Congratulations to Saybrook Fish House in Rocky Hill on the reopening of the family-owned restaurant this evening!

The restaurant has reopened its doors for dine-in only (no reservations) and will add take-out service once they get back in the groove. Saybrook Fish House announced the reopen on their social media earlier today.

Saybrook Fish House temporarily closed last year after a fire caused extensive damage inside the restaurant. After months of rebuilding, they have finally reopened their doors to longtime customers. The restaurant serves fresh seafood dishes along with a variety of steaks.

The restaurant is located at 2165 Silas Deane Highway in Rocky Hill.
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They are open:
Monday & Tuesday 11:30am to 9:00pm
Wednesday & Thursday 11:30am to 9:30pm
Friday 11:30am-10:00pm
Saturday 12:00pm-10:00pm
Sunday 12:00pm-8:00pm

A new mixed-use development could be coming to Manchester.

A pre-application was heard at the July 6th meeting of the Planning & Zoning Commission regarding a potential development on the corner of Avery Street and Deming Street in Manchester. The site is currently home to a vacant veterinary clinic and a vacant lot.

Plans for the property would include 2 new multi-story buildings. A new 6,000 square foot commercial structure along Deming Street that could be divided by 8 new tenants. A new 8,000 square foot residential structure with up to 16 new apartments.

The site was previously proposed to house a Chick-Fil-A and Mission BBQ; though plans never moved forward. Chick-Fil-A eventually opened at The Plaza at Buckland Hills instead.
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Plans are still preliminary and subject to change if the project moves forward. This was just a pre-application hearing, a non-binding process to get initial thought to a potential project. Stay tuned for more information.

Level99 and Two Roads have installed their new graphics package announcing the planned arrival in West Hartford and hiring is now getting underway!

The new indoor entertainment complex will be opening later this year at 1445 New Britain Avenue in West Hartford, on the second level of The Corbin Collection. Two Roads Kitchen & Taproom will be opening within Level99, offering a elevating food and craft drink experience.

The new first-of-its-kind social gaming playground featuring over 50 real-world physical and mental challenges & games. The attraction will have dozens of unique challenge rooms with teams of between 2 and 6 people. These life-size mini games & challenges are timed to be completed.

This will be Level99's fifth location behind existing facilities in Natick, Providence, North Virgina, and Disney Springs in Orlando. Find more information on their website here: https://level99.com/

They are now hiring for multiple positions at the new West Hartford location including Opertations Manager, Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine, Assistant Director of Operations, and Event Sales Manager. Apply online here: https://jobs.lever.co/level99
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Stay tuned for more details on a opening date!

Dover Saddlery is closing the doors of its Manchester location.

The tack shop will be closing its doors later this summer. The store is located at 1153 Tolland Turnlime in Manchester, part of The Plaza at Burr Corners.

A store closing sale now underway with everything 30-60% off according to signs posted on the doors. It appears the entire company is now liquidating.
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Dover Saddlery is a chain of store offing an expansive collection of equestrian supplies and horse equipment. They have over 30 locations around the country, including Manchester & Ridgefield CT.

A new pilates studio is coming to South Windsor!

Club Pilates is coming soon to 245 Gateway Boulevard in South Windsor, part of the new 'The Gateway' development now under construction. The new studio will be located in a new building next to M&R Liquors. 

The fitness studio franchise has over 1,000 studios around the world; hosting pilates, cardio, stretching, and HIIT classes. Club Pilates offers high-quality, life-changing training at a surprisingly affordable price. Find more information on their website at https://www.clubpilates.com/

Club Pilates has a dozen CT locations including new locations recently opened in Cheshire and Newington; and another coming soon in Old Saybrook.

The new fitness studio will be joined in the plaza by DORO Marketplace and other restaurants & retail tenants. The development is expected to open next year. 

The new Crunch Fitness in Southington has set its grand opening date!

Crunch Fitness will celebrate its grand opening on August 6th! The new gym is located at 774 Queen Street in Southington, the former Joann Fabrics space in Shoprite Plaza.

The new gym will feature a free weight area, olympic lifting platforms, group fitness classes, cardio equipment, stretching zone, boxing area, the HIIT zone, hot studio, tanning, massage chairs, infrared saunas, and personal training. Sign up for your plan online at https://www.crunch.com/locations/southington

Find them at 774 Queen Street in Southington
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Their typical hours will be:
Monday-Thursday 5AM-11PM
Friday 5AM-9PM
Saturday & Sunday 7AM-5PM

Nordstrom Rack is eyeing a new location at The Plaza at Buckland Hills!

According to a lease plan recently posted by the plaza's owner, Brixmor, Nordstrom Rack is planning to open in a portion of the former Joann Fabric space.

