Barb's Pizza is NOW OPEN in Southington!
The new pizza place is located at Factory Square, Southington; 168 Center Street. The pizza place marks the return of the Barb's Pizza brand; they previously operated restaurants in Cromwell and West Hartford. The new pizza shop sells slices, full pizzas, salads, grinders, and much more. The shop has slices available with flavors like: cheese, pepperoni, riccota and spinach, white pie, and others. The pizza shop joins the variety of tenants in the complex including (but not limited too): The Lab, Montana Nights Axe Throwing, GameCraft Arcade, Hardcore Sweet Bakery, Perkatory Coffee Roasters, and others. Barb’s will soon open their new Cromwell location, replacing Wooster Street Pizza at 77 Berlin Road. They expect to open in a few short weeks! Stay tuned!
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The Art of Yum restaurant no longer has a physical location.
Chef Michone Denae Arrington has pivoted to offering customers a full-service personal chef, catering and meal preparation at www.theartofyum.com. Arrington with culinary partners Dontae Jones and James Thompson opened the first Art of Yum in 2018 in downtown Waterbury, featuring a menu of Asian-fusion, Southern-homestyle, seafood, barbecue and other specialties. The Art of Yum opened a second location in the Plantsville section of Southington in February 2021 and later that year moved in Waterbury from Grand Street to the nearby Mattatuck Museum. The Plantsville restaurant relocated in 2023 to the Hawk’s Landing Country Club at 201 Pattonwood Dr. and closed last year. Both former Art of Yum locations have been succeeded by established eateries. Bunkers Bar & Grill has returned to Hawk’s Landing, offering salads, sandwiches and more, seven days a week. Sweet Bella's meanwhile has brought its “signature Italian deli classics with Latin influences” to the Mattatuck Museum. It’s had a presence in Waterbury since 2013. 
Poke Bros is coming soon to Southington!
The national Poke bowl chain will open their second Connecticut location in Southington! The brand has leased the former Luen Hop in Shoprite Plaza. The shop sells Hawaiian poke bowls, like sushi in a bowl. Poké Bros has rapidly expanded into multiple states across the Midwest and East Coast, offering the same fresh and authentic cuisine to a wider range of customers. Find a menu here: https://eatpokebros.com/menu/ The chain's lone Connecticut location is in Avon at 25 Climax Road. No timeline has been announced for their opening. Stay tuned! Lots of stuff going on at Factory Square, Southington!
-Barb's Pizza plans to open their door next week! The newest location of Barb's Pizza plans to open in the middle of next week according to the owner. The shop is just waiting for their food delivery from their supplier. -GameCraft Arcade will open their newly expanded arcade at Factory Square! The first floor arcade has expanded to the second level with a new floor of fun including arcade games and a new bar area. The downstairs space is currently undergoing a renovation and will reopen this Thursday alongside their new second floor! -Curioporium is now open at Factory Square! The shop is your home for all things strange and unusual. Curioporium is located on the lower level of the building; selling many unique and curious items. It is difficult to describe their item assortment; You will just need to check them out instead! Factory Square is located at 168 Center Street in Southington. The complex is home to a great lineup of tenants including Perkatory Coffee Roasters, Leaps & Bones, Montana Nights Axe Throwing, Witchdoctor Brewing Company, The Lab, Hardcore Sweet Bakery, Rosie's Royal Chocolates, and many more! 
Pig Rig BBQ & Catering opens today at 1843 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike after a three-year wait!
Pig Rig BBQ bills itself as an “outrageous hickory-smoked bbq joint and hot rod food truck,” featuring pulled pork, hot dogs, chicken, bbq platters, baby back ribs, its signature sides and more. Owner Daniel Lanigan has been in the industry since 2006, when he began operating a hot dog food truck. Seven years later he pivoted to the Pig Rig BBQ food truck, followed in 2014 with the opening of a restaurant at 950 Yale Ave. in Wallingford. Pig Rig first anticipated the buildout of the former Dunkin,’ adjacent to the Econo Lodge motel, would be completed by early 2022. Their website is www.pigrigbbq.com.
El Sombrero Mexican Restaurant & Cantina is gearing up for a move from Queen Street to downtown Southington!
The restaurant plans to relocate after 29 years in the Oak Hill Mall plaza at 151 Queen St. to 75 Center St. The previous occupant, the 75 Center bar, closed in July after eight years. It had reopened three months earlier after a stabbing and brawl led to its liquor license being suspended. El Sombrero owner Shawn Daigle of Glastonbury purchased the site in January through Downtown 75 Center LLC for $490,000. Interior construction work continues this week. There is no confirmed opening date for the Center Street location. The public has until April 14 to weigh in on the liquor permit application. The restaurant has undergone numerous ownership changes since it opened in 1996. It was once known as Eddie’s Sombrero in honor of former owner Eddie Adames, who died in 2014.
The PolishPlate will live on!
The future of the restaurant at 1095 West St. was uncertain when owner Margaret Kopacz announced last month she would be selling the business to accept a position with the state Department of Revenue Services. She didn’t need to look far. Family members Ewa and Chris Wirkowski will continue offering the authentic Polish cuisine that has been on the menu since its opening in 2019. The Wirkowskis are Southington residents who immigrated from Poland as children. They said all current employees will remain with them and the only adjustment to the menu will be the eventual introduction of seasonal specials. The Wirkowskis told The Southington Scoop that the transition should be completed in the next month or so. In the meantime, they are hopeful customers will “continue to share the same kindness and loyalty that makes this restaurant so special.” 
La Catrina Bar & Restaurant at 1169 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike has closed.
The restaurant opened in late 2021, replacing the former Hop Knot bar. La Catrina was owned by Yessica Trujillo Macary and other members of her family. The spot was known for its Mexican specialties and drinks, happy hour offerings and karaoke nights. Coldwell Banker Realty has the listing as owner 1169 M&W Rd LLC seeks to lease to a new tenant. Work is now underway on the new Aroma Joe's coming to Southington! The new coffee shop will open their third Connecticut location at 279 Queen Street in Southington, the former Rita's location. The existing Rita's building has now been demolished and site work is underway. A new 1,011 square foot drive thru coffee shop will be built on the site. The shop will be drive thru only, similar to their Bristol location. The menu includes traditional coffees, espresso-based beverages, custom energy drinks, FroJoe (like a frappe), smoothies, donuts, breakfast sandwiches, and more. Check out their full menu here: https://aromajoes.com/menu/ Aroma Joe's has 2 Connecticut locations, one in Waterbury and the other in neighboring Bristol; another new location is coming to Berlin in 2025! The chain has over 100 locations throughout New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Florida, and Mass. Make sure you follow The Southington Scoop for more Southington business news! A downtown jewelry store is temporarily shutting down. B&V Jewelers has announced it will remain closed into mid-February because of "a very dire family medical emergency." Owner Anuj "Andy" Bawa plans to reopen to customers on Saturday, Feb. 15. A recent Facebook post thanked customers for their "support, patience and understanding." B&V Jewelers has been in business since 2015. The store was among the first tenants to locate in the commercial and office complex at 318 North Main St., adjacent to fire department headquarters. The jeweler moved to the site in April after two years at 76 North Main St. The business specializes in GIA diamonds and buying gold, platinum, silver, silver flatware and coins. Bawa has worked in the industry since 2008. He has been active in the community since opening the Southington store a decade ago. |
