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I stopped into the new Umi Hot Pot Sushi & Seafood Buffet in North Haven last night, here is my review. The new Asian buffet opened on July 3rd at 61 Washington Avenue in North Haven, replacing the former Hantang Buffet that closed in 2018. The space has been beautifully renovated with a new modern esthetic with a cool umbrella and greenery decorate package. The buffet offers a delicious variety of fresh sushi, seafood, and international dishes in a welcoming atmosphere. You'll find other options including grill items, Wok-made entrees, hot-pot, ramen, and desserts. The sushi was delicious, good quality fish and beautifully prepared. They had plenty of seafood on the buffet including crawfish, shrimp, crab legs, and much more; I’m not a huge fan of seafood except sushi (especially seafood with the eyes and legs attached) but it’s definitely a good option for those who are. Plenty of options for non-seafood eaters!The ramen & hotpot stations offered many options with a lot of customization to your own tastes. Plenty of drink options including soda, boba, milk tea, fresh fruit teas, and more. Service was great, very attentive staff. Price might be a bit high if you aren’t planning on eating seafood, but it’s a good deal if you are. Find them at 61 Washington Avenue in North Haven Their hours are: Sunday through Thursday 11am-10pm Friday & Saturday 11am-10:30pm Pricing: Lunch Monday-Friday 11:00am-3:30pm Adult $23.99 Kids (3-5 years / 3-4 ft) $10.99 Kids (6-10 years / 4-5 ft) $15.99 Dinner Monday-Friday 3:30pm-Close Saturday & Sunday All Day Adult $38.99 Kids (3-5 years / 3-4 ft) $14.99 Kids (6-10 years / 4-5 ft) $18.99
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Both remaining Pretzelmaker locations at Meriden Mall appear to have closed after decades of business.
The pretzel franchise recently closed their two remaining locations inside the Meriden Mall in Meriden. One locations was on the first level of the mall near Finish Line and the other on the second level near Adventure Palace (closed over a month ago). As of today Pretzelmaker has been removed from the mall's website and the Meriden Mall locations have been removed from Pretzel Maker store locator. The phone number for the pretezel shop is now disconnected. The mall was once home to 3 locations, with one near the food court that closed last year. The closures leave the mall pretzel-less and are a setback to the mall's recent gains. Meriden Mall recently added Adventure Palace, Santos Kitchen Catering & Events, Universal Hotel Furniture Liquidators, Moz Pizza, and others. The mall will soon add Legendz Barber Academy and The Half Courts Basketball Training.
A new national retailer has opened at Connecticut Post Mall in Milford!
Pandora is NOW OPEN on the second level of the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford! The jewelry store opened its door officially yesterday. The Danish jeweler and retailer is 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, The Shops at Evergreen Walk, Danbury Fair, Trumbull Mall, The SoNo Collection, and has numerous authorized-seller jewelry stores through CT. The mall recently welcomed other new tenants including Xfinity, JD Sports, The Bristol Bazaar - Milford, and will soon welcome Exotic Snack Guys. What would you like to see open at Connecticut Post Mall next? Comment below! 
A new Yemeni coffee shop chain is coming to New Haven!
Qahwah House is coming soon to the new Estelle New Haven development at 19 Elm Street in New Haven! The new coffee house is expected to open this fall, marking the chain's second CT location, with another opening soon in Stamford. The coffee shop serves 100% organic Arabica beans roasted in small batches to bring you an authentic taste of Yemeni coffee culture. On their menu you will find traditional Yemeni coffee & teas along with espresso drinks, iced coffees, pastries, smoothies, matcha drinks, refreshers, and Yemeni desserts. Find their full menu here: https://qahwahhouse.com/ Qahwah House joins a growing number of Yemeni & Arabic coffee shops popping up around Connecticut including Yemerica Coffee, MOTW Coffee & Pastries, Arwa Coffee, M2 Mocha Cafe, and others. Look for them to open this fall! 
A new restaurant is coming soon to Waterbury’s Brass Mill Center!
Nolaro Jerk & Grill will be bringing a taste of the tropics to Brass Mill Center’s food court this fall! The restaurant is now labeled as ‘coming soon’ on the mall’s website. The menu will feature authentic jerk chicken, Jamaican cuisine, and other favorites from the islands. The new restaurant plans to open in September. Nolaro Jerk & Grill is just one of the new additions planned for Brass Mill Center. Innovative Signature Series personal training is coming soon to the mall along with Together We Can Community Alliance! The mall recently added Cinnabon, Black Friday Deals, and others. Nearby Brass Mill Commons will soon add Raising Cane’s and Best Buy to their line-up. 
Congratulations to Rich Farm Ice Cream Shop! They have been voted 'Best Ice Cream Shop' in New Haven County!
