkin, and more.

Top Pot currently has 8 locations throughout the United States, Price varies by locations. Most are:
Hot Pot or KBBQ - $20.99 at Lunch or $30.99 at Dinner
HP or KBBQ Kids - $11.99 at Lunch or $15.99 at Dinner
Hot Pot & KBBQ - $25.99 at Lunch or $35.99 at Dinner
HP & KBBQ Kids - $15.99 at Lunch or $19.99 at Dinner
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Stay tuned to their website https://toppotbbq.com/ for more information on opening details!