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

Business Buzz is sponsored by NBT Bank, and we are very thankful for their support!

By Ronni Newton

I find myself writing the same thing at this time every year: It’s the last week of August. Sigh.

We’ve certainly had some fall-like weather over the past few days, and when I ran 9 miles on Saturday morning I was glad to have relatively cool and non-humid weather (even though it was still a slog). While I love the autumn weather, I dread winter and the barren landscape so it always makes me sad when summer is coming to an end.

Sunday’s weather was perfect for Center Streets, however, and there was a great crowd – perhaps the most participants ever!

The town did seem rather quiet this past week as many families stretched out their vacation time until the very end. Teachers return to their classrooms today, and West Hartford Public Schools begin on Wednesday. I met with Superintendent of Schools Paul Vicinus on Thursday to discuss what to expect in the new school year, and you can read that story here.

I want to express my appreciation to Bridget Bronsdon and Kaily Martinez for the great work they did with We-Ha.com this summer, and I wish both of them the best of luck for the upcoming semester. Both have returned to UConn for the fall semester, and both will be part of the UConn Daily Campus staff. Bridget is the sports editor, and the UConn football beat writer for this season – and already has a sports story published. Kaily writes for the paper’s “Life” section.

I’ve eaten lunch at Iron Horse Sports Pub a few times but have been meaning to check it out at “pub time” (when I can enjoy a cold beer with my food) – and that’s where Ted and I went for dinner on Saturday night. I was really craving that burger and fries after my long run, and Ted enjoyed the tuna – and we both loved the pickle chips. We just missed being able to catch the end of the Red Sox game (we don’t get NESN at our house so we rarely see a game) but we did watch some of the Connecticut Sun game during dinner!

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If you’re looking for news about West Hartford in print please note that many stories from We-Ha.com, as well as other local news, is published in the twice-monthly issues of the West Hartford Press.

If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

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Here’s this week’s Buzz:

• I’ve been communicating with Matt DuPlessie, the CEO and founder of Level99, since the spring, but he he didn’t want to speak publicly about the plans to open an entertainment and dining venue until after the Town Council approved the company’s request for updates to the Special Development District (which they did, unanimously, on Aug. 6), and until the lease was officially signed. True to his word, DuPlessie informed me on Saturday that the lease has been fully executed, and Level99 will indeed be moving forward with their plans to open a “first-of-its-kind social gaming playground feature[ing] over 50 real-world physical and mental challenges and games, craft drinks, and elevated dining” in the Corbin Collection in West Hartford’s Corbin’s Corner. “Exciting for us, and for the community!” DuPlessie said in an email – and I definitely share that excitement! “The Level99 team believes West Hartford is a wonderful fit for our mentally & physically challenging social entertainment venue, and we are excited to bring amazing artistic spaces, farm-to-table chef-driven food & craft beverage to town,” DuPlessie added. The 41,426-square-foot space will be adjacent to REI, Club Pilates, and Crumbl Cookie and on the second floor of the Corbin Collection, above Saks OFF 5th, World Market, and buybuy Baby. The entrance will be through the doors next to Crumbl Cookie, where guests will enter a 785-square-foot lobby and vestibule before heading to the second floor. This space has been vacant since the shopping center that replaced the former Sears store opened roughly six years ago. The Town Council adopted an “experiential retail” ordinance back in 2017 to accommodate changes in the national market, and with the hope of attracting businesses to large vacant spaces. “Commercial spaces the town had in mind when adopting these changes were the then-vacant Shop Rite space, now Floor & Décor as well as vacant space located in Corbin’s Corner including on the Corbin’s Collection property,” West Hartford Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski said in an email when Level99 initially submitted their application. This is the first business which will make use of the updated regulation, and town staff, which had made many efforts to attract experiential dining establishments, has expressed excitement about Level99’s interest in opening a unique business that will attract people of all ages. Prior to the finalization of Level99’s plans, Gorski said, “There is currently a hole in the West Hartford market as it pertains to indoor recreation/experiential retail-type businesses but strong desire from our community to welcome a concept that provides an engaging interactive environment and overall unique experience, which we hope to eventually fill.” Mayor Shari Cantor said at the Aug. 6 Town Council meeting, when the SDD changes were approved, “I know our economic development team and our town planner as well has been working towards getting some really high quality entertainment here in West Hartford for a long time on a larger scale. I have felt very strongly about this, I think it’s a big hole that was missing from the town and I really believe that this is a fit for this particular business.” As for the opening date, DuPlessie said that if “all permits/licenses come through and construction goes according to schedule, the Level99 venue will be open by October 2025.” Level99 has two existing locations, in Natick, MA and Providence, RI. Visit their website for more details.

