A new shop has opened in Simsbury!
Sycamore Vintage Home Goods is NOW OPEN at 2 Railroad Street in Simbury, next to Plan B! The new shop opened on February 1st, a new destination for the vintage shopper. The new vintage shop features curated & sustainable vintage home goods inclduing furniture, art, decor, pottery, glassware, and much more in the heart of Simsbury! Make sure to check out their selection of plants as well. Find them at 2 Railroad Street in Simsbury The shop is open: Monday & Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 12pm-5pm Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm Closed Wednesday
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In case you missed it, Connecticut welcomed two new popular grocery stores on Thursday morning!
Whole Foods Market opened their newest location at 1985 Highland Avenue in Cheshire, part of the new The Shops at Stone Bridge development. The new grocery store occupies over 40,000 square feet of space in the new plaza. Whole Foods Market is open daily from 8am-9pm. Trader Joe's officially opened their newest locations at 46 Skiff Street in Hamden, in a portion of the former LA Fitness building. The new grocery store occupies over 13,000 square feet of space. Trader Joe's is open daily from 9am-9pm. Did you shop on opening day at these new stores? Comment below! 
KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot has set their opening date in Hartford! The new KPOT restaurant will open this Sunday, February 8th at 4pm. The new eatery is located at 475 Flatbush Avenue in the Charter Oak Marketplace in Hartford. KPOT is a chain with over 170 locations throughout the United States. This will be their third Connecticut location behind Hamden and Orange. KPOT is a unique, hands-on all-you-can-eat dining experience that merges traditional Asian Hot Pot with Korean BBQ flavors – but modernized with a full bar and a nightlife-like atmosphere. Whether you're gathering with family, catching up with friends, or celebrating a special occasion, our restaurant offers something for everyone. The restaurant is still hiring for 'Front of House' & 'Back of House' staff. Apply here: https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=644f19aac4617183... Find them at 475 Flatbush Avenue in Hartford Their typical hours will be: Sunday through Thursday 12:00pm – 10:30pm Friday & Saturday 12:00pm – 11:30pm
TJ Maxx will close their Meriden location ahead of their Cheshire opening!
The TJ Maxx store at Meriden Mall will close their doors no later than March 7th in anticipation for the opening of their new Cheshire location. Exact closing date is subject to change based on inventory levels. The new Cheshire location will open on March 12th at The Shops at Stone Bridge, next door to Barnes & Noble. TJ Maxx will occupy 23,000 square feet of space, roughly the same size as the Meriden location. Meriden Mall has had a couple of wins in the past few weeks including the opening of Adventure Palace and Santos Kitchen; with The Half Courts basketball training coming soon. T-Mobile unfortunately recently closed their location in the mall. Remaining tenants include Adventure Palace, Santos Kitchen, Total Wireless, Bye Stress, Shoe Dept Encore, Boscovs, AT&T, Finishline, Pretzelmaker, Diva Nails, Kay Jewelers, Club Pickleball, Custom Prints, & Meriden Family Dental. Victus Coffee has opened its new location in Glastonbury!
The new coffee shop is located inside of Square Peg Pizzeria at 1001 Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury. At the new location you will find a new dedicated service counter and drive thru! Victus Coffee serves a variety of beverages including coffee, lattes, cappuccino, cold brew, espresso, and much more. Their menu also includes a variety of freshly-baked pastries, breakfast sandwiches, and other small bites. Join them on February 16th at 11:00am for their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. Each purchase from Victus Coffee supports great causes locally and globally, meaning your morning cup of coffee fuels your purpose AND theirs. A portion of their profits goes towards great causes, dynamic leaders, and local organizations committed to promoting wellness in their communities through athletics, advocacy, and other related initiatives. Find a list of their partners here: https://victuscoffee.com/pages/causes-partners The Glastonbury location joins Victus' original location at 777 Main Street in Downtown Hartford and their sister cafe J.René Coffee Roasters in West Hartford. Find their new coffee shop at 1001 Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury! The coffee shop is open daily from 7:00am to 2:00pm. Hat tip to The Scoop Glastonbury who first reported on plans for the new coffee shop and their opening. Make sure to follow them for more Glastonbury business news! 
Enfield Square Mall has been ordered closed by the Town of Enfield. The mall has been shuttered as of 02/02 according to official notices posted. The closure is reportedly due to unsafe conditions inside the mall; resulting from a frozen pipe causing damage. Target remains open! There is now a fence separating Target from the rest of the mall. It’s unclear if or when the mall would reopen. The mall is only home to 4 tenants including Dionysus Theatre Company, WuKong Tea, CM Accessories, and Integrity Martial Arts. UPDATE: Enfield Square Mall plans to reopen later this week after neccessary repairs are completed & the town accepts the work.  
