The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce hosted the town’s Economic Development Update on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at a sold-out luncheon at the Pond House Café.

By Ronni Newton

The Town of West Hartford continues to receive accolades and top rankings on “best of” lists created by Niche.com, AARP, Realtor.com, U.S. News & World Report, and even moveBuddha.com’s ranking of college towns, and in their economic development presentation Tuesday, Economic Development Manager Kristen Gorski and Economic Development Specialist Lauren Siegel highlighted the details behind the ratings, accomplishments in 2025, and the many reasons that West Hartford is a “place for everyone.”

In March, Niche.com recognized West Hartford as the 2025 Best Place to Live in Connecticut for the eighth consecutive year – as well as topping the list of Best Suburbs for Young Professionals and Best Suburbs to Live in Connecticut.

“Overall, we received an A-plus rating on our scorecard,” said Gorski, highlighting the recent developments that also support those ratings.

In the category of “Health & Wellness,” the town received an A-plus. “In 2025, we have had several businesses help us achieve that grade, including Viking Athletics who recently had their Chamber Ribbon Cutting for their new location. Owner, Erik Castiglione purchased the building almost three years ago and recently relocated down the street from his former location on New Park Avenue,” Siegel said, adding that in the past year West Hartford has also welcomed Wild Soul Fitness, The Lift Effect, and second location for Fitness with Jonathan.

Also among the expansions is FemCare MedSpa, which moved from Sola Salons to a new and larger location in 2025.

“The Town of West Hartford was also recognized with an A-plus grade for the “Good for Families” category. “Rachel Mintell announced that she was expanding her Play it Again Sports location, so that she could offer bike repair services and increase her wide variety of gently used products,” Siegel added. The store relocated in late 2025 to 635 New Park Avenue – the former and Wagging Tails space – and in addition to being roughly three times larger, has convenient access to the Trout Brook Trail.  

Families will also benefit from some businesses that will be opening soon, including Angel Land – an indoor playground now under construction in The Corbin Collection – and The Toy Shop, which will be opening in the former Ten Thousand Villages space on Farmington Avenue.

“We couldn’t help but notice the synergy amongst some of our ‘Good for Family’ services that came into town with Beloved Companions on New Britain Avenue and All4Paws on Custer Street. Both offer care for animals throughout their lifetime with their West Hartford families,” said Siegel.

Niche gave West Hartford an “A” in the nightlife category, but Siegel said that may increase to an A-plus next year after Level 99 – featuring 50 immersive physical and mental challenges and a partnership with Two Roads Brewing Company for food and beverages – opens in The Corbin Collection. The space is currently under construction, and should be opening this fall, Siegel said, fulfilling a goal the town had set a decade ago by updating its zoning ordinances to attract experiential retail.

“The journey began with a personal recommendation by Kristen [Gorski] to a local broker struggling to fill a prime 40,000 square foot vacancy,” said Siegel. “Other drivers for the ‘nightlife’ recognition include Fine Fettle, The Wine and Liquor Store and The Friendly Toast – which is a great place to consider either before or after your nightlife experience here in West Hartford.”

West Hartford was also topped the AARP Livability Index in 2025, and was recognized as the “top livable community” in Connecticut. “In fact, West Hartford scored in the top half of communities in the United States for overall livability based on average score of seven categories – housing, neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, and opportunity,” Gorski said.

West Hartford received its highest score in the “neighborhood” category, which analyzes metrics and policies related to “proximity to key destinations, safety, and supporting mixed-use and transit-oriented development,” said Gorski. A key example she highlighted is The Jayden. A mixed-use development of residential units and ground floor commercial space, it’s also a transit-oriented development by The Hexagon Group that will be located at 579 New Park Avenue. The Jayden will be five stories and include 70 apartments, half of which will be designated affordable, she said.

“Also noted by AARP is proximity to destinations, specifically the number of grocery stores located within a half-mile walking distance of a neighborhood,” Gorski said. “This year on Park Road we welcomed Ceara Market, a butchery and grocery store offering a diverse selection of produce, pantry staples and specialty items. Other highlights included Big Y grocery store and plaza renovations in Bishops Corner, and both Royal Himalayan and a to-be-named organic grocer coming down the pike.”

