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

By Ronni Newton

How did it get to be Aug. 31 already?

West Hartford Public Schools are open for the academic year and pretty soon it will be tough to deny the arrival of fall. I’m holding out, ignoring the smattering of leaves that have been falling off the large tree in my backyard, and planning to enjoy the hot temperatures forecast for the upcoming week.

Most people are back from vacation, so we anticipate more business news over the next several weeks. I’m hoping that there is more good than bad news to report!

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:

Financial services firm Janney Montgomery Scott will be the anchor tenant for this brand new building at 15 North Main St. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

• My goal was to start this column off featuring some good news, and that’s what we’ve got for you today! The beautiful new building at 15 North Main St. (the corner of North Main and Brace – remember when it was the little white house, where you took your kids for driver’s ed at Nationwide?) is just about ready for occupancy. It will be anchored by financial services firm Janney Montgomery Scott, which will be expanding in size from its 29 South Main St. (Town Center Building) location to the brand new office building. The new building is a Special Development District, and at its Aug. 18 meeting, the West Hartford Town Council approved some minor changes to accommodate Janney’s signage as an anchor tenant on the building’s upper floors.
  

  24 North Main is planning to begin occupancy in September. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

• More [good] construction news: Diagonally across the street, at 24 North Main, is the new 18-unit apartment building that should be ready for occupancy in September according to a sign on the front. It’s hard to recall what was there before, but also hard to deny that these two new buildings are easy on the eyes.
• One more construction update: The 150-unit apartment complex at 243 Steele Rd., approved by the Town Council last summer, is moving along and the first phase is in the process of being framed. The complex is being built on the site of the former Mercyknoll convent, which was demolished, and is across the street from the School for Young Children. Click here for more information about the project.
  

  The first phase of the 150-unit apartment complex at 243 Steele Rd. is being framed. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

• ICYMI, Herb’s Sport Shops will be closing its West Hartford store (60 LaSalle Rd.) at the end of October or whenever all of the merchandise is sold – whichever comes first. Owner Andrew Sheintop, the son of “Herb” who opened the store in 1971, said that it was a tough decision but it was no longer economically feasible to operate the West Hartford Center store. Customers’ buying habits (online and box store competition are big in that market) as well as parking issues were cited by Sheintop as factors in his decision. The Bristol store as well as the company’s online and team business will continue. Click here for the full story.
• Congratulations to Hartford Baking Company on reaching its 5-year anniversary! The bakery and coffee shop, which is located at 625 New Park Ave., will be holding a celebration on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. According to Hartford Baking Company’s Facebook page, there will be free bread for the first 50 customers and $5 sandwiches all day long. Hartford Baking Company will also give back to the community in honor of its milestone celebration, donating 20 percent of the day’s profits to the Town That Cares Fund.
• According to an article by Mara Lee in the Hartford Courant, West Hartford malpractice insurance brokerage HealthCare Risk Specialists has been purchased by New York-based Integro Ltd. “Founder David Rossi will stay on as a consultant, and Matthew LeBlanc, a principal, will take over the division. Other employees will remain in West Hartford,” the article states.

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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Construction is progressing on the 243 Steele Rd. apartment complex. Photo credit: Ronni Newton