This ice cream shop features soft serve & hard serve ice cream as well as dairy-free, Italian ice, ice cream cakes, sundaes, soda floats, milkshakes, and waffle cones made fresh daily! The ice cream shop has 24 flavors of ice cream. Alongside a rotating variety of specialty flavors and seasonal favorites! Stop by and try some of their seasonal special flavors! Find their list of flavors here: https://richfarmicecream.com/flavors/ Find them at 691 Oxford Road in Oxford or their other locations in Bristol and Middlefield. The Oxford shop is open: Monday through Saturday 11:30am-9:00pm Sunday 11:00am-8:00pm Voting is now open for the Best Ice Cream Shop in Fairfield County! Vote here: https://www.theconnecticutscoop.com/ice-cream-playoffs.html A new ice cream shop, pizzeria, and children’s play center is coming to Waterbury with phase 1 opening on Saturday (07/04)! Xperince , a new restaurant and play center, is opening at 650 Wolcott Street in Waterbury, with the first phase of the complex opening Saturday (07/04). The new business is located in the former Chuck E Cheese space. The ice cream shop and eatery will celebrate is soft opening on Saturday. The shop carries 32 different flavors of hard serve ice cream and serves cones, cups, sundaes, and more! They also carry açaí bowls, waffle sundaes, banana splits, and more. Xperience’s food menu includes burgers, sandwiches, Dorito taco-bowls and much more! Their menu wilI expand in late July or early August to include pizza. Coming this fall, a new soft play structure will be added to their space! The new indoor jungle gym will be perfect for younger kids to play with slides, ball pits, and much more. Find them at 650 Wolcott Street in Waterbury They are open: Thursday through Sunday 12pm-7pm Hours are anticipated to be expanded soon! 
Ramen & Bao has set the opening date for its new Cheshire location! The new restaurant will open tomorrow, July 3rd at The Shops at Stone Bridge in Cheshire! Ramen & Bao (R&B) is located at 2061 Highland Avenue, next door to Chipotle. The restaurant is an Asian bistro; serving a wide variety of gourmet ramen and bao dumplings. You'll also find scallion pancakes, fried rice, Taiwanese Fried Chicken, Spring Rolls, Boba, and much more. This is the second location for the locally owned restaurant with the original located in Oxford and an additional location coming soon in Canton at The Shops at Farmington Valley. Ramen & Bao is owned by restaurateur Jin Bing Lin; he also owns Maru 67, Tomo 68, and many other local eateries. Find them at 2061 Highland Avenue in Cheshire or online at https://www.rnbcheshirect.com/ They are open: Monday through Thursday 11am-9:30pm Friday & Saturday 11am-10:30pm Sunday 12pm-9:30pm
The Bristol Bazaar has opened its new location in Milford! The Bristol Bazaar is now open at Connecticut Post Mall! The marketplace is located on the mall's second floor, in the former Abercrombie space. The new location is your new destination for gifts, workshops, and fun finds! The Bristol Bazaar is a curated, boutique-style marketplace where shopping and community come together; featuring dozens of Connecticut's artisans and makers. The space includes highly-immersive themes, transporting shoppers into a new world. The vendors have their individual spaces, but it is all handled through a single checkout station in the marketplace. This is second location of The Bristol Bazaar; the original opened in 2023 at 67 Race Street in Bristol. The Bristol location features Yellow King Brews (a coffee shop & craft bar) along with classroom space and makerspaces. The Bristol location was voted Best Gift Shop in CT in 2025. Paris Baguette is NOW OPEN in Cheshire! The new bakery is located at 1973 Highland Avenue in Cheshire, part of The Shops at Stonebridge development. Paris Baguette is located at the end unit next to Club Pilates. The bakery chain sells fresh-baked pastries, artisanal breads, cakes, donuts, savory pastries, salads, sandwiches, wraps, Lavazza coffee, espresso beverages, frappes, smoothies, and much more! Check out their full menu here: https://parisbaguette.com/menu Paris Baguette is a South Korean-based chain of bakery cafes with over 200 locations in the United States and 3,600 locations around the globe. They have plans to expand to 1,000 location in North America by 2030. The chain now has 2 locations in Connecticut including Cheshire and West Hartford; with new locations under construction in Norwalk, Fairfield, and Danbury. Find them at 1973 Highland Avenue in Cheshire They are open daily from 6am to 9:30pm 
Umi Hotpot Sushi Seafood Buffet will be opening its doors this Friday, July 3rd! The new Asian buffet will now open its doors on July 3rd according to management! The buffet is located 61 Washington Avenue in North Haven, replacing the former Hantang Buffet that closed in 2018. The buffet offers a delicious variety of fresh sushi, seafood, and international dishes in a welcoming atmosphere. You'll find other options including grill items, Wok-made entrees, hot-pot, ramen, and plenty of desserts. Stop in from July 3rd to July 31st for their special grand opening feature: ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BAKED FRESH LOBSTER WITH CHEESE! Plus, enjoy an incredible spread of fresh sushi, hotpot, snow crab legs, oysters, premium meats, and so much more! Check them out this Friday! Reserve your seats online at https://www.umibuffet.com/ Find them at 61 Washington Avenue in North Haven Their hours are: Sunday through Thursday 11am-10pm Friday & Saturday 11am-10:30pm 
A new tenant is coming to Meriden Mall!
