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

By Ronni Newton

We are deep into the dog days of summer, and based on the postings in my Facebook newsfeed, at least half of West Hartford is on vacation. I’m taking a bit of time off too, but Business Buzz, and West Hartford business news, never take a vacation.

And today’s column even features some “dog” – downward dog, that is – news, that may come as a major surprise.

We’ve also got some happy hour guide information.

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].

Here’s this week’s Buzz:

Lululemon Athletica at 987 Farmington Avenue (corner of LaSalle Road and Farmington Avenue), has this sign in its window: “come one, come all, come fall, come mall follow us to our new om sweet om Westfarms Mall – Fall 2015.” Photo by Joy Taylor

• An alert reader alerted us to the following message etched on the window of Lululemon in West Hartford Center: “come one, come all, come fall, come mall, follow us to our new om sweet om.” The message is followed with: “Westfarms Mall – Fall 2015.” We checked it out with our contacts at Westfarms and indeed, it’s true – Lululemon will be moving to Westfarms this fall. Details will follow as soon as they are finalized, but it appears as if what many would consider the primo-spot in West Hartford Center, the southeast corner of Farmington Avenue and LaSalle Road, will be vacant sometime this fall. Lululemon opened in that spot just four years ago (I wrote about the opening in August 2011) when it took over the former Bennett’s spot. We’d love to hear what our readers would like to see in that prime location, so please tell us in the comments!
• Speaking of Westfarms, a very popular brand just held a grand opening of its new store there over the past few days. The North Face is now located at Westfarms, on the upper level near Nordstrom. The location is the brand’s first dedicated store in Connecticut. The North Face, which is a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in San Leandro, CA. North Face jackets have long been popular with teens, who often refuse to wear anything else as outerwear (spoken from personal experience with two of them), but according to a news release, the company is known for offering “the most technically advanced products in the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, snow sport athletes, endurance athletes, and explorers. The company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking, running, and snow sport retailers, premium-sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains.” Follow their Facebook page for more information and special offers.
• Sometimes Twitter is a goldmine of Business Buzz information, and that was the case this past week when a guide to West Hartford happy hours made a very welcome appearance. In fact, you’ll probably want to bookmark this one – a post by Jaymee Sire in her “e is for  eat” blog, under the “W is for: West Hartford Happy Hour,” category, which describes and critques happy hour offerings at some of West Hartford Center’s most popular restaurants. Speaking from experience, happy hour in the Center is a fabulous and very affordable way to sample some great food and drink.
• Last week’s Business Buzz mentioned the planned move of Salon Medusa to Crossroads Plaza in Bishops Corner. Salon Medusa will be occupying the former Anna’s Beautiful Nails space. What we failed to mention is that Anna’s Beautiful Nails has not closed; it has moved just two stores down in the same plaza – according to its Facebook page into the space formerly occupied by a shoe repair. Presumably that was Paul’s Shoe Repair, and we’ll let you know what happened to that business as soon as we can find out.
• Urgent care can be a great option when your primary care doctor’s office is closed or when you have an acute need that isn’t serious enough for the emergency room. Doctors Express Urgent Care of West Hartford has been doing its best to fill several healthcare niches for the past year. Click here to read more about the business.
• We hope you know that for the past few months we have been conducting the “Best of West Hartford” contest along with West Hartford Magazine. Voting is still open through Aug. 24, 2015 for the town’s first true “people’s choice” award, but tickets are also now available for the first-ever awards celebration, scheduled for Sept. 10, 2015, in the West Hartford Town Hall auditorium. Information about the winners in each of 32 categories will be kept top secret, under lock and key at Filomeno & Company, until the announcements are made by NBC Connecticut’s Brad Drazen and West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka that evening. Tickets are limited, so don’t miss out on a chance to attend this inaugural event. Click here for details.

Remember, if you have any business news to share, remember to add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

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