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 has actually felt wonderful to finally have some seasonable temperatures over the past several days. I even got out for runs on both Saturday and Sunday – taking advantage of receding ice and snow temperatures that were above arctic levels!

Today is Presidents Day, and although Town Hall and other municipal offices are closed, there is NO trash or recycling delay this week. West Hartford Public Schools are closed for winter recess on both Monday and Tuesday.

Ted and I spread out our Valentine’s Day celebration – enjoying a drink at Bricco and then a delicious dinner at Arugula on Friday night, and a special (surprise to me, and it was fabulous) dinner that Ted made for me at home on Saturday night!

My other West Hartford “dining” out this past week was a late afternoon meeting with a former colleague over an excellent Pilsner beer at New Park Brewing.

There was one troll this past week, plus one high school student (who used a student email) who wanted to comment that a player on a high school team “stunk,” and someone else who commented with a partial name and a fake email (as I learned when I emailed asking for their complete name). 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 Please comply or your comment will not be published.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:

• I’m so excited to again feature great news from Blue Back Square in this column! The space at 63 Memorial Road (former Vinted Wine Bar) will soon be transformed into Fat Duck Tavern, an upscale-casual restaurant featuring creative American cuisine that already has a popular location in Madison. “We are incredibly excited to bring Fat Duck Tavern to West Hartford,” co-owners Anton and Tatiana Berseneva, the husband-and-wife team behind the restaurant, said in an announcement. “This community has such a rich appreciation for great food and gathering around the table, and we’re honored to be part of Blue Back Square’s outstanding mix of dining destinations. We look forward to serving new friends and longtime fans alike with dishes that bring people together – celebrating flavor, quality and warmth in every bite.” According to the announcement, Fat Duck Tavern is known for its thoughtful menu, bold flavors, and welcoming atmosphere. I checked out the menu for the Madison location – which has plenty of vegan and gluten-free options – and which includes starters like clam chowder, carrot bisque, and pork belly. Shareables include duck confit (I definitely expected duck on the menu, and there’s also a “Fat Duck Burger” available under the hand-helds), buffalo cauliflower, brussels, flatbread, wings, and a shrimp and scallop ceviche. In addition to the duck burger, the “in hand” section also has regular and vegan burgers, tacos, a grilled chicken sandwich, and pork belly banh mi. There are larger plates – including salmon, steak frites, and seafood drunken noodles – dessert, and brunch offerings. The announcement notes that the Bersenevas draw on years of experience in the restaurant industry, with Anton leading in the kitchen and Tatiana guiding the front-of-house experience, and a shared passion for creating memorable meals. Their menu boasts a range of creative selections that appeal to a wide audience, with thoughtful touches that make Fat Duck Tavern a standout culinary experience. “We’re thrilled to welcome Fat Duck Tavern to Blue Back Square,” Connor Nolan, Vice President of Leasing at Brand Street Properties, the ownership group behind Blue Back Square, said in a statement. “Its inviting atmosphere and neighborhood-driven concept make it a perfect fit for the Square’s vibrant mix of dining, shopping, and workspaces, further strengthening Blue Back Square as a place for the community to gather.” Visit the website for more information.

• River Bend Bookshop is moving – but it’s not going far from the current location. Owner Meghan Hayden shared that the beloved independent bookstore will be relocating from 161 Park Road to 224 Park Road – a larger location that’s even closer to their community partners, including Playhouse on Park and A.C. Petersen’s, which will help reinforce its role as a vibrant hub, serving readers, authors, and neighbors in the community. “Staying on Park Road was a must for us,” Hayden said in an announcement of the plans to relocate the West Hartford shop which is known for its “curated selection, inclusive community, and literary events.” Hayden said they love and are committed to the Park Road neighborhood and its continued growth and development. The new space will have a dedicated area where they can host author talks as well as craft nights and even mahjong, and also a cozy reading nook perfect for families and young readers. There’s also improved accessibility – and a porch for reading outdoors during the nice weather. Hayden said the move should take place in March, and a grand reopening celebration will be announced once the date is finalized. There wom’t be any downtime, with the current location remaining open until the move is complete. “We see this move as an investment in Park Road’s future,” General Manager Jillian Puzzo said. “Our partnerships with local schools, arts groups, WHPL, and nonprofits are at the heart of what we do. Being closer to them means we can dream bigger together.” Further information will be posted on the River Bend website, as well as on social media (@riverbendbookshop).