Could Panda Express be coming to Hartford? The lease plan for Charter Oak Marketplace in Hartford shows a lease pending for a Panda Express restaurant! Find the lease plan below. The restaurant would be located at 539 Flatbush Avenue in Hartford, a vacant site once home to Texas Roadhouse next to Denny’s. No deal has been finalized yet. We reached out to Paramout Realty, the property broker, for comment and they have not responded. Panda Express is the largest Chinese fast food chain restaurant serving their signature famous Orange Chicken along with other traditional favorites. If the project move forward, this would be the Greater Hartford area's first Panda Express in many years. There are currently 2 Panda Express locations in Connecticut including at Tanger Outlets Foxwoods and one in Milford at the Service Plaza. Stay tuned for more information if this project moves forward.  
Trader Joe’s will open their new Hamden location on Thursday!
The new grocery store will open on Thursday, February 5th, at 9am according to staff members at the new store. Trader Joe’s is located at 46 Skiff Street in Hamden, part of the former LA Fitness building. The new store marks Trader Joe’s 11 location in Connecticut; joining their newly opened location in Shelton. The Connecticut Scoop was first to report on Trader Joe’s plans for a Hamden location last summer. Where would you like to see Trader Joe’s open next? Comment below! 
Saks Off 5th has permanently closed all three of their CT locations.
The off-price division of Saks Fifth Avenue has shuttered all 3 of their CT locations alongside dozens of other stores as part of their bankruptcy. The stores were located in: -Clinton, 20 Killingworth Turnpike at Clinton Premium Outlets -Stamford, 110 High Ridge Road in the old Lord & Taylor -West Hartford, 1437 New Britain Avenue at The Corbin Collection Both the Stamford and Clinton locations closed at the end of business yesterday, no major liquidation sale took place. The West Hartford store closed in January. What would you like to see replace Saks Off 5th in these locations? Comment below! 
A new thrift shop is coming soon to West Hartford!
Home for Good is coming soon to 591 New Park Avenue in West Hartford. The new non-profit shop plans to open in early March according to retail manager Christina Heffernan. The thrift shop will offer a boutique experience with items donated from A Hand Up Furniture Bank, CT's largest free furniture bank, next door to Home for Good's new space. Item assortment will include home decor, dining items, furniture, and much more. 100% of the profits from the new thrift shop will go towards Journey Home, a non-profit with a misison to end homelessness in the Hartford region. 
A new badminton facility has opened in East Granby!
Fly Badminton Club is NOW OPEN at 67 Nicholson Road in East Granby. The facility celebrated their grand opening on Saturday, January 31st. The facility features 10 dedicated badminton courts spread over 16,000 square feet of space alongwith a dedicated pro shop! The club is open to players of all calibers, from newbie to professional; the space is open to all. Nikki Vered, the founder of Fly Badminton Club and former member of the USA National Badminton Team, wanted to create training opportunities for athletes that weren’t available to him in his early career. His motivation and 30+ years of experience help shape a space where players of all levels can grow, train, and reach their full potential in a safe space. Fly Badminton Club is open for walk-in sessions and they offer classes & memberships. Find more information on their website here: https://flybadmintonclub.com/ 
Whole Foods Market opens in Cheshire this Thursday, February 5th, at 8am!
The new grocery store is located at 1985 Highland Avenue in Cheshire, in the new The Shops at Stone Bridge development. The store occupies 42,000 square feet of space, one of the main anchor tenants of the plaza. The Cheshire location’s product assortment features more than 1,000 local items from New England including from places right here in Connecticut including Arethusa Farm, Counter Weight Brewing Company, Center Street Soap Co, and many others. The first 300 customers in line on opening day will receive a limited-edition tote bag and a coupon up to $100 off. Check them out on February 5th at 8am, the store will be open daily from 8am-9pm. 
Banana's Ice Cream in Wallingford has closed their doors.
The ice cream shop announced their permanent closure on their website citing 'unique and uncontrollable events' for the closure. Banana's Ice Cream was located at 1122 North Colony Road in Wallingford. The shop has been serving Wallingford for over 30 years(under the Banana’s and Praline names.) They were part of our Ice Cream Shop Playoffs for the previous 2 years. Banana's Ice Cream served a large variety of ice cream flavors, ice cream cakes, sundaes, and much more; the shop served ice cream from The Big Dipper Ice Cream Parlour. The announcement reads: "Due to a series of unique and uncontrollable events over the past six months, it is with heavy hearts that we share we will be unable to reopen after our winter break. After 30 incredible years, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the customers who became friends and the community that supported us every step of the way. This shop has been more than a business to us, it’s been a place filled with memories, laughter, and so much love. Saying goodbye is incredibly difficult, and we will miss you all more than words can express. To continue enjoying the amazing fresh ice cream we served, we encourage you to visit the Big Dipper in Prospect. Thank you for trusting us with your traditions and milestones. We wish each of you nothing but happiness and the very best in the years ahead." 
