A new family entertainment center is coming to North Haven!
Fennec's Place is coming soon to 85 Middletown Avenue in North Haven, the former Rite Aid space. The new space will be roughly 14,776 square feet. Opening later this year will be North Haven’s premier large scale family entertainment center. Complete with a soft play area, bumper cars, climbing structures, arcades, and party rooms. a full cafe/restaurant, and much more. The project is currently out to bid for contractor with an opening planned later this year. Stay tuned for more updates!
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A new tenant has signed on to join The Shops at Stone Bridge in Cheshire!
Kay Jewelers has leased a 2,208 square foot space at the new development! The jewelry store will be located between Harvey & Lewis Opticians and 90’s Nails near Barnes & Noble. The new Cheshire store does not bode well for the location at Meriden Mall in nearby Meriden. Kay Jewelers is one of the 15 remaining tenants at the shopping mall, and the lone true jewelry store remaining. No timeline has been announced for the new store’s opening. 
Wingstop is coming to Branford!
The chicken wing-centric restaurant is coming soon to 972 West Main Street in Branford, the former Mohegan Cigar & Smoke Shop next to Sushi Burrific. Building permits applications were recently submitted to convert the former smoke shop space into a new Wingstop restaurant. A construction timeline was not immediately available. Wingstop sells chicken including wings, sandwiches, tenders, along with sides like fries, fried corn, and much more. They have 14 different flavors including sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy options! Look for them to open later this year!  A new ice cream shop is coming to the iconic Sundae House building!
Toasty Scoops is coming soon to 499 New Haven Avenue in Milford, the former home of Sundae House! Renovations are now underway on the building for the new scoop shop. The new shop will serve Bassetts brand ice cream. Bassetts Ice Cream is America’s oldest creamery, making ice cream since 1861 in Philadelphia. They produce over 40 different flavors. Cookie 39 previous occupied the space with their food truck last year, serving cookies and ice cream. Cookie 39 had hoped to eventually expand to the main building but has now apparently closed their business entirely. 
A Wallingford sweet shop will reopen on Thursday, 04/09!
Donovan Family Confections will be reopening their doors on Thursday (04/09) at 600 North Colony Road in Wallingford! The Donovan family soft opened the sweet shop last week, but will resume normal hours this week. The shop sells a large variety of gourmet bonbons with lots of amazing fillings. Their bonbons are a gourmet chocolate shell made from high quality imported chocolate, filled with various desserts in multiple layers. Some best sellers include Cookie Butter Caramel Crunch, Key Lime Pie, Strawberry Balsamic Chevre, Ruby Raspberry Cheesecake, and many many more. All flavors at www.donovanfamilyconfections.com The business was previously located at 850 South Colony Road for 2 1/2 years before they outgrew the location and temporarily closed to relocate. The new location is much larger, allowing for preparation of larger batches of bonbons! Find them at 600 North Colony Road in Wallingford The shop’s typical hours will be: Tuesday & Thursday 4pm-7pm Saturday 11am-5pm They plan to extend the hours in the future. 