Nordstrom Rack is the off-price division of Nordstrom, selling high-end apparel at discount prices. Find the best brands and top trends (many straight from our Nordstrom stores), all up to 70% off. The store will reportedly occupy 25,176 square feet.

Find the lease plan showing Nordstrom Rack's future location here: here: https://www.brixmor.com/.../the-plaza-at-buckland-hills
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No word yet on when the new store might open. Stay tuned for more details. Plans subject to change and lease finalization.

A new crepe & dessert shop has opened in Hartford!

Pop Bowl & Crepes is NOW OPEN at 1863 Park Street in Hartford, near the West Hartford line. The restaurant opened its doors last month.

On their menu you'll find a large variety of sweet crepes including oreo, mango, berries, dulce de leche, nutella, and more! The menu also features milkshakes, natural & detox juices, milkshakes, acai bowls, coffees, and more. Find their full menu here: https://popbowlcrepes.com/menu

All menu items are gluten free (using 100% rice flour), feature no preservatives, and all natural ingredients. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick treat, a refreshing bowl, or a cozy bite, Pop Bowl & Crepes is here to bring you flavorful food, friendly service, and a welcoming place to enjoy every moment.

Find them at 1863 Park Street in Hartford
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They are open daily from 11am to 10pm

Coming soon signs are up for Istanbul Cafe at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills!

The new Mediterranean/Turkish restaurant is coming soon to the former Bertucci's/Toro Azteca space next to Hungry Pot Korean BBQ & Hot Pot. Renovations are underway to transform the space into the new theme.

An opening date has not yet been announced, but we will be sure to share it once one is set.
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Istanbul Cafe is just one of the new additions coming to The Shoppes at Buckland Hills. The food court recently welcomed La Street Kitchen and will soon add another with Woosmash. We have some big new additions coming up; so stay tuned for those announcements!

A new running & fitness specialty store is coming to Downtown Manchester!

Run Manchester by Kelley's Pace will be opening its doors later this summer at 789 Main Street in Manchester! The store will be just steps from the starting / finish line of the Manchester Road Race.

The new running store will focus on all your athletic running needs! Inside you’ll find a wide assortment of shoes, apparel, fitness accessories; anything you’ll need for running and fitness.

This will be the second location for the running store, Kelley’s Pace original location can be found at Olde Mistick Village in Stonington/Mystic. Find them online at https://www.kelleyspacemystic.com
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Look for the new location to open in August!

​The Lil' Plant Shop has transplanted its roots in Newington!

The Lil Plant Shop, previously located at 8 East Main Street in Plainville, has recently found a new home at 3277 Berlin Turnpike, formerly the Yankee Mattress space. They feature all types of houseplants in all sizes, common and rare.

Owners Pat (the Plant Momma) and Jeff (the Plant Guy) have extensive knowledge of plants. Pat worked as a florist for many years, and Jeff is a horticulture therapist, working with over 70 communities and garden clubs throughout the tri-state area.

The couple offers several workshops and events both at the shop and offsite equipped with The Lil' Plant Bus, bringing along their houseplants and vast knowledge to fairs and other special events. They also do floral arrangements for formal events and parties.

There is also The Lil Plant Shop II at 150 Broad Street in Windsor. Learn more about the plant shop at: https://www.thelilplantshop.com/
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Find them at 3277 Berlin Turnpike, the plaza with Total Fitness Equipment.

Dairy Queen has officially reopened in Plainville!

The Dairy Queen located at 81 East Street in Plainville reopened its doors today under new ownership! A manager confirmed the reopening during a phone call this afternoon.

Speculation was mounting after the ice cream stand failed to reopen this spring. Dairy Queen has now reopened, under a new ownership group according to a recent post on their social media.
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Stop in for your favorite frozen treats just in time for the heat!

A new retailer will be opening their first Connecticut location at The Plaza at Buckland Hills!

Rally House is coming soon to the recently-vacant Dollar Tree space at The Plaza at Buckland Hills, located at 1448 Pleasant Valley Road in Manchester. The store will occupy 10,066 square feet of space next to Burlington.

This will be Rally House's first foray into Connecticut. Rally House is the new official merchandising partner of the UConn Huskies. The store will carry a wide variety of UConn-branded merchandise including apparel, jerseys, drinkware, and gifts.

Shop their collections now online at https://uconn.rallyhouse.com/
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Look for the new store to open this fall!

Colony Grill is eyeing an expansion further into Hartford County according to recent state filings!

The Fairfield County-based pizza chain is eyeing possible new locations in Newington and South Windsor according to recent State business filings. The pizza shop also has a new location under construction in Glastonbury at The Shops at Somerset Square.

