A new restaurant is coming soon to Main Street!

Pesto’s is coming soon to 98 Main Street, the former Flair restaurant space! The new restaurant will be owned by Paulo DaRocha; owner of Cafe Pesto in Farmington and Elizabeth Bar & Restaurant in Rocky Hill and East Windsor.

The restaurant is expected to serve Italian and American cuisine like its sister restaurants.

No opening timeline has been announced. Renovations are underway and the restaurant recently applied for their liquor license.
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Stay tuned for more information!

Have you checked out CT's newest karaoke suites?

SOLA Karaoke is NOW OPEN in Southington at 168 Center Street, part of Factory Square, Southington. The new business features 9 private karaoke suites and a lounge where you can sing with your friends and family!

The venue has rooms for most occasions; with options from 4-7 guests, 8-12 guests, and up to 13-25 guests. Belt out Whitney Houston or ABBA in the comfort of your own private sound-proof room.

Enjoy some liquid courage to prepare for your song at the Karaoke Lounge's bar. Perfect spot for a nightout, birthdays, bachelorette / bachelor parties, divorce celebration, funeral afterparty, or any other occassion.
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Book your room now! Make your reservations here: https://solakaraoke.com/

By Christopher Fortier & Jean-Luc Dube

Check out the lastest news for around Southington!

-Renaldo's Pizza and El Sombrero are now open in their new shared location at 75 Center Street in Southington, formerly 75 Center. The restaurant's are now under one roof, serving Mexican and Italian. Check them out during tonight's Music on the Green.

-Senor Pancho will make their Southington return! The Mexican restaurant will reopen their doors at 151 Queen Street in Southington, the former El Sombrero space. No opening date has been set for the new restaurant. Read our full story here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CLDDCYwMa/

-Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard will return to Southington, just temporarily. Rita's will have a truck from their Farmington location parked in Southington at Oak Hill Mall every Friday from 5pm to 10pm. Rita's previously operated a location on Queen Street, the space is currently under development into an Aroma Joe's location. Read our full story here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CLDDCYwMa/

-Five Below is NOW OPEN in the Shop Rite Plaza at 724 Queen Street! The discount store replaces the former CVS Pharmacy in the plaza, occupying over 8,500 square feet. The store is open Monday through Saturday 9:30am to 9:30pm and Sunday 10am to 8pm. Read our full story here:
​ https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1HCSqf43uT/

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

By Christopher Fortier

After a 29-year absence, Señor Panchos is returning to Southington!

The local chain continues to renovate the former El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant & Cantina in the Oak Hill Mall at 151 Queen St., which closed ahead of a move to downtown Southington. It will share space at 75 Center St. with Renaldo's Apizza. Owner Shawn Daigle last month told the Zoning Board of Appeals he sold the Queen Street location and lease to Senor Pancho’s.

According to paperwork filed with the town, the layout of the new restaurant will be similar to El Sombrero, including three dining areas and a lounge/bar.

Senor Pancho’s runs other locations in Southbury, Middlebury, Thomaston and Prospect. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner featuring fajitas, quesadillas, a variety of street tacos and more. The menu is at www.senorpanchos.com.
An opening date for the Southington location hasn’t been set. Senor Pancho’s returns to the same spot on Queen Street it occupied before becoming El Sombrero in 1996.
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Meanwhile in the Oak Hill Mall, those missing Rita's since it closed on Queen Street in 2023, its Italian ice and frozen custard are back, this time on four wheels. The catering truck from the Rita's Farmington location will be stationed in the plaza offering up favorites from 5 to 10 p.m. every Friday through the summer. The menu and additional details can be found at www.ritasice.com.

By Christopher Fortier

The new Five Below store in the Shop Rite Plaza at 724 Queen St. kicks off a Grand Opening Weekend on Friday, May 30!

The chain, with more than 1,800 stores in 45 states, announced plans last summer for its 11th location in Connecticut. The 8,555-square-foot space formerly occupied by CVS Pharmacy has been completely renovated in the last several months.

