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Meriden's newest bakery has opened its doors!
Don Cola'o Panaderia is NOW OPEN at 43 East Main Street in Meriden. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the Well's Fargo building. The cafe features authentic pastries using their own signature recipes. They serve coffee, espresso drinks, artisanal sandwiches, house-made soups, and pastries. You’ll also find some delicious Latin-inspired sandwiches like Cubano, Bocadillo, Churrasco, Tripleta Sandwiches, and more. Stop in for a taste of Puerto Rico without leaving Meriden! Find them at 43 East Main Street in Meriden or online at https://www.don-colao.com/ They are open: Monday through Saturday 6am to 4pm Sunday 8am to 2pm Have you stopped in to Don Cola'o yet? What did you think? Comment below!
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Plans for a new 21st century Senior Center are moving forward in Manchester!
The Manchester Board of Directors voted on Tuesday to approve the purchase and sale agreement for the Concordia Church at 40 Pitkin Street in Manchester! The motion was approved 8-1 with Director Conyers opposing. The purchase price for the building is $1.5 million, with the original listing price at $1.59 million. Renovations are estimated to cost around $18 million, far cheaper than the estimated $30 million to construct a brand new senior center according to the Task Force's February 5th Meeting Minutes. The Directors also approved a motion to direct staff and external architects, in consultation with the 21st Century Senior Center Task Force, to being scoping out renovations to the building in anticpation of the new senior center. The motion was approved 8-1 with Director Conyers opposing. 2nd Bridge Brewing Co. has reopened its doors after a brief renovation! The brewery closed earlier this spring to expand and renovate their space at 642 Hilliard Street in Manchester, in the Hilliard Mills complex. The brewery has embraced their soccer pub moniker and is now '2nd Bridge Soccer Pub & Brewery'! 2nd Bridge is also now a sister taproom to OEC (Ordinem Ecentrici Coctores) Brewing in Oxford with OEC's brews now available in Manchester. They are now your destination for soccer coverage and craft beer! Inside you'll find 4 TVs for gameday plus one of the most extensive drink lists in the area with 2 side pulls, 1 beer engine, 12 draft lines + bottles & cans. A large international guest beverage list & outdoor biergarten are coming just in time for the World Cup. You'll find a selection of draft & real ale, wines, meads, cider, and much more. Look for their new Pub Faire menu coming soon! Find them at 642 Hilliard Street in Manchester Their hours are: Monday ~ Closed Tuesday ~ Closed, Open 2–6pm for Champions League Matches Wednesday & Thursday 2–8pm Friday 2–9pm Saturday 9am On Live Gamedays (Otherwise 12:30pm) –9pm Sunday 9am on Live Gamedays (Otherwise 12:30pm) –6pm A new matcha and dessert shop is coming to West Hartford Center! Bliss Matcha & Beyond is coming soon to 981 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford, the former Boost Bowls location between BK & Co and J McLaughlin. The menu for the new restaurant features a variety of matcha items including matcha lattes, matcha soft serve, matcha tiramisu, frappe, and much more! Not in the mood for matcha? They also have classic versions of bubble tea, signature cheese cloud latte, soft serve, lattes, desserts, and other items! Find their full menu online at: http://www.blissmatchaandbeyond.com/ This will be their second location with the original at 98 Olive Street in New Haven. Stay tuned for more information on their opening! NEWINGTON SCOOP: Ross Dress for Less officially coming to Newington, Plaza receives new name!5/5/2026 
It’s official! Ross Dress for Less is heading for Hartford County! Ross Dress for Less is coming soon to 3105 Berlin Turnpike in Newington, replacing Joann Fabrics! The retailer will occupy 24,890 square feet in the plaza, their first Hartford County location. A fall opening is planned. The entire shopping plaza has received a new name as well; Ross Plaza! The plaza was previously known as Joann Plaza. Other changes are planned for the shopping center including parking lot improvements and other new tenants. Ross Dress for Less is a discount retailer similar to TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Burlington. Ross is anticipated to open this fall! They are quickly expanding in New England with new locations planned in Hamden, Newington, and other to-be-announced locations; as well as 3 currently planned in Massachusetts. Stay tuned for more information on their opening and future locations in CT!   