A North Haven institution has changed hands after decades of family ownership. The famous Olde World Apizza of North Haven has been sold to a group of local restaurateurs. The restaurant is located at 1957 Whitney Avenue in North Haven, serving New Haven-style apizza along with other Italian favorites. The new owners won't be changing anything; the name, traditions, recipes, and most of the staff will remain the same. The pizza shop is now owner by a group of seasoned restaurateurs including Robert Marcarelli, Jared Schulefand, and Isreal Lopez. Robert Marcarelli Rooted deeply in his family’s classic Italian culinary heritage, Robert Marcarelli’s journey into the culinary world began over 30 years ago in Hamden, where his passion for cooking was sparked by family friend Joe Bimonte. He was one of the original opening staff at Olde Worlde Pizza. He left and went on to culinary school and returned later to buy the business in 2004, but the owners decided they were not ready to retire. Since then, he has been a leader in the Connecticut Restaurant scene as a chef, consultant and owner. He named his Consulting company, Pi Restaurant Consulting based on a review from an article about OWP when it first opened. He has been involved with many different concepts and has helped owners bring their visions to successful brands. He is excited to bring his culinary journey “Full Circle”. Jared Schulefand A Spring Glen native, Jared Schulefand’s career in hospitality began at the age of 14 at Modern Apizza, where he spent seven years mastering the foundations of the New Haven pizza tradition. His path eventually led him from the kitchens of Bimonte’s and Mr. B’s to Johnson & Wales, where he specialized in food service and beverage management. After overseeing high-end operations at the Chatham Bars Inn on Cape Cod, Jared returned to Connecticut to launch his dream restaurant, Home, which has remained a top-rated destination on Yelp and TripAdvisor for 14 years. Returning to Whitney Avenue, the same street where his father once owned Rascals Gym, to continue the legacy of Olde Worlde Pizza marks a significant full-circle moment in his career. Isreal Lopez Isreal Lopez is a Hamden resident with an early interest in the culinary arts that grew into a passion under the guidance of local luminary Douglas Coffin at the Big Green Truck Pizza Company. For more than a decade Israel manned every position of the operation; from refurbishing the trucks in the winter to prepping the toppings and effectuating exciting pizza making events all across the state. After a yearlong term working with Grand Apizza North Haven, Israel returned to Doug’s brick and mortar venture Next Door. He quickly fell into step on the pizza making side and also showcased his skills in the kitchen running the line which brought him into a leadership role. The new owners will preserve the legacy of Olde World Apizza and continue the traditions that have been successful for 30 years. Congratulations to the new owners!  
A local ice cream shop has a new owner & a familiar name!
Whittemore Ice Cream in Seymour is now part of the The Big Dipper Ice Cream Parlour family! Big Dipper Ice Cream of Seymour is coming soon to 114 South Main Street in Seymour! The Big Dipper you love – now growing into Seymour. Same roots, same traditions, now with a new partner bringing fresh energy to a second location. The original Big Dipper in Prospect continues to operate as well. The ice cream shop serves over a dozen flavors of ice cream, locally crafted in by their amazing team. The shop also sells ice cream cakes and pies, as well as wholesales ice cream to other local shops. Look for them to open soon in Seymour! 
7 Brew Coffee has set its opening date for their New Haven location! The new drive-thru coffee shop will be officially opening on April 13th at 1447 Whalley Avenue in New Haven; part of Whalley Commons shopping center. Check out their schedule of opening festivities below! 𝐂𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞! 'Pay What You Want' during the following hours: -Friday, April 3rd 9am-2pm -Saturday, April 4th 10am-3pm -Sunday, April 5th 10am-3pm All proceeds will be donated to The Salvation Army New Haven 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 & 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 Free small drinks during the following hours: -Friday, April 10th 7am-10am | 3pm-6pm -Saturday, April 11th 9am-12pm | 3pm-6pm -Sunday, April 12th 10am-2pm 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲! Monday April 13th 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬! Free small drinks during the following hours: Monday, April 13th - Friday, April 17th 8am-9am | 12pm-1pm | 5pm-6pm 1 drink per present customer 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐲! Free shirt with purchase of a large drink Saturday, April 18th 5:30am-11pm! While supplies last 7 Brew is a viral drive-thru based coffee shop that serves a number of beverages including 'The 7 Originals', coffee flavors like blondie, brunette, smooth 7, white chocolate mocha, cinnamon roll, german chocolate, and sweet & salty. The shop also features 7 Energy (an iced energy drink with numerous flavors), smoothies, milkshakes, teas, lemonades, 7 Fizz (sparkling water with any flavor), cold brew, and classic espresso and coffee drinks. They have CT locations in Vernon, Orange, Wallingford, Bridgeport, and now New Haven! New locations are coming soon to North Haven (official opening date TBD), Groton, New Milford, Waterbury, and Middletown.
A new grocery store chain is coming to Milford!
According to recently released site plan, Sprouts Farmers Market is coming soon to Milford! The grocery store will occupy a new 26,000 +/- square foot building at 1052 Boston Post Road in Milford. The site was previously rumored for The Fresh Market, though the lease plans now show Sprouts will be moving in. T-Mobile has also signed on to occupy a space in a smaller multi-tenant plaza on the same site. The new development would be built on the site of the former Hooters restaurant as well as a portion of the Genesis dealership property, the dealership itself will remain. Stay tuned for more information on their construction! An additional 8,110 square feet is available for lease in the multi-tenant building, find more information here: https://truecre.com/.../connecticu.../incredible-visibility/ Sprouts Farmers Market is a growing chain of organic grocery stores throughout the United States. They current have no locations in Connecticut, but are planning stores including this site and another is Westport. 
