Moe’s Southwest Grill will have the grand opening of its Bishops Corner location on Friday, May 5, 2017.

By Ronni Newton

The greeting “Welcome to Moe’s” hasn’t been heard in West Hartford for quite some time, but exactly one year to the date after Moe’s Southwest Grill closed its Blue Back Square location, the popular fast-casual restaurant will open and celebrate “Cinco de Moe’s” in Crossroads Plaza, at 722 North Main St. in Bishops Corner.

Moe’s is prepared for a May 5, 2017 opening in Bishops Corner in West Hartford.

“It’s exactly one year later,” franchise owner Matt Rusconi said Wednesday. “We are officially going to be open one year after we closed.” Moe’s last day in Blue Back Square was May 5, 2016.

When he confirmed plans for the opening of a new West Hartford Moe’s location on April 4, Rusconi said he hoped for early May but didn’t want to be overly optimistic.

“We put our heads together and got it done,” said Rusconi, reporting Wednesday that final inspections had been completed so the May 5 date would be achievable.

He said he is looking forward to rekindling and building new and long-lasting relationships with the West Hartford community.

Although the official grand opening is Friday, May 5, at 11 a.m., Moe’s will actually open the night before for a Conard High School Class of 2017 Safe Grad fundraiser, from 5-7:30 p.m.

The cost to attend is $10 per person, and includes an entrée, drink, and t-shirt. All proceeds will be donated to Conard Safe grad, which provides a substance-free post-graduation celebration.

A variety of special offers are planned for the May 5 grand opening.

There will be $5 burritos all day long – limited to one per person (in store only). T-shirts will be given away to guests until they are all gone.

Two lucky guests will win free burritos for a year. “By filling out an entry form on grand opening day, guests can enter into a raffle to win the prize of one free burrito per week for a year, at the West Hartford Moe’s. Entry forms must include name, phone number, and email address,” Moe’s said in a news release.

Promotions that will be available at the West Hartford location include:

• Free chips and salsa with every order
• Every Monday is “Moe Monday,” with any burrito, chips & salsa available for $5.99
• Every Tuesday is kids’ night, with one free kids meals with purchase of adult entree 5-9 p.m.
• ​Every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. a salad and regular drink or bottle of water is available for $6.99
• Every Thursday get any stack, drink, chips & salsa for $7.99​

Moe’s will also be offering catering, with options for all types of eaters, including vegetarian, gluten-sensitive, and lower calorie selections. To order, call the catering line at 860-798-4767 or check out www.moes.com/catering for more information. 

Hosting fundraisers for schools and other community organizations was important to Rusconi, and he said he is glad to able to do it gain. Moe’s West Hartford will offer fundraisers on any Wednesday or Thursday  evening, and will give back 15 percent in qualifying sales. Visit www.moesct.com for more information and to book online.

For those who aren’t familiar with Moe’s, their most popular burrito is lovingly called the Homewrecker, and Moe’s is also known for its “Famous Queso.” Each meal is made-to-order, and includes “honestly good ingredients like all-natural chicken, grass-fed steak, organic tofu, and handcrafted guacamole.”

And there are free chips and salsa.

Guests are also encouraged to download the “Moe’s Rockin’ Rewards” app, and will immediately receive a free cup of Moe’s Queso and a free burrito on their birthday. According to Moe’s, “the loyalty program is a point based program and you earn ten points for every dollar you spend in the restaurant or when ordering ahead through the app. Not only do you earn rewards for every dollar you spend with the app, but you can also receive alerts and specials for the West Hartford Moe’s.”

Rusconi co-owns the West Hartford Moe’s with David Vorchheimer, and the two own and operate 11 additional locations in Connecticut and Rhode Island. According to a news release, the owners plan to continue expanding Moe’s presence in the coming years, including restaurants coming soon to Norwich, CT and Dayville, CT.

Moe’s in West Hartford will be open Monday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, guests may call 860-206-4283 or visit www.moes.com for more information.

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Exterior of Moe’s Southwest Grill at 722 North Main St. in Crossroads Plaza in Bishops Corner. Photo credit: Ronni Newton