A new restaurant is being proposed (again) for a historic building in Old Wethersfield! A new Southern-Italian restaurant called Ortigia Ristorante has been proposed for the historic Chester Buckley House at 184 Main Street in Historic Wethersfield. The home is currently used as a bed and breakfast. The 'Special Permit for Change of Use' will be presented during the PZC meeting on 05/19, which starts at 7pm. The restaurant would be an upscale eatery serving Sicilian cuisine, seafood, ever-changing seasonal flavors, and other Southern-Italian favorites. The eatery would be open for lunch and dinner and would create 20 jobs according to their town application. An outdoor patio is planned for the property, though will not feature outdoor music. The restaurant would also host private events, wine nights, and other fun happenings. A similar application was reject earlier this year due to scale, parking limitations, and inability to adequately mitigate impacts. Some revisions have been made since the previous submission to cure some of these issues including reduction of planned capacity to 99 patrons (down about 33%), additional parking at Kenney Memorial and 1 Wells Road, and additional buffering with neighboring properties according to the applications & documents. Project is subject to local approvals. Stay tuned for more information! Find the meeting documents here: https://wethersfieldct.gov/.../ViewFile/Agenda/_05052026-558  
The current ConnectiCare building is up for lease.
The building is located at 1487 Pleasant Valley Road in Manchester, across from The Plaza at Buckland Hills. The site features a free-standing 6,776 SF building with 102 parking spaces on 1.31 acres. ConnectiCare is antipated to move out ahead of November 2026, when the new tenant would be able to take over the space. The insurance company is winding down operations in many markets in Connecticut. The Manchester office debuted in fall of 2016. The building has been home to numerous restaurant before being converted into office space. The site was previously home to Tullycross Tavern, John Harvard Micro Brewery, and Sizzler to my knowledge. Find the listing here: https://www.loopnet.com/.../1487-Pleasant.../39890989/ What would you like to see open in this space? Comment below! Hartford's newest development 'The Portrait at North Crossing' is now leasing! The new amenity-rich apartment complex is located at 1143 Main Street in Downtown Hartford, across from Dunkin' Park. The development is part of RMS's North Crossing master plan, along with their sister development The Pennant. The Portrait’s residences deliver a more elevated take on modern living, combining generous layouts and natural light with a sophisticated material palette. Interiors feature 9-foot ceilings, oversized windows, in-unit washer and dryer, quartz countertops, custom cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and polished porcelain tile bathrooms with frameless glass showers. The complex features numerous amenities for residents including: •Resort-style swimming pool •Courtyard Lounge Area •Outdoor Grill Stations •Rooftop Terrace Lounge •Community Gardens •Expansive Strength Training and Cardio Equipment •Group Fitness & Training Studio •Co-working Spaces •Conference Rooms •Automated Package Locker System •Game Room •Multi-Sport / Golf Simulator •Fireplace Lounge •Demonstration Kitchen & Dining Room •Private Parking Garage with EV Chargers •Bike Storage Room Starting rents are: •Studio units start at $1,750 a month •1-Bedroom units start at $1,750 a month •2-Bedroom units start at $2,165 a month •3-Bedroom units start at $3,700 a month More information can be found on their website here: https://rms-companies.com/.../the-portrait-at-north.../ Demolition work is underway for the future Port Eastside development in East Hartford! The former Bank of America building at 99 Founders Square is currently being demolished to make way for the new Port Eastside project. Once demolition work is completed site work & construction can begin on the next phase. The first phase, on the site of 99 Founders Square, will feature 300 units in a new 5-story building. The building will feature ground level retail as well. The new 28-acre waterfront development will eventually feature over 1,000 amenity rich residential units along with retail & entertainment space. The development will feature green space & connections to the Connecticut River as well as join the existing greenways into Downtown Hartford. Take a look at the renderings of the future development! Find more information of the development’s website here: https://www.porteastside.com GLASTONBURY SCOOP: The Shops at Somerset Square welcoming 5 new restaurants and a new tenant!5/2/2026 A new slate of tenants are coming soon to The Shops at Somerset Square in Glastonbury, including 5 new restaurants! See who is coming below! -CAVA, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, is coming soon to the former BlueMercury space. The eatery serves grain bowls, green bowls, and pita wraps. They serve falafel, shawarma, lamb, griled chicken, steak, and more; paired with a variety of greens, sauces, and feta. -Milestone, a Mystic & Georgetown favorite, is coming soon to the former Max Amoré space next to Talbots! The neighborhood eatery features classic American bites, craft cocktails, and live music at their locations. -Tiger Belly Noodle Bar is coming soon next to Starbucks! The new Asian restaurant will serve pho, bao buns, sushi, don’buri, noodles, ramen, and much more! This will be their second location, with the original in Granby. Look for them to open late summer/early fall. -Colony Grill is coming soon to the former Coldwater Creek space! The hot-oil pizza shop currently has 10 locations, including 5 in CT. This will be their first in Hartford County (not counting a previously closed location in Avon.) -Cold Stone Creamery is coming soon to the former Francesca’s space next to J Jill! The new ice cream shop is anticipated to open this fall, marking its return to Glastonbury after a 16 year absence. -Aroma Body & Foot Massage is coming soon to the former Massage Envy space at the shopping center! They plan to open this fall, marking their third location behind West Hartford and Manchester. These new additions join other recent openings including Bareburger & Hotworx; and renovations including J Jill & Lux Bond & Green. Chico’s is also planning to relocate later this year to a portion of the existing Talbots. 