• I reached out to Caffé Nero late last week and was hoping to find out about their timeline for opening, but I didn’t yet receive a response. The newly-installed sign at the back door says “Caffé Nero,” but the sign on the front of the 13 South Main Street space says Nero Kitchen, and I’m not sure why there is a difference but that’s something I am looking to find out as well. The front windows are papered over, but I was able to find an opening where I could peek inside and see a bit of the interior and it definitely looks like it’s taking shape and possibly close to being completed. Much more to come!

• Welcome to K9 Cruisers, a new Petcare company based out of West Hartford that services all of Hartford County. “We do drop-ins, walks, hikes, cat care, dog transportation, boarding, and overnights,” said Jayme Beddingfield, co-owner of the business with Christian Ramos. “We work with all breeds and ages and are certified dog trainers as well. We don’t charge extra pet fees or travel fees. And offer free meet and greets. Dogs get the same walkers so they can build relationships with their walkers and feel comfortable,” she said. For more information, visit the website k9cruisersct.com or call 860-515-8813. You can also follow them on Instagram (@k9_cruisers_ct) or on TikTok (@k9cruisers).

• I got a press release last week with the details about Sally’s Apizza opening in Wethersfield this week – on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 5 p.m., first-come-first-served. They are now taking reservations for tables beginning on Aug. 30. The Wethersfield location is in The Borden, 1178 Silas Dean Highway. The release sparked my interest not just because it’s exciting to have Sally’s close by, but also because Sally’s Pizza is engaged in a build-out at Westfarms, inside the Jordan’s Furniture store. I reached out to their spokesperson, who said the owners confirmed that the Westfarms location “is opening towards the end of the year.” Sally’s is also expanding in other Hartford area towns – opening in Newington and South Windsor. For more information, visit the website.

• Speaking of pizza, I did not have a chance to get in touch with the owners or any of the contractors working on Park Lane Pizza, but while the interior renovations appeared pretty close to completion when I provided an update in mid-July, the restaurant certainly did not make its deadline of reopening by the end of July. I snapped a photo last week, and it definitely appears that while the new roof has been installed, the exterior updates aren’t close to being completed. I’ll try to get more information by next week’s column.

• I shared the news in the June 24, 2024 edition of this column that Dollar Tree is planning to open in the former Elm Theater space at 940 South Quaker Lane – which was most recently a Walgreens (from 2006 until it closed last November, as reported in the Oct. 30 Business Buzz column), and permits have been obtained and work now appears to be underway for the build-out. Please note that this is replacement of a retail use with a retail use, so other than obtaining permits for what appear to be fairly minor renovations and signage (the marquee is remaining), this is an “as of right” use for the property and there were no special permissions needed. I have not been able to connect with Dollar Tree or the property owner, so I don’t know how long it will take before the store is ready to open.

• The Continental Properties multifamily residential development at 950 Trout Brook Drive (former Children’s Museum site) seems to really be taking shape. I stopped while biking to Center Streets along the Trout Brook Trail on Sunday morning to take this photo!

• Congratulations to two West Hartford residents who are among 45 outstanding women across Connecticut who have been selected as “2024 Women of Innovation Finalists” and are being honored for their significant contributions in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Both Emily Balboni, Ph.D., a graduate student at Quinnipiac University, and Patricia Hare, DMD-Ph.D., who is a candidate at the UConn School of Dental Medicine, are being honored in the category of Collegian Innovation and Leadership. The finalists, selected from nearly 100 nominations, have demonstrated “exceptional leadership and innovation,” the news release said, and will officially be recognized at the 19th annual Women of Innovation awards, hosted by the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC), on Tuesday, Oct. 22, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Woodwinds in Branford, where winners in each category will be announced.

• Click here to listen to the latest installment of the “On the Scene” podcast, where hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr talk with Bob Keiser of APK Charities. Named after Bob’s son who died while serving in Iraq, APK Charities helps veterans in Connecticut with the struggles they have meeting everyday needs.

• There was plenty of business news last week – including the news that broke Friday afternoon that Vessel Technologies is planning to submit an application for development of the former Hughes Health and Rehabilitation property and 29 Highland Street, across from Bristow Middle School. Read the complete story here.
• The plans for Garden Homes to purchase the portion of 1700 Asylum Avenue that was approved for residential development as The Residences at Heritage Park were part of the Special Development and Rezoning application to the Town Council, and the transaction took place last week. Click here for the full details about the $22 million sale.
• The Seniors Job Bank is now offering volunteer as well as paid opportunities to individuals over age 50. Details can be found here.

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

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