Interior demolition work is nearly complete on the former CVS/Max Zeller Fur building ahead of its redevelopment!

The former CVS and Max Zeller Fur building at 978 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford will be transformed into a mixed-use development featuring two Market Hospitality restaurant concepts on the group level and 5 apartments on a new second floor.

The interior of the building has been gutted ahead of heavy construction work beginning soon. Building permits were issued on April 2nd for the new construction. Earlier this year, Max Zeller Furs moved across the street to 977 Farmington Avenue on the lower level of the building.

The ground level restaurants are depicted as Blu Pointe, a seafood & steak eatery, and Mercato, an Italian eatery. Market Hospitality Group is the parent company behind Market Place Kitchen, Mercato, Blu Pointe, Beso Taco Bar, The Wheel, Key Largo Fishiers, and Market Place Tavern.
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Stay tuned for more updates on their construction!

DORO Marketplace is eyeing a new location in South Windsor!

The European-style bakery & cafe plans to open a new location in South Windsor. We are hearing they will be part of the new ‘The Gateway’ development now under construction next to M&R Liquors.

DORO Marketplace is a cafe and bakery serving coffee, espresso, tea, freshly made pastries, sandwiches, breads, cinnamon rolls, and much more.

The locally owned chain currently has 6 locations with plans for more in the future; they are located in Wethersfield, West Hartford, Windsor Locks, Old Saybrook, Plainville, and Avon! Other future locations include Glastonbury & Enfield.

DORO Marketplace is owned by DORO Restaurant Group; they also own Casadoro, Avert, Treva, Zohara, Artisinal Burger Company, and No Mames Mexican Cantina.
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No timeline has been announced for their opening.

Dollar Tree is eyeing a move in Manchester!

The retailer is planning to open a Dollar Tree store at 430 Buckland Hill Drive in Manchester, the current home of Namco Pools near Walmart.

The new store would occupy roughly 12,000 square feet; giving the space a thorough renovation including improvements to the exterior. The store would most likely replace their existing store down the street at The Plaza at Buckland Hills.

Namco Pools is planning to relocate next to Mattress Firm at 440 Buckland Hills Drive, a space roughly half the size of their current location.
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No timeline has been announced for the new Dollar Tree. Plans are still subject to lease finalization.

South Windsor's new bookstore & coffee shop has set its opening date!

The Wicked Press will open its doors on April 18th! The new coffee shop is located at 948 Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor, next door to Giuseppina's Italian Bakery and the new Three Amigos Mexican Taqueria.

The Wicked Press features a cozy, moody vibe with comfy furniture serving amazing coffee, teas, and more to keep you fueled. The bookstore section offers treasure trove of new books, some used gems, and merch for all coffee, tea, and book lovers that will make your heart sing—hello, blind date with a book, candles, mugs, and more!

​Find their online shop at www.thewickedpress.com/
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Stop in on April 18th and check them out!

Noto Americano Italian Market will close their doors effective April 13th ahead of its sale to a new owner.

The new owner, pending the official sale closure, plans to reopen under their own concept. Once details of the new concept are released, we will post an update.

The Italian market is located at 172 Queen Street in Southington, originally opening in September of 2025, owned by Frank LaRosa and Chef Nick LaRosa. Chef LaRosa owns Noto Americano in Plantsville and previous competed on Food Network's Chopped.

The ideas and recipes from the market won't be lost. They will incorporate all the success menu items and some new ideas into their Noto Americano restaurant with take-out & delivery lunch hours starting on May 1st.

The announcement from Noto Americano reads: "News from Noto Americano Italian Market . Effective April 13th the location at 172 Queen St will be closed . We are under contract to sell the location along with its assets to another individual who will re-open under their own concept . We had a great amount of success and feedback from customers on our sandwiches, desserts, catering and especially those chicken cutlets! So we have decided to incorporate all of this plus some new ideas into our restaurant at 83 W Main St with takeout and delivery lunch open at 11:00 AM starting May 1rst. This week we will be offering all grocery items at 30% off to reduce inventory. We will post updates in weeks to come along with menu and links for online ordering . Any outstanding market gift cards can be used at restaurant after April 12th . Thanks for your support over the last few years and we look forward to seeing everyone again soon . Mangia bene"

Stop in and save, grocery items are now 30% off to reduce inventory ahead of the closure.

Angel Land has opened their doors in West Hartford!

The new kid's entertainment center has opened at 1433 New Britain Avenue in Corbin's Corner. The new complex has so much fun stuff to do inside!

Angel Land will be made up of climbing structures, obstacle courses, ball pits, slides, sand boxes, foam areas, bumper car, interactive projection screens, high-tech interactive games, trampolines, and so much more. The facility is aimed for children 10 and under.