Compact neighborhoods encourage community, and a key example of added new active density is the future Heritage Park development at the former UConn campus parcel at 1800 Asylum Avenue. Active work on Heritage Park, which recently received a brownfield grant from the state that will assist with the cost of remediation, should begin soon, and when complete will include a variety of uses including “a spa facility to a mix of restaurant and retail space as well as 118 units of housing including 24 being offered as affordable, a 90-unit assisted living facility, and an organic grocer,” said Gorski, publicly revealing the name of the grocery store – Fresh Market – which will be opening in that development.

Across Trout Brook Drive, Garden Homes has already started constructing 322 units at The Residences at Heritage Park.

“West Hartford also earned recognition for ‘Diversity of Destinations’ in the AARP Livability Index, which scores access to retail, health care, and services,” said Siegel. Some examples of diverse local businesses she highlighted included “the expansion of Kathryn Hunt Studio and relocation of Tea Leaf Realty in West Hartford Center, alongside Home for Good and Parlor Upholstery on New Park Avenue.”

Adding to the town’s “diverse destinations” are new health care businesses that opened throughout town in 2025, and more planned for 2026 including eyecare facility Clarivision that will be opening in the former Bank of America building on New Britain Avenue in Elmwood, Siegel said.

West Hartford also welcomed new and/or expanded personal service businesses owned by entrepreneurs in 2025, Siegel said, noting that “SugarGen, an eco-friendly hair removal service provider relocated down the street on New Britain Avenue. Jenny Andre Hair and Skin Spa opened her first Connecticut location in West Hartford Center. Garrett’s Barber Shop relocated to a bigger space by Stop and Shop on Newington Road and Stacey at Flyaways, formerly with Room with a Doo, opened her own salon on Park Road.”

Realtor.com ranked West Hartford the No. 12 “Best Small City to Enjoy Amazing Quality of Life” in the country in 2025, with the write up stating: “Sitting right next to the state capital of Hartford, this suburb is known for its wide-open spaces, charming historical homes, excellent school system, and vibrant cultural scene.”

“Small cities can often offer all that a big city does, including culture, diversity, activities, and shops,” Siegel said. She noted the diversity of cuisines in West Hartford, including the recent opening of award-winning Peruvian restaurant Coracora’s new flagship location in Blue Back Square, as well as announced plans for Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings to also open in Blue Back,  Shinjuku Station Revolving Sushi Bar which will be coming to Prospect Plaza on Kane Street, and seafood restaurant South Bay which is being built out on LaSalle Road in the Center.

“You have a craving for it? We have it,” said Siegel. “More new restaurants from which to choose with Wonder in Blue Back Square, coined as ‘the destination for every craving,’ from Greek to Thai with menus from world-class chefs like Bobby Flay and Marcus Samuelsson.” She also noted Joey Cusano’s soon-to-open Mozz & Co., Burger Squad opening soon on Park Road, and the recently-opened Gold Dumpling on Park Road.

 

In its rankings, Realtor.com also considered the “benefit of housing choices – but without the higher price tags,” and Gorski highlighted several new or under construction developments that include a high percentage of affordable housing, including the 44 units at The Camelot (100% affordable) developed by Honeycomb Real Estate Partners that opened in 2025. Honeycomb has also proposed another affordable residential development – this time a complex of 54 one- and two-bedroom condominiums at 230 Newington Road – and the Town Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing and consider the application for Madsen Acres Tuesday night.

The Elle, an adaptive reuse of the former Agudas Achim Synagogue at 1244 North Main Street, is currently under development by Trout Brook Realty Advisors, the development arm of the West Hartford Housing Authority. “Slated to open in May, this mixed-income project will provide 49 new units of housing, including 39 units or 80% of those being affordable and available to a diverse range of income levels,” Gorski said.

And, she added, the first phase of the redevelopment of West Hartford Fellowship Housing on Starkel Road was completed in 2025, and the second phase is underway. Ultimately the four-phase redevelopment will increase the number of affordable units for seniors and individuals with disabilities at that site from the current 213 to 302.