A new ice cream shop is coming to West Haven! Coastal Cone Creamery is coming soon to 270 Captain Thomas Boulevard in West Haven, the former Savin Rock Surf Shop space. Coastal Cone Creamery is expected to serve ice cream along with other frozen treats! The business recently announced the new venture on their social media. Renovations are now underway according to their announcement. The new sweet shop will occupy 1,187 square feet of space. Make sure to follow their Instagram below for more information on their opening and menu items! Find them here: https://www.instagram.com/coastalconecreamery/  A new halal restaurant has opened in Waterbury! Shah's Halal Food has opened their second Waterbury location at 1051 Wolcott Street, formerly home to 7 Eleven and later Smoking Ape Co. Smoke Shop. The restaurant serves a wide variety of halal 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 is a quick-growing chain of Halal eateries with locations in East Hartford, Newington, Middletown, Vernon, Hamden, Stratford, Waterbury (2), Wallingford, New Haven, Orange, Bridgeport, Danbury, Stamford, Bristol, Norwalk, Winsted, with more coming soon! Find them at 1051 Wolcott Street in Waterbury! Shah's is open daily from 11am to 11pm with online ordering coming soon. A Cheshire tradition returns tomorrow for another season! Rose Dairy will reopen its doors the season this Saturday (03/28)! The ice cream and burger joint is located at 906 South Main Street in Cheshire! The roadside stand serves hand-pressed charbroiled hamburgers, Hummel hot dogs, milkshakes, soft serve & hard serve ice cream, sundaes, delicious sides like fries & onion rings, and much more. Stop in this summer for one of their amazing lobster rolls, served hot & buttery. The business has been around for decades, originally established in 1951. They operate seasonally from March until November. Join them this Saturday and enjoy a Cheshire tradition dating back 75 years! 7th Street Burger is coming soon to New Haven! The restaurant will be located at 1054 Chapel Street in New Haven, the former Avocado Haven location in Downtown New Haven. Signs were recently installed on the exterior of their new space. Craveable smash burgers, loaded fries, and late-night bites. The no-frills menu allows them to focus on the quality of the products they sell. 7th Street Burger serves fast, greasy goodness. The New Haven location will be joined by a new location in Stamford. The chain currently has dozens of locations throughout New York, Washington DC, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 7th Street Burgers is expected to open soon! Stay tuned! 
Cinnabon & Auntie Anne's have set their opening date at Brass Mill Center!
Cinnabon & Auntie Anne's Pretzels will open their doors on Tuesday, March 31st at 12:00pm! The eateries share a space in the mall's food court on the second level. The opening marks the return of Cinnabon to the mall were it previously operated until early 2025. Auntie Anne's is a new tenant to the mall, though a similar franchise Pretzelmaker previously operated multiple locations at Brass Mill Center. "We are thrilled to welcome Cinnabon back to Brass Mill Center," said Denis Nezaj, COO of Summit Properties USA. "The brand is a favorite among our patrons and we are excited that the store will also feature Auntie Anne's Pretzels - a new brand for the mall and a delicious addition to our community." Cinnabon is a chain of bakeries specializing in cinnamon rolls, coffees, 'Chillattas' and other sweets. Auntie Anne's is a chain of shops serving soft-baked pretzels, pretzel dogs, lemonades, and other goodies. Find them at 495 Union Street in Waterbury Stop in on March 31st for your sugar fix! 
The former TGI Fridays space has a new restaurant tenant in Orange!
Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings is coming soon to the old TGI Fridays space at 348 Boston Post Road in Orange! The space has sat vacant since TGI Fridays closed in October of 2024. Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings is an Michelin-recommended and award winning dumpling restaurant that started in 2006 in Flushing, NY. The restaurant describes itself as "The first choice for local Chinese immigrants who are craving for authentic Northern Chinese food, Jiangsu & Zhejiang cuisine. A lot of western diners also visit Nan Xiang to experience our famous dishes recommend by various publications and food bloggers." The restaurant describes their cusine as "The signature dishes are the restaurant’s unrivaled crab and pork soup dumplings, plentiful steamed buns and Shanghainese dim sum. Other popular dishes include pan-fried crispy noodles, fried rice cakes, scallion pancakes with sliced beef, fish fillet & pickled cabbage noodle soup and pan-fried dumplings." Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings opened their first Connecticut location last summer at Stamford Town Center in Stamford. They currently have 10 locations across the US with 9 more in development. Stay tuned for more information on their opening! A new luxury nail spa is opening in Seymour!
Magic Nails Bar is coming soon to Seymour! The new spa will be located 57 New Haven Road in Seymour. Stop in for their soft opening this Friday, March 20th. At Magic Nails Bar, each manicure and pedicure is more than just a beauty treatment—it’s a masterpiece. Their skilled nail artists blend precision, creativity, and top-quality products to create results that reflect your unique personality. Guests will enjoy complementary drinks while they relax and enjoy their treatments. Their new space has been beautifully outfitted with elegant materials, bringing a sense of luxury to the spa experience. Let them pamper you and redefine nail care with an experience that’s as relaxing as it is transformative. Magic Nail Bar focuses on high sanitation standards, modern equipment, and a comfortable atmosphere — including some of the most advanced pedicure chairs on the market. The salon offers a full range of professional beauty services including: •Nail Care •Spa Pedicures •Eyelash Extensions •Permanent Makeup •Microblading Find them at 57 New Haven Road in Seymour or online at https://magicnailsbar.com/ They will be open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am-6:30pm A unique new eatery is coming soon to New Haven! Papa's Loca is coming soon to 370 Whalley Avenue in New Haven. The new restairamt plans to open in early April according to owner Christina Papastavros. The space was previously occupied by Lea's Falafelhaus. The restaurant's specialty will be massive baked potatoes! Offering 15 different varieties of their stuffed baked potatoes stacked high with meats, veggies, mac & cheese, and much more. Try the Maniac Mac, Shrimp-ocalypse, The Herbivore, The Crazy Clam, or any of their 'loca' options! Why wait for the Big E when you can get your potato fix right in New Haven? Papa's Loca will also serve homemade empanadas, potato balls, sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, and much more. They will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Look for them to open in early April! A new luxury nail spa is opening in Hamden! Day Night Nail Spa is a new modern, luxury nail and beauty salon located at 2300 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden, part of Hamden Mart. The new spa will celebrate its grand opening in April, but they are open for walk-ins starting March 20th as part of the soft opening! The 3,800-square-foot salon is designed to provide a clean, relaxing, and elevated beauty experience for clients throughout Hamden and the surrounding communities. The salon offers a full range of professional beauty services including: •Nail Care •Spa Pedicures •Eyelash Extensions •Permanent Makeup •Microblading •And much more! Day Night Nail Spa focuses on high sanitation standards, modern equipment, and a comfortable atmosphere — including advanced pedicure chairs with one-time disposable jet systems to ensure the highest level of hygiene for every guest. The space also features a VIP room for private services, making it ideal for clients seeking a more personalized or luxury experience. With a large team of skilled technicians and extended service offerings, Day Night Nail Spa aims to become a go-to destination for beauty and self-care in the Hamden area. Find them at 2300 Dixwell Avenue in Hamden and online at https://www.daynightnailspa.com They will be open daily from 10am-6pm with extended hours after their grand opening in April! 
A new ice cream shop & eatery has opened in Waterbury! Mario’s Ice Cream | Antojitos Locos is NOW OPEN in Waterbury. The new ice cream shop and Mexican eatery is located at 1587 Baldwin Street in Waterbury. The new eatery serves ice cream cups & cones, sundaes, fresh fruit cups, smoothies, milkshakes, coconuts, Mexican eats, snacks, baked goods, churro splits, and much more! Find them at 1587 Baldwin Street in Waterbury They are open daily from 9am-9pm 
Common Grounds is bringing a second location to Hamden!