The pizza chain recently filed new entities named 'Newington Colony LLC' and 'South Windsor Colony LLC'.

The Newington entity's filing lists the former Plaza Azteca address in Newington, 3260 Berlin Turnpike. Preliminary construction should start soon with building permits recently issued to 'Paniccia Construction Corp' for selective interior demolition for the new restaurant. Paniccia Construction Corp completed the buildout for Colony Grill's recently opened location in Shelton. A South Windsor address was not shown in that filing. Plans are still subject to change based on lease finalization and other factors.

Colony Grill is known for their hot oil pizzas; a unique style thin-crust pizza that is best served with the signature "hot oil" topping. They also serve 'salad pizzas' and feature a full bar. Find their menu online at https://colonygrill.com

The CT-based chain currently has 10 locations total including in Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Virginia, and New York. Colony Grill previous operated a short-lived location in Avon, now home to HomeGoods.

Stay tuned for further information on Colony Grill's new locations!

Congratulations to Molly's Sweet Spot on their successful opening in East Windsor!

The new bakery opened its doors on Saturday, June 27th, to a line of hungry bakery patrons! Molly's Sweet Spot is located at 122 Prospect Hill Road in East Windsor, part of Sophia's Plaza.

The new bakery has a large variety of sweets & goodies including cakes, cupcakes, gourmet cookies, cakesicles, brownies, scones, muffins, dessert bars, tiramisu, mousse cups, cinnamon rolls, donuts, dirty sodas, dirty Alanis, and much more! Molly's also offers custom cakes and desserts to order for any occassion!

Find them at 122 Prospect Hill Road in East Windsor and online at https://mollyssweetspot.com/
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They are open:
Wednesday through Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday 9am-4pm
Sunday 9am-1pm

The former TGI Fridays has been listed for sale or lease.

The restaurant building (previously home to TGI Fridays) at 209 Hale Road is listed for sale and for lease by Horvath & Tremblay. No listing price or rental rate was included in the listing.

The building has sat empty for nearly 2 years after the longtime restaurant abruptly closed its doors. The former eatery features 7,372 square feet of space with approximately 700 feet of frontage along Hale Road. The structure was built in 1997 according to the listing.

Find the listing online here: https://www.loopnet.com/.../209-Hale-Rd.../41045924/

What would you like to see open here next? Comment below!

West Hartford Center is buzzing with construction as new businesses move into the dining and shopping district!

Bliss Matcha & Beyond is coming soon, they are now under construction at 981 Farmington Avenue, the former Boost Bowls space. They will serve a variety of matcha drinks & eats, as well as regular desserts and beverages. This location joins their existing cafe in New Haven.

Lil Hope will be moving their children’s boutique from their current LaSalle Road location to 990 Farmington Avenue later this summer. Construction work is now underway on their new home.

Blu Pointe Prime Steak & Seafood & Mercato Italian Kitchen are coming soon to 978 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford, the former CVS Pharmacy space. Construction work is underway with new barricades recently erected on the storefronts. Both restaurants are owned by Market Hospitality Group. They will also add new luxury residences above both restaurants.

A new restaurant from the co-owner of Sparrow Pizza Bar & Tacobarn is now under construction in the former Crush Wine Bar space at 37 LaSalle Road. Not a lot of details have been announced about the new concept, but they are planned to open later this year.

The Brownstone under construction at 7 South Main Street, the former Sam’s Gyro space. The new pizza bar is expected to open this fall serving up pizza, burgers, salads, and more. This location joins their original location in Downtown Hartford.

The Blu Olive is under construction behind the plywood barricade next to their sister restaurant, Harvest Wine Bar. The new Mediterranean restaurant will be located at 60 LaSalle Road in West Hartford. Look for them to open later this year.

Dairy Queen will be reopening their Plainville location this summer!

The ice cream stand will reopen later this summer under new management according to a post on their newly formed Facebook page!

An official opening date has not been announced, they have been closed since the end of last season. The seasonal stand is located at 81 East Street in Plainville.

The new owners said in a statement: “It's official! As of this week, we have closed on DQ Plainville! We feel incredibly fortunate to be joining such a welcoming and supportive community. We are working hard to get the store ready. We will be opening soon. It's important to us that everything is ready so we can provide the experience you deserve. We can't wait to meet you, and become a special part of your celebrations, traditions, and everyday moments. Thank you for making us feel so welcome already—we look forward to serving you soon!”
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Look for them to open later this season!

Finally got a chance to try this waterfront restaurant located in Wethersfield called River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar!

The restaurant is located at 100 Great Meadow Road in Wethersfield, on the ground floor of the Putnam Park office building.