Make sure to ask about private parties! They have 2 private party rooms for your child’s birthday or special occasion.
Angel Land now has 2 US locations including this new West Hartford space and another at Stamford Town Center in Stamford; along with two called FlyO'Land in British Columbia. More Angel Land locations are in development at multiple sites in Connecticut!

Find them at 1433 New Britain Avenue in West Hartford, lower level next to World Market

They are open daily from 10am to 8pm

Pricing:
Weekday ~ $17.99 per child
Weekend / Holiday ~ $19.99 per child
Monthly Pass $59.99 per child
2 Free Adult Admissions per child

Make sure to fill out the waiver online here: https://www.angellandstc.com

Thank you to the owner for the private tour! It was great meeting some of my readers at the facility as well!

Ross Dress for Less is coming to Newington!

Ross Dress for Less is planning to open a new location at Newington Plaza! The store will be located at 3105 Berlin Turnpike in Newington which appears to be the former Joann Fabric store. A building permit application filed yesterday lists Ross Dress for Less as the incoming tenant.

The application for a tenant fit-out lists planned work as: "Tenant interior fit out with new finishes throughout. Minor exterior modifications include new entry/exit doors." Work is estimated to cost $1.2 million according to the application.

This would be the third Ross Dress for Less store in Connecticut with other locations in Trumbull and another coming to Hamden. We are hearing of other planned location in Connecticut, with other Greater Hartford locations being eyed.

​Ross Dress for Less is a quickly growing discount retailer, similar to TJ Maxx and Marshalls. They offer the best bargains on the latest trends in clothing for everyone in your household, shoes, home decor and more.

No opening timeline has been announced.
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Where would you like to see Ross Dress for Less open next? Comment below!

Town of Manchester & Downtown Manchester CT shared a rendering of what a new round-about could look like at the top of Main Street.

The conceptual look at a proposed roundabout at Main Street and Center Street showcase the rotary that will be designed to improve safety, reduce congestion, and create a more welcoming gateway into Downtown.

The Town of Manchester recently applied for state funding through the LOTCIP program to help advance this improvement.
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What do you think of this potential project? Comment below!

​CAVA is coming to Canton!

The fast-casual Mediterranean eatery is coming soon to The Shops at Farmington Valley in Canton, located at 110 Albany Turnpike. The new eatery will be taking over a portion of the existing Talbots location.

CAVA serves Mediterranean food including 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. Find more information on their website: https://cava.com/

The chain has been growing their Connecticut presence in recent years including locations in Newington, Westport, Greenwich, Danbury, and Shelton. They also have a location under construction in Glastonbury.

CAVA joins the growing line-up of new eateries coming soon to The Shops at Farmington Valley including Shake Shack, Wonder, and Ramen & Bao. With existing food options including Mercato, Ben & Jerry's, Chipotle, Panera, American Flatbread, sweetgreen, and Jefferson Fry Co. 

Stay tuned for more information on their opening.

A new discount retailer is coming soon to Bristol, joining the recently annouced Aldi grocery store!

American Liquidations will occupy a portion of the former Big Lots store according to a plan from the leasing company. American Liquidations & Aldi will split the roughly 45,000 square feet with Aldi occupying roughly 20,000 square feet and American Liquidations occupying the remaining 25,000 square feet.

The new store offers high quality items at affordable prices. This is not a bin store. American Liquidations sells a large selection of furniture, tools, appliances, hardware, and much more. Shoppers will also find pallets of new, overstock, open box and store returns. from popular US retailers.

The store currently has locations in Waterbury and Milford. No timeline has been announced for the Bristol store's opening. Find more information about American Liquidations on their website here:
​ https://www.americanliquidations.com/

A new kind of Michaels Jewelers is coming to Avon!

Michaels Estate Jewelers is opening soon at Avon Village Center! The new store will be located at 25 Climax Road, next to The Whale Tea.

This will be a first-of-its-kind Michaels Jewelers store. The new location will showcase their most exclusive estate and one-of-a-kind pieces — featuring coveted names like Rolex and Tiffany & Co., alongside rare designer finds and custom creations you won’t see anywhere else.

•Every piece has history.
•Every piece is distinctive.
•Many are impossible to replace.

From highly collectible timepieces to vintage heirlooms and bespoke masterpieces, the new Avon location will be a destination for those who appreciate rarity, craftsmanship, and individuality.
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Look for them to open soon!

I had the opportunity to check out the new Shogun X Sushi in Manchester on their soft opening day. I’ve held back on posting my review to give them a few days to work out the kinks.