Eddie Bauer’s store operator is reportedly planning to file for bankruptcy and close their remaining 200 locations.
The outdoorwear chain’s store operator is planning a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and plans to close all 200 of their remaining retail stores; transitioning the company to fully online sales under a new operator according to reporting from WWD. Eddie Bauer currently has 2 outlet stores in CT including: -Westbrook, 314 Flat Rock Place at Westbrook Outlets -Foxwoods, 455 Trolley Line Boulevard at Tanger Outlets The retail store operations are owned by Catalyst Brands; while Authentic Brands Group owns the brand’s name and intellectual property. A new operator, Outdoor 5, is taking over operations of the online sales under a new licensing agreement. The chain previously operated full-line stores in South Windsor (closed earlier this month), Danbury (closed last year), Manchester (closed in 2005), and in Meriden (closed in 2004.) 
The former Masonic Temple could have a new use in Historic Wethersfield!
A special permit application has been submitted to change the use of the old Masonic Temple at 245 Main Street into a mixture of professional office and personal service spaces. According to the narrative, the first floor of the building would be used for professional office space, the second floor would be used for a new beauty salon, and the basement would be either medical or professional office space. Significant building improvements would be needed to convert the space into offices including new exterior site work, the addition of a rear parking lot, and other renovation work. Plans are still subject to Planning & Zoning approval. The new mixed use office use would be a welcome improvement to the unused building. A brew-pub was originally planned for the building, named Boondoggle Beers (now inside of the New Cambridge Project in Bristol); though plans never came to fruition. 
Saks Off 5th will be closing their 2 remaining CT locations!
The Saks Off 5th stores in Clinton and Stamford will be closing their doors as part of the parent company’s bankruptcy filing. The stores are located at: -Clinton, 20 Killingworth Turnpike at Clinton Premium Outlets -Stamford, 110 High Ridge Road The stores will be permanently closing on February 2nd according to Saks’ website. It does not appear that large-scale liquidation sales will happen at the CT locations; only occurring at select locations. Saks Off 5th recently closed their West Hartford location after 8 years of business. The Saks Off 5th website is now also liquidating. The majority of the off-price chain’s locations will be closing with only 12 planning to remain open. Existing gift cards will continue to be accepted through Saturday, February 14th. Returns/exchanges for merchandise purchased before the closing sales will be accepted in accordance with the company’s usual policies. All merchandise purchased during the closing sales beginning Saturday, January 31 will be final sale, and no returns or exchanges will be accepted. Link in the comment section to the announcement and list of locations remaining open. 
A new taco shop has opened in Enfield!
San Francisco Tacos and More is NOW OPEN at 117 Hazard Avenue in Enfield; the former Aurora’s Pizza space. The restaurant opened their doors on January 22nd. The new eatery brings the vibrant flavors of Mexico to Enfield! Their menu features authentic tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, aqua frescas, and more! You'll also find some American favorites like wings, burgers, paninis, and many other options. The restaurant descibes themselves as: "A warm and inviting atmosphere where families and friends can gather to enjoy delicious food that caters to all tastes and dietary needs. We offer tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas , Kid's menu, American appetizers, pizzas, hamburgers and paninis. Allergen-friendly! Our kitchen does not carry peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, or shellfish, allowing us to serve a wider range of customers with peace of mind. Most of Mexican dishes are gluten free with vegetarian choices!" Find them at 117 Hazard Avenue in Enfield They are open daily from 11am to 9pm 
A new restaurant is coming soon to Middletown!
KayNate Island Jam, a family-owned Jamaican restaurant, is opening soon in Middletown! The new eatery will be located at 50 Rapallo Avenue. The restaurant will offer authentic island flavors and a spice-forward menu crafted to deliver bold, comforting Jamaican dishes. KayNate Island Jam aims to be a neighborhood destination for both takeout and dine-in guests seeking genuine Caribbean cuisine. Look for them to open in March. Follow KayNate Island Jam for announcements about the grand opening and menu highlights! 
More tenants are coming soon to Westfarms!
