West Hartford Business Buzz: October 27, 2014

A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.

By Ronni Newton

The Owners of BLAZE & BLOOM: Katie Wickham, Tracey George, Jennifer O’Connell and Julie Jones. Submitted photo

We know you like to be in the know about what’s happening with West Hartford’s businesses, so we will get right to the buzz.

But don’t forget that this column needs your input, too! If you have tips about businesses opening or closing, or doing something worth sharing, please provide that information in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

BLAZE & BLOOM has moved from Hartford to West Hartford, and had a grand opening celebration of the new store at 485 New Park Rd. (next to Work in Progress Fitness, right near Home Depot and BJs) all weekend long. The store sells really cool and funky vintage and repurposed furniture and accessories.

Have you been wondering what’s going on with West Hartford’s new hotel? If you drive by, it doesn’t visibly appear as if anything is happening, but West Hartford Town Manager Ron Van Winkle said that actual construction should begin in earnest in the spring of 2015. Before that, Van Winkle said that approximately 300 cubic yards (that’s about 30 truckloads) of contaminated soil will be removed from the Raymond Road site that was a public works yard years ago. Once it commences, the actual construction should take approximately 18-24 months. The hotel, which will be named Delamar West Hartford, will include an Artisan restaurant, outdoor dining, a spa, and will also have an underground parking garage in addition to using the existing Blue Back Square parking lots. Final architectural drawings have not been completed as of yet, but if you want to get a good idea of what the hotel will look like and take a simulated video tour of the property, visit the Delamar visitor website.
Local massage therapist Monica Peters just moved her business, Groundwork to Health, to a space at 12 North Main St., Suite 108. She wrote to We-Ha.com to let us know that she would like to make the following offer to those who had gift certificates to the now-closed Elements Day Spa: “I was thinking I could honor up to $50 per person on each voucher. Meaning if somebody comes to me with a $100 gift certificate from Elements, I would honor $50 of it and then they would be able to transfer the remainder to another person that they choose. If someone comes in with just a certificate for a massage, I will take $50 off their visit. I am also willing to rewrite them gift certificates in exchange for their old ones. That way they can present them as gifts without having the Elements name on the certificate.” Peters is doing this just to establish goodwill, and although she doesn’t offer facials, she hopes that I don’t offer facials, the clients will feel better if they can still receive the massages they purchased. For more information, contact Peters at (860) 705-8789 or [email protected].
There are decorated scarecrows and pumpkins throughout West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square. They are really creative, and really cute, so take some time to check them out this week. Vote for your favorite by 1 p.m. on Tuesday! For more information and the link to vote, click here.

It’s worth another mention in Business Buzz because it’s for a really good cause plus it’s such a good deal. The West Hartford Center Kidscard program began on Oct. 23. Cards are available for $50, that $50 goes directly to Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. In exchange, you get a 20 percent discount at the majority of stores and restaurants in West Hartford Center and Blue Back Square. Click here for the rest of the details!