River offers beautiful waterfront views of the Connecticut River from their dining room alongside an expansive outdoor terraced patio. During my visit the food tasted great, views were amazing, and our waitress was very attentive. Great experience overall.

Menu offerings under award-winning & ‘Chopped’ Winner Chef Xavier Santiago include USDA Prime steaks, fresh seafood, house-made pastas, and wood-fired pizzas, appetizers, and much more! They feature a full bar with cocktails, wine, and beer. Find the full menu online here: https://riverontheriver.com

Find them at 100 Great Meadow Road in Wethersfield

Lunch Hours
Monday through Friday 11:30 AM – 2:45 PM

Dinner Hours
Sunday 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Monday through Friday 4:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Saturday 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Pandora is NOW OPEN at The Shops at Evergreen Walk!

The jewelry store chain has opened its new store at The Shops at Evergreen Walk. Pandora is located at 243 Evergreen Way in South Windsor, between Brighton Collectibles and Sleep Number.

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.

The chain has official Pandora locations at Westfarms, Danbury Fair, Trumbull Mall, The SoNo Collection, and has numerous authorized-seller jewelry stores through CT. They are also opening soon inside Connecticut Post Mall in Milford.
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The Shops at Evergreen Walk will soon welcome additional new tenants including Yankee Candle, AT&T, and Qdoba Mexican Eats. The outdoor shopping district recently welcomed The Gampel Collection, StretchLab, Gap Factory, Toys R Us, and others.

Construction is now well underway at the former Barnes & Noble in Farmington!

The exterior and interior construction is starting at 1599 South East Road in Farmington, the former Barnes & Noble space in the shadow of Westfarms. The building is being transformed into a multi-tenant plaza with at least 5 new shops!

New tenants include:
-Hannoush Jewelers Flagship
-KidStrong
-Goldfish Swim School
-Cold Stone Creamery
-& More Coming Soon!

These new businesses are expected to open this fall!
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Barnes & Noble closed their longstanding store at the beginning of May with plans to reopen this summer inside Westfarms. The store will open in the former Forever 21 space near Macy's.

The Angry Egg has returned to Manchester under new owners!

The restaurant is NOW OPEN in their original location at 1095 Main Street in Manchester! The restaurant soft opened last week, but at the request of management we held off posting until this week.

Welcome back to The Angry Egg! Inside you'll find a tastefully renovated, but still familiar, space with a menu of new & returning favorites!

The restaurant temporarily closed in late September 2025 to undergo an ownership change and for slight renovations to the space.

Stop in and give them a try!

Imperial Buffet has closed in Berlin.

The buffet was located at 273 Berlin Turnpike in Berlin, in the Brickyard Plaza. It's unclear when their final day of business was, but a 'CLOSED' sign has been put across the business's front doors.

It appears the closure might be permanent rather than temporary. The business appears to have had some financial issues, with a 'Suspended Sales & Tax Permit' notice mounted on the exterior of the building.

The space is now being marketed for lease by WHLR (Wheeler Real Estate Company.) The space features over 8,000 square feet of space according to the flyer. Find the listing here: https://www.loopnet.com/.../225-273-Wilbur.../41009025/
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Imperial Buffet faced competition from new buffets popping up in the area including Kingdom Buffet that opened in Newington earlier this year.

Molly's Sweet Spot has set its opening date!

The new bakery will open its doors this Saturday, June 27th at 9am! Molly's Sweet Spot is located at 122 Prospect Hill Road in East Windsor, part of Sofia's Plaza. The bakery will be owned by local resident Molly Francia.

The new bakery will have a large variety of sweets & goodies including cakes, cupcakes, gourmet cookies, cakesicles, brownies, dessert bars, tiramisu, mousse cups, cinnamon rolls, donuts, muffins, scones, dirty sodas, and much more!
Molly’s offers custom cakes and desserts to order for any occassion! The East Windsor storefront with be filled with goodies to pick up on the way into work or just in the mood for dessert!

Find them at 122 Prospect Hill Road in East Windsor

Their typical hours will be:
Wednesday through Friday 9am-5pm
Saturday 9am-4pm
Sunday 9am-1pm
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Stop by and check them out this Saturday!

​Construction has finally started at the site of the Manchester Parkade!

A ground breaking ceremony was held this morning at the site of the former Manchester Parkade! Construction will now get underway on the new mixed-use development dubbed 'Silk City Commons' by Anthony Properties.

The new development will be home to 232 apartments and two new commercial buildings that could total over 13,000 square feet. Amenities for the apartments include a clubhouse, a pool, pickleball, dog park, and connection to the existing trail system.

The developer, Anthony Properties (APR Manchester LLC) purchased the property from the town in April for $3.6 million.
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Stay tuned for further construction updates as the project progresses!