In May, U.S. News & World Report released its “Best Places to Live” report, and West Hartford was ranked No. 1 in Connecticut – highest in the northeast – and No. 19 nationally. “They share that an area’s job market can be an indicator of the quality of life there. After all, places with plentiful job opportunities have more shopping, dining, and recreational options for people to enjoy on their time off,” Gorski said.

Professional offices are opening and expanding in West Hartford, and Siegel noted among them a “big win for the community” is the plans announced in the fall for Ernst & Young to renovate 1001 Farmington Avenue to accommodate their relocation from Hartford.

Several property management and wealth management businesses have moved to West Hartford or expanded, and Siegel also highlighted “RisCassi & Davis’ big move from Hartford to a beautiful old building they renovated on South Main Street.”

There are also new apartments close to businesses, Gorski said. “Here are a few examples: The Byline by Jasco Development at 920 Farmington Avenue is finishing construction on a new five-story mixed-use building with 48 apartment units adjacent to the Center and Blue Back Square. Similarly, One West Hartford by Continental Properties at 950 Trout Brook Drive is slated for completion in the first half of the year, will be a 172-unit community rich with amenities on the former Children’s Museum site adjacent to Kingswood Oxford School,” she said.

“Lastly, Center Park Place, located at 2 Arapahoe Road is a two-building development by the Arapahoe Group. The development features a five-story condo building that is currently pre-selling units. Last year I mentioned that these condos were starting at a mere $983,000. This year, it’s slightly higher in the $1.2 to $2.5 million range … inflation,” said Gorski. Digging of the foundation is currently underway, and in the second phase of the Center Park Place project, a four-story, mixed-use, mixed income building will bring 25 apartments and ground floor retail to the corner of LaSalle and Arapahoe roads.

And finally, in 2025 West Hartford was also recognized as the “No. 1 booming college town in the U.S.” by moveBuddha.com, “highlighting us as a bright spot off the beaten path with a sky high rate of newcomers seeking to move in versus looking to leave. In fact, there are 2.92 moves inbound for every one out,” Siegel said.

The write-up noted that college towns are “places where residents can catch theatrical performances and concerts they won’t get in other small towns. They might also find cozy bookstores with big-name readings, coffee joints with all-night hours …,” Gorski said. West Hartford’s professional theater, Playhouse on Park, has made an investment in expansion plans with the purchase of the second floor space above their current location – and plans to renovate the former ice cream manufacturing plant.

West Hartford has also added coffee shops like Yemerica and the new Starbucks with a drive-through at Corporate Center West on South Main Street.

“And once they settle in, most residents find they can walk to shops, including tree-lined streets that offer up everything from wine bars to bakeries. ChoccoDiva opened last year, expanding their cottage food business into their first brick and mortar location on Park Road. Paris Baguette celebrated their grand opening last week at Corbin’s Corner, and we are pleased to welcome Crepes Choupette in West Hartford Center. Coming soon, we will also get to experience Char-cu-te-rie in Blue Back Square and Insomnia Cookies coming to LaSalle Road,” Siegel said.

College towns “punch above their weight” if they are not just four-year stops along the way but long-term destinations, and according to moveBuddha “these towns often have late-night pizza places, and promise a mix of lifestyle, community, and culture.”

In 2025, West Hartford added to its pizza places with the opening of Little Caesars in the Boulevard Shops, Pepe’s expanded into an adjacent space, a new Chick-fil-A opened in Bishops Corner, “and down at food row on Kane Street, you can enjoy Teriyaki Madness, Jersey Mike’s, and Chipotle,” Siegel said.

The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce’s annual Economic Development Luncheon was held at the Pond House Cafe.

Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Chris Conway and Membership & Development Director Kate Kobs welcomed attendees to the sold-out luncheon, and Chamber Board Chair Chris Clarke shared some remarks, including another “ranking” for West Hartford he recently came across. A few days ago, Clarke said, just for fun he asked ChatGPT to name the best place to be in an “armageddon-type” situation, a total apocalypse, “and West Hartford was highly rated. It was an A-plus town, no exaggeration.” The two major reasons were infrastructure and community, he said. “So thank you all for making this community what it is.”

Jessica Rivera, assistant vice president and branch manager of presenting sponsor M&T Bank’s Bishops Corner branch, introduced Gorski and Siegel.​

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