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

It’s rare for me to be breathing a sigh of relief with just days left before Christmas, but last week was so packed full of activities that this week really will be much more relaxing. Most of my obligations in the past week – including the work-related ones – were fun, but there were just a lot of them.

And while I still have a few articles to write related to events covered last week (there are only so many hours in the day), please note that we have decided that today’s newsletter will be the only one this week.  There will still be new content added to the site before next Monday’s edition of the newsletter, and I will respond to any breaking news that occurs, but I am hoping it will be a quiet week and that I will have a chance to really focus on family time this holiday season. Next Monday, Dec. 29, there will be a newsletter but likely no Business Buzz column unless something earth-shattering happens.

I’m writing this column on Sunday afternoon, and earlier today (at 10:03 a.m.) winter officially arrived. Sigh.

On the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere there is the least amount of daylight of any day of the year, and on Sunday the sun rose at 7:14 a.m. and set at 4:23 p.m., for 9 hours and 9 minutes of daylight. At least it was sunny, and the good news is that the days will soon start getting longer. On Monday the sunrise is actually a minute later, but so is the sunset. Tuesday’s sunrise and sunset are the same, and on Wednesday the sun rises at 7:16 a.m. and sets at 4:25 p.m. On Thursday we will actually start to gain daylight (sunrise at the same time and sunset a minute later) and even though sunrises continue to get a bit later over the next week sunsets do as well, and by Jan. 1 we will have 3 more minutes of daylight overall than we have now. Eventually the pace will accelerate and the longer days will truly be noticeable.

My only meal in a West Hartford restaurant this past week was on Monday, when I got together with several running friends for drinks and some yummy salad and pizza at Savoy. We actually had an easier time scheduling a social gathering than we do trying to run together these days.

While it wasn’t a meal physically at a West Hartford restaurant, Ted and I attended the UConn men’s basketball game at PeoplesBank arena on Tuesday night, and grabbed dinner from a West Hartford restaurant. We were excited to find the Soulv Bowls kiosk!

I had a delicious lunch with the staff, leadership, and residents of West Hartford Fellowship Housing last Thursday (more photos to come, but I promised to share this one in my column) and dinner Thursday night was a the Chamber of Commerce holiday party. I forgot to take a photo of the fabulous spread at that party, but had a great time and We-Ha.com was again one of the sponsors.

No trolls this week, and thank you to all who do comment with your full names, and avoid making personal attacks! Please note that it has been our policy for several years that full names be used when commenting directly on the site – with the exception of those commenters who were grandfathered when they commented prior to the policy being updated. Please comply or your comment will not be published.

If you are a long term, regular advertiser on We-Ha.com and have a 60 to 75 word submission for a future Business Buzz please send to Bob Carr at [email protected]. You can also contact Bob if you are interested in becoming a sponsor of a section of the site.

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:

• Paris Baguette is now open! The town’s newest cafe – and Paris Baguette’s first location in Connecticut – opened Friday morning at 1459 New Britain Avenue in Corbin’s Corner. It opened at 6 a.m. (I was not there quite so early), but even on a very rainy morning the place was hopping. I bought a variety of pastries for family and friends to sample (see photos below), and everything got an enthusiastic “yum!” The coffee was great as well, and I also wanted to try one of the hot items and the quiche was delicious. In addition to pastries, Paris Baguette offers artisan breads, croissants, handcrafted cakes, mocchi doughnuts, and a variety of breakfast and lunch sandwiches. The breads are all baked fresh daily onsite. There is a West Hartford-related mural on the wall, and they very much encourage people to linger, and have seating inside for 48 and free WiFi. They are open daily from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m., and you can find the full menu here.