Five Below is known for its toys and games, tech, large array of candy and snacks, room decor, brand-name beauty and more. Most products are priced at $5 or less, with a smaller assortment of products priced up to $25.
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The new Southington store plans to celebrate the grand opening Friday through Sunday with prizes, giveaways and kids’ activities. While the location opens Friday at 10 a.m., regular hours will be Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The store’s website is www.fivebelow.com.
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By Jean-Luc Dube

By Christopher Fortier

The Manhattan is back in business tomorrow (May 9)!

Five months after closing their Eden Avenue location in anticipation of a move to downtown Southington, owners Rob and Diane Sitz were officially welcomed Wednesday to their new spot at 56 Center St. by Barbara Hekeler, president and CEO of the Greater Southington Chamber of Commerce.

The restaurant’s website states the new location will provide “bold flavors, sleek interiors, and the same warm hospitality you know and love — just with an elevated vibe!”

The Manhattan will be open this Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 12 to 8 p.m. They are hitting the ground running by taking reservations for Mother’s Day lunch and dinner this weekend. The menu and additional details can be found at www.manhattansouthington.com

Meanwhile, as The Manhattan gears up for a new chapter, its neighbor at 61 Center St. is getting ready to say goodbye. Board & Brush Creative Art Studio has announced it will close after a final public workshop on June 14. The owners of the franchise said in social media that life changes have taken them away from Connecticut, making it difficult to stay in business. There are 250 Board and Brush studios in 43 states. The other Connecticut locations are in Danbury, Monroe, Mystic, Plainfield and Somers.
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Customers with a rebook code, store credit or gift certificate are asked to use them before the closing date. More information can be found at www.boardandbrush.com/southington

​The owner of the Tacos Mi Nacho Mexican restaurant is gearing up to open a third location!

The causal Mexican eatery is putting the final touches on its new spot at 1169 Meriden-Waterbury Tpke., the former La Catrina restaurant that closed earlier this year. There is no set opening date.

Tacos Mi Nacho Southington tells the Scoop its existing restaurant at 1796 Meriden-Waterbury Tpke., opposite Wendy’s and the AMC movie theater, will remain open. The location celebrated its fourth anniversary in January. The original Tacos Mi Nacho is located at 554 Broad St. in Meriden.

The restaurant serves up a variety of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, fajitas and more.
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The building at 1169 Meriden-Waterbury Tpke. is owned by Louis Perillo III of Old Saybrook, Southington town economic development coordinator, through 1169 M&W Rd LLC.

The Manhattan is nearly ready to conclude the longest winter break ever! Though the restaurant has not yet announced an opening date for its new spot at 56 Center St., fresh exterior signage was recently installed and word is that renovation work is almost completed. The restaurant, closed since January, is relocating after five years at 16 Eden Ave. The crew has kept up with social media, offering teases of food and drink as work at the Center Street location continued through the winter. The menu and updates can be found at www.manhattansouthington.com.

Renovation work continues as El Sombrero - Southington Mexican Restaurant & Cantina, Renaldo's Apizza and Three Cs prepare to relocate to 75 Center St. Owner Shawn Daigle recently received a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals for new exterior signage. El Sombrero will leave the Oak Hill Mall at 151 Queen St. after 29 years. Daigle told the ZBA he has sold the lease and location to the Mexican restaurant Senor Pancho's, the former occupant of the site. The chain confirmed last month it would be returning to Southington. Renaldo’s has been at 350 Queen St. since a fire destroyed its longtime home on North Main Street in 2016. Daigle, of Glastonbury, purchased 75 Center St. in January through Downtown 75 Center LLC for $490,000.
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The new Spelunkers bar and restaurant continues to find a following at 25 Center St. General manager Leslie Cortes-Matias tells the Scoop that the concept caters to customers “nostalgic for those high school summer nights (and) the feeling of hanging out in your best friend's basement, without a care in the world…a space for you to eat, drink, and chill, packed to the brim with neon lights, custom graffiti, games, TV (and) music.” The spot features 90’s-style arcade games, a photo booth, pool table, a rotating roster of local DJs, dance parties and karaoke nights. The food menu developed by owner and chef Mike Truss celebrates the dive bar atmosphere with a strong hint of his Craft Kitchen. The menu and more information can be found at www.spelunkersct.com.