Legendz Barber Academy is coming soon to the Meriden Mall. The new business will take over two vacant spaces on the mall’s first floor next to the former Ruby Tuesday. The new school is planned to open in July in the former Regis Salon & Nail Box spaces. They will teach prospective barbers the necessary skills to excel in the field. The academy will eventually offer their services to the public at a lower cost than typical barbershops. The academy is built on team work, 2 local business teamed up to bring the academy to fruition. Congratulations to Legendz Barbershop and Elite Bail Bonds! Look for them to open this July! Legendz joins a growing list of newer tenants at the mall including Adventure Palace, Universal Hotel Furniture Liquidators, Santos Kitchen Event Space, Moz.pizza and others. A new basketball training facility is now under construction in the mall as well. 
North Haven’s newest retro-themed restaurant has set its opening date!
Gas Burgers will be opening its doors on July 15th at 277 State Street in North Haven! The new eatery has turned the former gas station into a retro 1950s style burger joint. The exterior has been restored while the interior has been transformed into a state of the art retro-style restaurant. The restaurant features mouthwatering smash-burgers, fries, beer battered onion rings, hot dogs, cocktails, beer, milkshakes, ice cream, and much more! Gluten free buns are available for burgers. Make sure to try their signature items like The Classic Tune Up Burger, The Garage Dog, and World’s Best Key Lime Pie (gf)! They have added a new outdoor space with fire pits, bocce, cornhole, live music, and much more old-school fun for the whole family. The new venture is owned by Chris Allen, a North Haven resident. A new ice cream shop has opened in West Haven! Coastal Cone Creamery is now open at 270 Captain Thomas Boulevard in West Haven, the former Savin Rock Surf Shop space. They are currently in their soft opening period with a grand opening celebration to be announced soon. The new ice cream shop serves hard ice cream, sundaes, and many more frozen treats! Check them out for a list of their current flavors. Make sure to follow their Instagram below for more information on their grand opening celebration! Find them here: https://www.instagram.com/coastalconecreamery/ 
A new Pan-Asian restaurant will open its doors tomorrow in Meriden!
Daisuki Ran will open tomorrow (June 20th) at 34 River Road in Meriden, the former home of Avanti & Fox Osteria. At Daisuki Ran, every dish is a celebration of heritage and togetherness. The new eatery bring flavors from across Asia—Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, China, and beyond—into a refined dining experience where love and respect are the secret ingredients. On their menu you’ll find sushi, wok entrees, rice bowls, steaks, noodle dishes, and much more! Find their menu online here: https://order.toasttab.com/.../daisuki-ran-llc-34-river-road Find them at 34 River Road in Meriden Their hours are: Sunday through Thursday 4pm-9:30pm Friday & Saturday 4pm-10pm Lunch Hours Coming Soon! A new restaurant is coming to Naugatuck!
Dumpling Eatery is coming soon to 28 Church Street in Naugatuck, the former home of Mike's Pizza Palace. Mike's closed in November after 50 years of business. The new restaurant will serve a wide variety of dumplings as well as bubble tea/boba, appetizers, and more. The restaurant will be take-out only with no dine-in service planned. Dumpling Eatery will be owned by Jin Bing Lin, the owner of numerous Asian-food concepts throughout Connecticut including Ramen & Bao, Tomo 68, and others. Look for them to open later this year!
A new Italian Cafe has opened in Guilford! Ciao! Angie is now open at 51 Whitfield Street in Guilford! The new Italian cafe features breakfast & lunch options to satisfy anyone's palette. On their menu you will find breakfast offerings, espresso-based drinks (iced or hot), coffees, paninis (pressed on your choice of focaccia, cornetto, or brioche), salads, soups, pastries, desserts, and much more! FInd their full menu on their website here: https://ciaoangie.com/ Ciao! Angie is more than a name to the family… it’s a spirit, a presence, and a way of gathering. It honors Angeline “Angie” Balzano, a fiercely Italian matriarch whose warmth, confidence, and generosity still linger wherever people come together around a table. This is Angie’s table, and everyone is welcome. Here, we cook, we gather, we remember… just as Angie would have wanted. Follow them on Instagram @ciaoangieofficial or here: https://www.instagram.com/ciaoangieofficial?igsh=MWJ4aXJ0aTVwMW9ucA== Find them at 51 Whitfield Street in Guilford They are open daily from 8am to 5pm
Crumbl Cookies has permanently closed its Milford location.