The developer of the new Heritage Park complex at the former UConn site is looking for a new flagship restaurant!
A new 11,000 square foot restaurant space is available for lease at 1800 Asylum Avenue, part of the Heritage Park development. The space would be built from the ground up and would feature a rooftop bar & green roof. According to the leasing flier: "Heritage Park at 1800 Asylum Avenue represents one of the most compelling new restaurant development opportunities in Greater Hartford — a fully planned, master-approved mixed-use destination designed to anchor the eastern gateway of West Hartford. With new residential, wellness, and retail components under development, this address is poised to become a premier lifestyle, dining, and entertainment hub for one of the most affluent and densely populated trade areas in Connecticut." This site is purpose-designed for: • Steakhouses (STK, Perry’s, Del Frisco’s, etc.) • Modern American / upscale dining rooms • High-end seafood concepts (Ocean Prime, Eddie V’s) • Experiential or nightlife-driven dining with rooftop activations • Chef-driven flagship locations requiring unmatched visibility Find more information on the leasing page here: http://loopnet.com/.../1800-Asylum-Ave-West.../39264278/ The new restaurant will be joined by apartments, an organic grocer, retail space, townhouses, a destination spa, and much more. Find more information on the development's website https://www.heritageparkwh.com/ What restaurant would you like to see open in this space? Comment below! MANCHESTER SCOOP: Parkade site developer closes on property, ground breaking being planned!4/30/2026 
The old Parkade site has been sold to the developer ahead of their planned development! Manchester Town Officials confirmed the developer, Anthony Properties/APR Manchester LLC, has closed on the property on the corner of Broad Street and Green Manor Boulevard. The purchase price was $3.6 million. The site of the former Manchester Parkade will soon be home to 232 apartments and two new commercial buildings. Amenities for the apartments include a clubhouse, a pool, pickleball, dog park, and connection to the existing trail system. A ground breaking ceremony will be planned by the Redevelopment Agency; we will bring you those details once they are announced! Stay tuned for more updates as this long-awaited project finally gets underway!  
Congratulations to El Campo Restaurant on their ribbon cutting in Manchester! The ribbon cutting was hosted by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and members of the Town of Manchester. The Latin eatery is located at 394 Middle Turnpike West in Manchester; part of the Manchester Parkade shopping center. The business opened earlier this year. The new restaurant serves a variety of Latin cuisine including Mofongo, sandwiches, empanadas, soups, salads, fresh juices, and much more! Find their website and menu here: https://elcampo-restaurant.com Find them at 394 Middle Turnpike West in Manchester They are open Monday through Saturday from 10am-8pm. Closed Sunday. 
The Gampel Collection by CollectU will open its doors on May 2nd!