The new sushi restaurant is located at 1483 Pleasant Valley Road in Manchester, across from The Plaza at Buckland Hills. Shogun X features two fun food delivery methods; a conveyor belt that carries a variety of small sushi plates as well as a train on top that brings your custom orders to your table. Custom orders can be places on the IPads at each table.

The interior is beautiful. The space was heavily renovated from the previous Hooters restaurant. The restaurant has the conveyor belt tables, but also features more private seating for larger parties. Each bill also comes with two tokens to play their claw machines.

The food was very good. High quality fish compared to other All-You-Can-Eat places. The other food items (non-sushi) were delicious as well including chicken katsu, hibachi steak, tempura veggies, kani salad, and many others. Serving sizes were generous. There were a few hiccups, but that’s understandable for a brand new restaurant on the first day. Staff was friendly and very welcoming.

Check them out for some delicious sushi and other Japanese favorites!

Prices are:
Adult Lunch $27.99
Adult Dinner $37.99
Weekends & Holidays are All Day Dinner!

The restaurant is located at 1483 Pleasant Valley Road in Manchester.
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Their typical hours will be:
Monday through Thursday 11am-10pm
Friday through Sunday 11am-10:30pm

Congratulations to Mozz & Co on their successful soft opening today ahead of their official opening on Wednesday!

Mozz & Co will open its doors on April 8th! The new delicatessen will be located at 22 Raymond Road in West Hartford.

The new restaurant is an upscale-yet-casual Italian deli serving chicken cutlets, porchetta, broccoli rabe, house-made meats, salads, and some grab-&-go meals! The eatery will have a variety of desserts including Tiramisu, Limoncello Tiramisu, Torta della Luna, and espresso. The plan to add wine, beer, and canned cocktails (pending liquor license approval). Find their menu online here: https://www.mozznco.com/

Mozz & Co (pronounced ‘Mutts & Co’) is owned by Joey Cusano; the former executive chef at Le Mazet on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center. He has also previously worked for the Max Restaurant Group in various positions.

“I wanted to create something West Hartford Center doesn’t have. A casual Italian deli where you can swing in for a quick cutlet sandwich.” Joey Cusano stated in an interview with us, “A place where you can stop in for fresh bread, lunch, & dinner.”

Check them out on April 8th at 22 Raymond Road in West Hartford!
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Their typical hours (for now) will be:
Monday through Saturday 11am-5pm
Sunday 11am-3pm
They plan to eventually expand their hours until 7pm!

The construction barricade is up and work is getting underway on the new Pandora store at The Shops at Evergreen Walk!

Pandora is coming soon to the former Lux Bond & Green space next to Brighton Collectibles. Construction is expected to cost around $100,000 according to the building permit.

Pandora is a Danish jeweler and retailer known for their customizable charm bracelets, rings, earrings, and necklaces. Their charm bracelets offer a customizable accessory that can be added to with charms for life milestones.

Stay tuned for more information as construction gets underway! The chain has official Pandora locations at Westfarms, Danbury Fair, Trumbull Mall, The SoNo Collection, and has numerous authorized-seller jewelry stores through CT.
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The Shops at Evergreen Walk will soon welcome additional new tenants including The Gampel Collection by CollectU and Qdoba Mexican Eats. The outdoor shopping district recently welcomed StretchLab, Gap Factory, Toys R Us, and others.

As previously reported, The Place 2 Be in West Hartford was closed by State in late March. The contents of the restaurant are now going up for auction.

The restaurant’s interior furnishing and equipment are now up for auction online. Items including tables, bar stools, chairs, kitchen equipment, an espresso machine, ice cream machine, bar equipment, and much more.

This is the perfect opportunity for local restaurants to purchase used equipment and modern furnishings are low prices. Find all the auction items here: https://online.localauctions.com/auction/23544/bidgallery/
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Bidding ends on Wednesday, April 8th, with final times varying by item. Winning bidders much pick up their items at 50 Memorial Road in West Hartford on Thursday (04/09) or Friday (04/10) between 9am and 4pm.

DORO Marketplace opens this Wednesday, April 8th! They’ll be open daily from 7am to 8pm. They are also hosting a hiring event this weekend, more details below!

Thank you to owner Dorjan Puka for the tour of the new bakery! Excited to stop in for a treat and coffee on Wednesday.

The new bakery is located at 300 West Main Street in Avon! The latest location of DORO Marketplace has totally transformed the former Beanz & Co. space. DORO Marketplace is a cafe and bakery serving coffee, espresso, tea, freshly made pastries, sandwiches, breads, cinnamon rolls, and much more.