The Crumbl Cookies location at 1642 Boston Post Road in Milford has closed its doors after 3 1/2 years of business. The cookie shop was located inside the Milford Marketplace shopping center. The business’ last day appears to have been June 13th. This is the second loss for the shopping center this week. Plan B Burger Bar permanently closed its location in the plaza effective at the end of business on June 14th. Crumbl Cookies still has Connecticut locations in Stamford, Fairfield, Manchester, West Hartford, Avon, Shelton, Danbury, North Haven, and Waterbury. A planned location in Meriden has also been cancelled.
7th Street Burger has set the opening date for its first Connecticut location! The new 7th Street Burger at 1054 Chapel Street in New Haven is planning to open on June 29th according to the restaurant's website! 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. Find their full menu online at https://www.7thStreetBurger.com/ The New Haven location will be joined by a new location in Stamford, scheduled to open in early November. The chain currently has dozens of locations throughout New York, Washington DC, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Stop in and try them out on June 29th! Opening date is subject to change depending on final inspections, I will update this post if anything changes. Date is currently posted here: https://locations.7thstreetburger.com/.../1048-chapel-street  
A new restaurant is coming to Southbury!
Farmers Tavern is coming soon to 730 Main Street South in Southbury. The new restaurant replaces Sake Asian Fusion which closed on May 31st. The space will now be home to an entirely new concept featuring fresh seafood, prime steaks, gourmet burgers, farm-fresh vegetables, and so much more. Farmers Tavern is planned to open in mid-July! 
Just Salad is NOW OPEN in Milford!
The new create-your-own-salad restaurant has opened its doors at 1460 Boston Post Road in Milford, the former Boston Market space. The menu for the restaurant chain includes a large variety of salads, build-your-own salad, rice bowls, wraps, smoothies, 'market plates', and much more. The menu features both vegan and gluten free options for customers with those dietary restrictions. Just Salad now has 5 locations in Connecticut including West Hartford, Milford, Norwalk, Fairfield, and Westport. Find them at 1460 Boston Post Road in Milford They are open daily from 10:30am to 9:30pm 
Starbucks has delayed the opening of its North Branford location!
The coffee shop was planned to open its doors today, June 12th, at 286 Branford Road in North Branford. They announced early today they will not be opening as planned. A new opening date has not been announced. The location cites construction set-backs as the reason for the delay. Stay tuned for an updated opening date! A new vintage shop has opened in Hamden!
The Modern/Vintage Shop has opened its doors; the shop is located at 2586 Whitney Avenue in Hamden. The new shop offers a fresh take on thrifting. The store carries a curated collection of vintage and modern items including furniture, clothing, homeware, decor, and much more! Help to save the earth while saving money. Join them for their grand opening celebration on June 18 through June 20th! Find them at 2586 Whitney Avenue in Hamden A new interactive entertainment venue is coming to Cheshire!
Squarena is coming soon to 830 South Main Street in Cheshire, in the Bovano Plaza! Squarena is a new fun gaming experience designed for small groups. The concept is based on a digital landscape made up of lit floor & wall tiles that change, creating a fun and exciting interactive challenge for groups. Tiles are green, red, or blue. Green are safe, Blue are targets, and red means you lose a life. Watch a video of the game in action here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N52ugmiVNkY The new gaming arena will feature 3 private gaming rooms and a party room; occupying 3,000 square feet of space. A special permit for the project was approved at the May 11th Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. No timeline has been announced for their opening. This will be the first Connecticut location for the growing franchise. They currently have locations in Times Square NYC, Queens NY, and San Diego CA. 
A new inpatient medical facility is being proposed for Branford!
A residential home and adjacent land at 596-614 East Main Street could become home to Encompass Health, a new 48-bed facility with associated medical offices and support spaces. Plans alsocall for a potential phase 2 of the development would feature an additional 30-beds. The proposed facility will provide rehabilitative care for individuals recovering from serious illness or injury. Encompass does not provide drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation services. The building home to The Hilltop Gallery would remain alongside the new facility. The project will be heard at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting on June 23rd at 7pm. Find the agenda for the meeting here: https://www.branford-ct.gov/.../Vie.../Agenda/_06232026-3734 and associated documents here: https://branfordct.portal.opengov.com/records/504247 |
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