Common Grounds Specialty Coffee House is coming soon to 1697 Whitney Avenue in Hamden, the former Bank of America building in Walgreen's Plaza. The new coffee shop will occupy 3,800 square feet of space with plans to reused the bank's drive thru. The entire building will receive renovations including the interior and exterior improvements. Common Grounds serves a drips coffee and espresso-based beverages like lattes, macchiato, cappuccino, and others. Their food menu includes a variety of pastries, cakes, muffins, and other delicious options. The new location is planned to open this fall! This will be Common Grounds' eighth location after existing shops in Branford, Hamden (Dixwell Ave), New Haven (3), and Shelton (2). 
Ollie's Bargain Outlet has set the grand opening date for its new Derby location!
The new discount retailer will open its doors on Thursday April 2nd! Ollie's will be located at 656 New Haven Avenue in Derby, the former American Freight space at Hilltop Commons. The store occupies 25,000 square feet. The retailer known for their deep discounts and closeouts. Ollie's buys overstock, slightly imperfect, and leftover merchandise from the big retailers and suppliers. The store carries dry grocery, books, decorations, limited furniture, flooring, hardware, home decor, and other home goods. You'll save up to 70% off the fancy stores' prices. This is Ollie's sixth CT location behind existing stores in Newington, Manchester, Willimantic, Waterford, and Barkhamsted. TJ Maxx is NOW OPEN in Cheshire! The new TJ Maxx store opens this morning at The Shops at Stone Bridge, located at 1991 Highland Avenue in Cheshire! Join them for their grand opening today (03/12) from 8am to 10pm. The new store replaces their location at Meriden Mall in Meriden; that store closed last week after a brief moving sale. The new TJ Maxx location is 23,000 square feet roughly the same size as their previous Meriden location. TJ Maxx is the latest tenant to join The Shops at Stone Bridge. The development recently welcomed Whole Foods Market, Barnes & Noble, Saybrook Home, Chipotle, Starbucks, and other with many more coming soon. TJ Maxx is one of the country's leading discount retailers where designer brands and low prices come together. They have something for everyone at prices your wallet will love. Find them at 1991 Highland Avenue in Cheshire They are open daily from 9:30am-9:30pm 
A new coffee shop is coming to Middlebury!
Greenway Coffee is coming soon to 1255 Middlebury Road in MIddlebury, the former home of Middlebury Coffee Company in the Middlebury Hamlet shopping center. The new coffee shop will open on March 21st at 8am! The owner, Kyle Calitri, was born and raised in Middlebury. A proud graduate of the Region 15 School District. He is bringing the coffee shop to life with the goal to create a warm and welcoming environment for the community! The menu will consist of multiple coffee varieties from around the world! The house blend will be an Ethopian roast. They will also serve bagels and other breakfast items, locally source from area vendors. Look for them to open on March 21st! 
A new health-conscious restaurant has opened in Branford!
MOON SHOTS has opened its doors at 1208 Main Street in Branford; part of the Lockworks Square complex. The restaurant opened its doors last Friday, March 6th. The new eatery features a variety of health-conscious foods including organic juices, coffees, acai bowls, avocado toast, smoothies, parfaits, pastries, and much more! Join them for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or an afternoon snack. Fuel your day with quick, clean energy you can trust. Their menu contains no seed oils, no artificial ingredients and no processed sugars. Find their full menu online at drinkmoonshots.com Find them at 1208 Main Street in Branford. This is Moon Shots' second location behind the original at 1063 Boston Post Road in Guilford. They are open: Monday through Saturday 8am-4pm Sunday 9am-3pm 
A new yoga option is coming to Wallingford!
Baseline Regenerative is coming soon to Wallingford! The new yoga studio will be located at 216 Center Street in Wallingford, near Green Kettle Coffee. The new studio will feature both regular and hot-yoga with classes aimed at different goals like Zen & Tonic, Recover & Renew, Rejuvenate & Restore, Move & Mend, Restore & Rebuild, Soften & Strengthen, and Stretch & Reset. They will also host workshops. Find a full list of their classes on their website: baselineregen.com Baseline Regenerative offers a drop in option, but also has memberships ranging from $65 up to $189 and class packages of 5 or 10 classes. The studio will add an infrared sauna soon as well! Transform your practice in their signature infrared-heated studio. Combine the power of heat, movement, and breath in a sanctuary designed for your wellness journey. The studio plans to open on March 21rd! |
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