Join them on Saturday, May 2nd from 1–4pm at The Green at The Shops at Evergreen Walk for a grand opening celebration packed with fun for the whole family! Enjoy music, kids’ activities, and giveaways with the UConn Radio Network and KISS 95.7. Feeling lucky? Roll the dice for your chance to score season tickets for next year’s basketball season! Plus, don’t miss special guest appearances and plenty of Husky pride throughout the afternoon. The Gampel Collection is located at 501 Evergreen Way in South Windsor, next to Disibio Shoes. They are your new destination for one-of-a-kind unique Gampel Pavilion memorabilia and must-have finds for every UConn fan. The Gampel Collection features a curated assortment of premium items, including game-used lockers, limited-edition seats, and commemorative pieces crafted from original arena materials. Unique offerings like rings made from legendary lockers, tote bags created from championship banners, and authentic arena signage ensure that each item carries its own story. Designed as a rotating retail experience, the new space invites visitors to explore ever-changing selections of these exclusive collectibles... With a portion of proceeds supporting UConn Athletics and each item produced in limited quantities, The Gampel Collection offers a truly special opportunity to own a piece of the “Basketball Capital of the World." Come celebrate, explore, and discover something new, this is one event you won’t want to miss! Find them at 501 Evergreen Way in South Windsor or online at https://collectuconn.com/ 
The expansion of UConn Health continues!
Bristol Hospital, including their Bristol Health Medical Group, has signed a letter of intent to join UConn Health. The announcement was made on Tuesday. The Letter of Intent in non-binding, but both hospital groups will now work towards an agreement for Bristol Health to join the UConn Health system. The agreement will require a sign-off by the State Office of Health Strategy, with the hope to receive approval in late summer or early fall. UConn Health completed its purchase of Waterbury Hospital in March, purchased from the bankrupt Prospect Medical Holdings group. UConn also annouced plans early this month to takeover a psychiatric facility in Midddletown. Bristol Hospital is one of the few remaining independently owned hospitals in Connecticut. 
A new restaurant is coming to Enfield!
Shah's Halal Food is coming soon to Freshwater Stateline Plaza in Enfield! The restaurant will be located at 130 Elm Street Suite 110, next door to AutoZone, occupying 4,170 square feet according to a lease plan from KPR Centers. The rapidly-growing chain serves a wide variety of food including gyros, platters, falafel, burgers, wings, salads, hummus, pita, baklava, and much more. Check out their menu here: https://www.shahshalalfood.com/menu/ Shah's currently has 16 restaurants in Connecticut with new locations coming soon in Groton, Norwich, Glastonbury, and more! Each locations is independly owned by operated by a franchisee. No timeline has been announced for their opening. Enfield has welcomed a few new options in recent months including San Francisco Tacos and More and Buffalo Wild Wings. 
A new coffee shop is coming to Southington!
Yemerica Coffee is coming soon to 39 Center Street in Southington. The new coffee shop will open in late summer/early fall in the former Val DePaulo showroom. The new cafe is a blend of tradition Yemeni and American coffee cultures. The menu consists of typical coffee options like Americano, pour over, matcha, cortado, cappuccino, refreshers, and more. The menu also has a number of Yemeni coffee options like Royal Arabic Coffee, Aryasi, Adani chai, Mofowar, Qisher, Baidhani, and Moroccan Tea. The cafe also features late night hours, perfect for the night owls looking for a caffeine fix! This will be the second Yemerica Coffee location, the original opened in West Hartford in early 2025. More locations are on the horizon as well, stay tuned for those announcements. Look for them to open in late summer/early fall! A new independent toy shop has opened in West Hartford Center! The Toy Shop is NOW OPEN at 967C Farmington Avenue in West Hartford! Step into their magic shop for all your toy needs. Inside you’ll find a charming toy store selling board games, toy cars, stuffed animals, dolls, and many more options for kids of all ages. Check out their expansive collection inside their cozy storefront. Find them at 967C Farmington Avenue in West Hartford or online at https://thetoyshopweha.com/ They are open: Monday through Saturday 10am-6pm Sunday 11pm-4pm 
A new Vietnamese restaurant has opened in East Hartford!
Daddy's Noodle Bar is now open at 445 Main Street in East Hartford, the former D'Angelo's Sandwiches space across from C-Town. The restaurant has been long-awaited by locals. Coming soon signs for Daddy's Noodle Bar were originally installed in 2019. The menu consists of dishes including pho, ramen, vermicelli, rice dishes, bahn mi, salad, bubble teas, and much more. You'll also find appetizers including egg rolls, summer rolls, crab rangoon, and pork dumplings. This is Daddy's Noodle Bar's second location. They operate another eatery at Storrs Center near UConn. They also previously operated a location in East Lyme that closed in late 2024. Find them at 445 Main Street in East Hartford They are open today (04/26) until 8pm Site work is now underway on a new housing development in South Windsor. A new 55-unit housing development will soon be built on land at 240 Deming Street in South Windsor. Developer Metro Realty received approvals in late 2023 to develop the site, formerly home to Calvary Church. Site work is now underway to prepare the site for vertical construction. The 55 units will be spread across 5 buildings; 3 buildings with 12 units, 1 building with 8 units, and 1 building with 11 units and a community room. Look for vertical construction to begin soon. 