-Riviera French Café is coming soon to the mall’s first floor; located in the center court. The new cafe will feature specialty coffee roasted in Paris as well as a variety of drinks and pastries. The cafe has an existing location in Sarasota, Florida. -London Arabian Perfume Bar is NOW OPEN on the mall’s second level. The new shop is located next door to Tory Burch in Center Court. London Arabian Perfume Bar is where London elegance meets Eastern soul according to their Instagram. -Foot Locker will soon undergo a significant renovation of their space on the mall’s second floor. The store will be renovated with a new look. No timeline for the renovation was immediately available. -Haagen Dazs is coming soon to Westfarms! The ice cream shop is planned to open in the mall’s center court! An opening timeline for the ice cream shop was not available. -Big Y World Class Market is coming soon to Westfarms’ parking lot. A new 53,000 square foot grocery store is planned for southern side of the Westfarms property. The store is planned to open in Spring 2027 according to a press release from Big Y. Plans are currently being reviewed by the Farmington Planning & Zoning Commission. What would you like to see open at Westfarms next? Comment below! 
A local tea shop and gift business will be closing its doors.
Café de Flore will be closing its doors at the end of March. The shop is located at 72 Main Street in Stafford. The owner announced its planned closure yesterday on their social media page; with a liquidation sale to begin this Friday (01/30) and running until inventory is depleted. The shop is a family owned floral home and garden tea shop thoughtfully offering French inspired home décor, organic herbs & house plants, beautiful bouquets, organic coffees/teas, candles & sweet treats. The shop opened in March 2025. Classes and parties that have already been paid for will be honored. Any class after March has now been cancelled. Any gift card should be used before the business’ closure. 
Malloves Jewelers on Main has reopened their doors under new ownership!
The longtime jewelry store has reopened their doors under the ownership of Sammy Hannoush, of the Hannoush Jewelers family. The store is located at 404 Main Street in Middletown. Sammy Hannoush is dedicated to maintaining the same great service and quality that Malloves Jewelers is known for. Malloves has been serving the Middletown community since 1928; and the name will continue on for many years to come under the ownership of Sammy. The jewelry store announced last fall plans to close as former owner Marc Levin planned to retire. In December Levin announced he had sold the store to Hannoush with plans to continue the Malloves name in Middletown. The store closed on December 24th and reopened on January 16th. Find them at 404 Main Street in Middletown. They are open Tuesday-Saturday 10:30am-5:30pm. The Mallove's stores Waterford and Mystic are not affected by the sale; they are under different ownership.  Construction on Starbucks in North Branford should restart soon!
Building permits for the fit-out of the new Starbucks restaurant in North Branford were approved late last month; meaning the project can now move forward! The site has been reletively quiet for the past weeks and months; but heavy construction work should soon begin on the new drive-thru coffee shop at 286 Branford Road in North Branford. The new building will feature Starbuck's latest prototype with a drive thru, large outdoor patio, and large interior lobby. The coffee chain will occupy 2,465 square feet. We first announced the planned Starbucks roughly a year ago. Look for them to open later this year. A Wethersfield industrial building could be converted into a new supermarket! Ken Zhang, owner of Tri Star Foods, has applied for a special permit to convert the former food manufacturer/warehouse building into a new supermarket. Signage on the renderings show the name of the new supermarket as Ken Foods. The building is located at 1000 Silas Deane Highway in Wethersfield. Plans call for the renovation of the building including new facade and parking improvements along with a renovation of the interior into a new supermarket. Plans have been in the work for the grocery store since 2024 when the initial application was filed. The proposed changes were presented at the January 21st Planning and Zoning Commission meeting and the public hearing on the application was closed. No action was taken on the application at the meeting with Commissioners taking time to draft conditions for approval on the special permit. Deliberations will continue on February 3rd. Read the application and documents here: http://wethersfieldct.gov/.../ViewFile/Agenda/_01212026-454 Watch the meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqraUsOt5tQ  
Saks Off 5th has permanently closed their West Hartford location.
The off-price retailer was located at 1437 New Britain Avenue in West Hartford, part of The Corbin Collection. Saks Off 5th was one of the marque tenants of the redeveloped Sears store when it debuted in 2018. Saks Off 5th is an off-price version of the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue brand. Saks’ parent company filed for bankruptcy earlier this month and is working through restructuring. The chain has other CT locations in Clinton and Stamford as well as a full line Saks Fifth Avenue store in Greenwich. What would you like to see replace Saks Off Fifth in West Hartford? Comment below! 
A new rustic furniture and decor shop is coming soon to New Milford!
Countryside Farmhouse is coming soon to 60 Park Lane Road in New Milford. The new shop will sell rustic furniture, decor, country-themed items, antiques, primitives, vintage items, and much more. The shop will feature local vendors selling their wares. If you’re interested in a booth, please reach out to them at 203-470-4603. The shop is expected to open in March according to their Facebook page. Stay tuned! |
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