Crush Wine Bar, located at 37 LaSalle Road, will be closing for good following a natural wine festival already planned for Sunday, July 27, 2025.

By Ronni Newton

Crush Wine Bar opened just nine months ago on LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center, and the announcement this week that the business would be closing permanently after a wine festival planned for Sunday was “crushing” – pun intended.

The announcement was posted Wednesday evening on social media, stating that the team was “heartbroken” that Sunday would be the last day of service, and thanking patrons and the community for their support. “[D]espite our best efforts with the changing business landscape, we were unable to reach an agreement to continue operations in our current location,” the message read.

Vish Badami, the director of operations for Crush, was especially sad as he greeted patrons who filled the restaurant and outdoor tables Thursday evening. A Certified Sommelier, he said Crush was his “baby.” He had worked closely with distributors to be able to offer distinctive yet reasonable table wines, as well as a curated selection of specialty wines and cocktails, creating a concept that along with a menu of small plates was reminiscent of a European cafe.

A (final) glass of Ruby Red Sangria at Crush Wine Bar on Thursday, July 24, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The interior evoked an atmosphere one might find in France or Italy, with a variety of seating areas. Just a week or two ago, as infrastructure construction on LaSalle Road – including a new sidewalk – was completed directly in front of Crush, they were able to add to the cafe ambiance with patio seating surrounding by a beautiful border of flowering plants.

Crush Wine Bar, 37 LaSalle Road, will be closing for good on July 27, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Badami continues to also oversee Union Kitchen, Crush’s sister restaurant located just next door at 43 LaSalle Road, where his wife, Jill Feldman, is general manager. Chef Tim East is back at Union Kitchen as well. Both restaurants are owned by Massachusetts-based Bean Restaurant Group, which purchased the two restaurants previously owned by Mike Ladden in 2018.

Nathan Yee, Director of Hospitality for Bean Restaurant Group, the parent company of Crush Wine Bar, confirmed the closing to We-Ha.com in a statement, noting that the decision was based on a confluence of factors, but mostly it was due to the timing of the lease renewal.

“As Director of Hospitality, this is one of the most difficult messages I’ve had to share,” Yee wrote. “Our decision to close was just due to where we were within the timing of our lease. The construction was less than ideal timing for a new startup concept, but was not the sole deciding factor,” he said.

“As of now our lease is ending at Crush and we have no plans to occupy the space, with that being said, we still remain to committed to serving great food paired with great wine and spirits next door at Union Kitchen. We are eternally grateful for the West Hartford community and look forward to serving many more memorable meals at Union Kitchen.”

Crush Wine Bar, 37 LaSalle Road, will be closing for good on July 27, 2025, but sister restaurant Union Kitchen, located next door, will remain open. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Crush will be “going out with a bang,” however, and still holding a long-planned natural wine festival on Sunday, July 27, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. “Vin Nature” is a partnership with Vino Crude, featuring natural wine, creative Mexican street food, and live music. Tickets (available here) will provide access to samples of more than 45 hand-picked natural wines – from grapes grown with minimal intervention – from throughout the world. Small plates designed to complement the wines will also be offered a la carte.

Crush Wine Bar will close following a natural wine festival on Sunday, July 27, 2025. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Comments on social media following the announcement featured crying emojis and broken hearts, and indicated shock at the abrupt closing, as well as hope that Crush may open someday in another location.

As for the future of the space on LaSalle Road, that’s unknown as well.

For many years, 37 LaSalle Road had been home to McLadden’s – which was purchased by Bean Restaurant Group in 2018. It continued as McLadden’s but after closing for the COVID-19 pandemic it transitioned to Wurst Haus and then in 2023 to Halfway.

Crush had added a fried chicken and champagne special on Thursday nights, featured buttermilk-brined chicken with 11 herbs and spices. Photo credit: Ronni Newton