A new eatery with late-night hours has opened in Downtown Hartford! Munchies Fried Chicken & Shawarma is NOW OPEN at 21 Asylum Street in Downtown Hartford! The new restaurant opened earlier this week. The menu is halal including friend chicken, tenders, wings, shawarma platters, shawarma wraps, rice platters, sandwiches, sandwiches/subs, ice cream, smoothies, and much more! They are also open for breakfast serving egg sandwiches, bagels, and breakfast platters. Find them at 21 Asylum Street in Hartford Their hours according to the Googe Profile are: Monday through Thursday 6am-11pm Friday 6am-2am Saturday 7am-2am Sunday 7am-11pm *Hours subject to change   
New dining options are landing at Bradley International Airport! Urban Lodge Brewing’s new taproom is NOW OPEN at Bradley! The newest location can be found in the Airside Lobby. You’ll find all Urban Lodge’s signature beers and beverages. They are open daily from 9:00am to 8:00pm! Urban Lodge has other taproom locations in Manchester & Dowtown Hartford. Sparrow Pizza Bar is coming soon to Bradley! The West Hartford-based pizza bar has licensed their name to the airport and will carry the brand’s signature tavern-style bar pizza, recipes, and techniques. New to this location are breakfast offerings! No timeline has been announced for their opening. These new offerings are just the latest local additions to their dining and shopping line up. You’ll also find a Two Roads Brewing taproom, Hartford Prints!, Gineva Murano Glass, and other local options.  
A zone change for a proposed large scale commercial development in Southington has been rejected.
The Planning & Zoning Commission has voted down a proposed zone change at 682 Curtiss Street & 115 Summit Farms Road, the vote was 6-1. The updated zoning would've change the parcel from Industrial (I-2) to Business (B). Plans submitted with the application showed a preliminary development plans (valued at over $90 million) including a new 171,236 square foot retail store (speculated to be Walmart), a gas station, hotel, and 3 industrial buildings ranging in size from 20,000 up to 283,000 square feet. Read our original story here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CcDNrpbof/ The developer could still seek approval through an appeal or through court action; though potential appeal or litigation has been announced. Stay tuned for any updates. 
Manchester is now accepting proposals for the reuse of the Mary Cheney Library building at 586 Main Street in Manchester!
An RFP (request for proposal) was posted on April 6th. The RFP reads: "The Town of Manchester is requesting proposals from established organizations or entities interested in occupying an iconic historic building within a visible, accessible public park in Downtown Manchester. The Town Board of Directors' intent is to see the Mary Cheney Library building repurposed as a community asset and to bring renewed energy and vitality to the Downtown District. The Town seeks a use or combination of uses that will take advantage of the character of the location and space, while preserving the full exterior of the existing building. One proposal from a qualified entity or team in keeping with the preferred goals, objectives and uses outlined in this document will be selected." The RFP closes on June 1st at 11am. Find more information on the RFP on the town's website here: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/townofmanchester/projects/251652 What would you like to see open in the former library? Comment below! Time is running out to save at Barnes & Noble in Farmington! B&N Cafe will close on Saturday, April 25th in advance of the store’s closure. The store itself will close on May 2nd and reopen this summer inside Westfarms. Stop in and save during their moving sale! Sales include: •Books are 40% off •Gifts are 50% off •Toys & Games are 50% off •Magazines are 30% off •Store fixtures are now for sale! •And much much more! The bookstore is set to move from its current location at 1599 Southeast Road in Farmington to the former Forever 21 space inside Westfarms. Barnes & Noble's current space will become the new flagship Hannoush Jewelers location along with Goldfish Swim School and KidStrong! More retail space is available to lease, find more information here: https://tinyurl.com/1599SouthEastRoad |
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