DORO Marketplace will now have 6 locations with plans for more in the future; they are located in Wethersfield, West Hartford, Windsor Locks, Old Saybrook, Plainville, and now Avon! DORO Marketplace is owned by DORO Restaurant Group; they also own Casadoro, Avert, Treva, Zohara, Artisinal Burger Company, and No Mames Mexican Cantina.
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Join them this Saturday, April 4th, from 1pm to 4pm for a job fair at the new Avon location. They’re looking for passionate, energetic team members for the following positions: Barista, Counter Staff, Dining Room Attendant, Line Cook, Prep Cook, & Dishwasher.

Stopped into the new Luann's Bakery & Cafe in Downtown Hartford for a quick lunch. Congratulations to the owner on his newest location. They were line-out-the-door busy when I visited, but the space is beautiful and inviting!

The newest location of LuAnn’s opened on Tuesday at 190 Trumbull Street in Downtown Hartford, next door to The Brownstone.

The bakery sells coffees (drip & espresso), freshly baked pastries including cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, cakes, and much more. Their menu also features breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, wraps, salads, refreshing beverages, and much more. Find their menu here: https://www.luannsbakery.com

The bakery also produces a wide variety of baked goods from dedicated gluten free kitchen in Ellington including gluten free, dairy free, and vegan versions of some of LuAnn's Bakery's favorite recipes, in addition to some others.

LuAnn’s now has 4 locations including Ellington (main location and express), Stafford, and now Hartford! They also have a commissary kitchen in Ellington.

Find their newest location at 190 Trumbull Street in Hartford
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Luann’s Hartford is open:
Monday through Saturday 7am-3pm
Closed Sunday

Not an April Fools' Joke! COUCH Potato opens their new location in Southington today!

The loaded baked potato restaurant opens today, April 1st, at 1 Eden Avenue in Southington. The restaurant previously operated locations in Waterbury and Wallingford.

The restaurant's menu includes baked potatoes with an array of toppings, the viral 'Bring Your Own Bag' walking tacos, hot dogs, spudwiches, Jamaican patties, and much more. The full menu can be found here: https://food.orders.co/sr5yte6z/menu

The Eden Avenue building was constructed in 1941 for the former Southington News weekly newspaper. It was later the longtime home of Dominic’s Men’s Shop and has been vacant since Fighting Force Airsoft closed.

Find them at 1 Eden Avenue in Southington
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The restuarant is open:
Monday through Saturday 10:30am-9:00pm
Closed Sunday

A new bakery is coming to East Windsor!

Molly's Sweet Spot will be opening a new bakery at 122 Prospect Hill Road in East Windsor; part of Sophia’s Plaza! The bakery will be opening this June owned by local resident Molly Francia!

The new bakery will have a large variety of goodies on the menu including cakes, cupcakes, gourmet cookies, cakesicles, brownies, dessert bars, tiramisu, mousse cups, cinnamon rolls, donuts, muffins, scones, dirty sodas, and much more!

Molly’s will offer custom cakes and desserts to order! They will have a walk-in storefront with goodies to pick up on the way into work or just in the mood for dessert!

Look for them to open in June!

A new UConn merchandise pop-up is opening at The Shops at Evergreen Walk!

CollectUConn featuring The Gampel Collection will be opening soon at the outdoor shopping center at 501 Evergreen Way in South Windsor! The new pop-up will be located next to Disibio Shoes, across from Old Navy.

According to Evergreen Walk's website: "The Gampel Collection is a one-of-a-kind retail experience that brings the legacy of UConn Athletics to life in an entirely new way. 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 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."

Shop for UConn items from this collection online & live auctions here: https://collectuconn.com/
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The UConn artifacts are from Gampel Pavilion, which is now undergoing extensive renovations including new locker rooms, interior and exterior panel replacements, new concessions options, and much more. Read more about the renovations here: https://uconnhuskies.com/.../general-uconn-athletics...

Walmart is planning a new concept for the former Walmart Neighborhood Market in Bristol!

A new building permit application filed on January 21st show Walmart is planning a new store in the former Walmart Neighborhood Market at 325 Oakland Street in Bristol, permit #B-26-48. The building has sat vacant since Walmart closed their grocery store in 2017.

The description of work for the site lists Walmart by name and includes: "WALMART - Adding self-contained refrigerated cases, storage racks, produce scales, self-checkout kiosks. Adding Breakroom. All interior work to existing building." Work is estimate to cost $500,000 according to the application.

Walmart is testing various concepts based on it's 'Spark' delivery service that are not open to the general public. The store concepts are typically pick-up only locations for their Spark drivers only with a large emphasis on grocery items. It's unclear when the facility will open or how much of the existing building it will occupy.

The site of the new Walmart concept was purchased in Fall 2024 by Ocean State Job Lot for a potential relocation of their existing Bristol location, its unclear if they will now remain on Farmington Avenue or more into a portion of this building.
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Stay tuned for more details on this project.