• Three West Hartford residents have teamed up to open Sisson Sports & Pizza, and held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday to celebrate the transformation and investment in what was previously a longtime West End neighborhood hangout, Sisson Avenue Pizza & Wings, at 495 Farmington Avenue. What had become a neglected storefront has been refreshed and spruced up as a family-friendly gathering place designed to foster community. Each member of the new ownership team of Rauf Majidian, Timur Rakhimov, and Milan Shrestha brings a diverse professional background to the business, with experience in construction, real estate, finance, hospitality, healthcare, and small business ownership to their goal of helping revitalize the neighborhood. “The reopening of Sisson Sports & Pizza is more than just an event; it’s a powerful symbol of community resilience and the strength of the American Dream in our city,” Hartford Mayor Arulampalam said at the ribbon cutting. “We are thrilled to welcome Rauf, Timur, and Milan, three entrepreneurs whose investment and passion are breathing new life into this beloved neighborhood spot. Their commitment to revitalizing this corridor is exactly the kind of energy that restores pride and strengthens our local economy.” According to a spokesperson, the new owners have invested in physical improvements, operational upgrades, and a renewed focus on quality, consistency, and hospitality – all based on feedback from neighbors who wanted to see this location restored to a higher standard. They plan to expand the menu, add family-focused events, and partner with local organizations over the coming months. “For us, this is not just a business — it’s a promise to our neighbors,” said Rakhimov. “My family and I may not have been here for decades, but we care deeply about this community and want Sisson Sports & Pizza to reflect the pride, safety, and hospitality the West End deserves. We listened to what residents wanted, we invested in doing things the right way, and we are excited to welcome everyone back through the doors.”

• Ball 4 a Cure celebrated its 10-year anniversary with an event at the Governor’s Residence on Dec. 12, attended by more than 80 people, said Luke Reynolds, one of the founders of the West Hartford-based nonprofit. Since its founding in 2015 by seven Conard High School graduates who organized a basketball tournament at Duffy Elementary School in honor of a classmate (Seamus Turco) undergoing cancer treatment, the all-volunteer organization has hosted many events and contributed more than $500,000 to the Ball 4 a Cure Family Support Fund and the Greatest Needs Fund at Connecticut Children’s, providing essential assistance to hundreds of families for expenses such as housing, medical equipment, fertility preservation, utilities, and groceries. Mayor Shari Cantor recognized the organization with a proclamation, and DORO Marketplace catered the event. For more information about Ball 4 a Cure and upcoming fundraisers, visit their website.

• I was very excited to break the news in this column two weeks ago about plans for Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings to open at 111 Memorial Road (former Rizzuto’s and Gran Gusto space) in Blue Back Square, and I subsequently heard from a spokesperson about how excited they are to be joining the West Hartford community! While build-out will take months, they did send me some great photos from their other locations (all in Colorado other than one in Scarsdale) to share in the meantime! The following is from the Nana’s website: “Embark on a culinary journey filled with ethereal bites that dance on your taste buds. Let the symphony of flavors serenade your senses, a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation. … Savor each moment, relishing in the artistry of Chinese culinary finesse. Every dish tells a story, a tale of passion and dedication crafted into every exquisite bite. Are you ready to awaken your palate?”

• Spotted: the sign is now up as work continues on the future Home for Good thrift store that is being opened next year at 591 New Park Avenue as a social enterprise mission of Journey Home. More details can be found here.

• It’s still a month or so away, but West Hartford native and Conard grad, Dr. Jon Lis, will be opening Active Health in the Exchange just over the line in Farmington early next year. The membership-based primary care practice will include a full gym, personal training, a sauna and pool plunge, and other services in addition to seeing patients for medical needs.

• The sign on the door says “now hiring,” and Insomnia Cookies will hopefully be opening early next year at 70 LaSalle Road. I chatted with one of the contractors last week and they are still working on the space.

• This info is from the West Hartford December 2025 Economic Development newsletter: “Gem Jewelry is under new ownership! Camile Hannoush, Michaels Jewelers President, purchased GEM Jewelry last month at 1129 New Britain Avenue.”

• Congrats to West Hartford resident and Michelle Bonner who, in her capacity as VP of Public Relations for Adams & Knight, worked side-by-side with Connecticut Marketing Officer Anthony Anthony to create the “Connecticut: Pizza Capital of the U.S.” campaign. They are on the shortlist for the 2026 PRWeek awards in the category of “Best in Integration.”

• Work on the new Animal Control facility on Brixton Street is continuing despite the wintery weather!

• ICYMI, Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, and other officials were in West Hartford on Wednesday to announce that West Hartford had been awarded a $6 million grant that will be used for some of the environmental remediation of 1800 Asylum – the former UConn West Hartford campus that will be developed as Heritage Park. Demolition should begin very soon! Complete details can be found here.
• Click here for details about schedule changes (trash, recycling, town facilities) for the upcoming holidays.
• Did you know …

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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