• While walking down LaSalle Road one day last week, I saw that demolition was underway of the interior of the former Crush Wine Bar space at 37 LaSalle Road. The permit for the demolition on file with the town just indicates that it’s “non structural demolition for future tenant interior upfit,” but although I have confirmed that the space has been leased, the details are not yet ready to be shared. Much more to come.

•  Mentor South Bay announced in an email that they will host an open house to introduce their new ABA and Allied Health clinic in West Hartford, offering local children and families the opportunity to meet the team, tour the space, and learn about available services. The clinic is located at 430 New Park Avenue, Suite 101, and the event, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., will feature informal meet‑and‑greets with staff and sensory-friendly activities designed to engage children and families. The following is from the news release: “Mentor South Bay’s caring team in CT provides high-quality, person-centered services for children, including early intervention, in-home ABA, center-based ABA and pediatric Allied Health including speech, occupational, and physical therapy. Mentor South Bay, part of the Sevita family of specialized health care services, opened in 1986 in Brockton, Massachusetts and is now a leading behavioral health provider in Massachusetts and Connecticut. The new West Hartford program furthers this mission by reducing barriers to care and expanding access to ABA and outpatient supports for children.”

• I don’t have any details other than the name, but have confirmed with property manager Mike Mahoney of RLM Co. that the now-vacant Center Framing & Art space (968 Farmington Avenue) will become Xtrait Perfumery. I’m hoping to find out more from the owner soon!

• I’ve also confirmed that there is a new tenant that has leased the former Sam’s Gyro space at 7 South Main Street, and hope to have those details soon. I had tried to find out more about Sam’s Gyro since when they first closed there was a sign on the door (no longer there) indicating that they were moving, but I have struck out through every source I have tried. Does anyone know if they are reopening?

• While on the topic of The Center, I am also keeping tabs on other vacant spaces – including Cookshop Plus, which is now completely cleared out and the signage has been removed, and the old Play It Again Sports space that has a “for lease” sign in the window. Francesca’s on Farmington Avenue remains open, but there is also a “for lease” sign in the window (there’s interest, but nothing signed yet according to Mike Mahoney at RLM Co.) and everything is on clearance – and final sale. According to a Francesca’s employee, they don’t yet know the closing date, which is part of a nationwide closing of the chain’s brick and mortar stores.

• One more note about The Center: Tree removal on Farmington Avenue is scheduled to take place beginning at 7 p.m. tonight. The work will be done overnight and Farmington Avenue will be closed while the work is underway, with plans for reopening at 7 a.m., with police and flaggers directing traffic, according to a news release from the town. The tree removal will begin on the western block between Walden Street and LaSalle Road, and when complete will move to the eastern block between LaSalle Road and North/South Main. The removal of the existing street trees is part of the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan, and the tree warden (Director of Public Works John Phillips) confirmed the tree removal following a public hearing.

• In other construction news the Rockledge Golf Club driving range is nearing completion, and will hopefully be open by the end of the month!

• Also, at a recent meeting of the Town Council’s Public Works, Facilities, and Sustainability Committee a report indicated that for the new Animal Control facility on Brixton Street “foundation work complete, under slab utilities in process,” and also that the bid process for the demolition of 705 Oakwood Avenue (former Cunningham Supply) has been completed and the award for the work is in progress. That site will become a fueling station for town vehicles.

• We broke the very exciting story in last week’s column about Frisbie’s Dairy Barn planning to open in the former Kilwins space in Blue Back Square, and other news outlets and social media sites have since share the great news as well. Frisbie’s posted the below photo of signage on the building, which has been widely shared, but I wanted to make sure people know that’s only a rendering! There’s no sign permit application posted on the town website – and also you should be able to tell it’s not a current photo since sadly we don’t have leaves on the trees and flowers blooming right now. Below the rendering is what the actual building looks like – but there are ice cream wraps on the windows!

• Artisan West Hartford at the Delamar (as well as Artisan Southport) will feature “Voyage menus during March – “a month-long culinary experience designed to celebrate and explore global gastronomy through a series of thoughtfully curated menus. Each week, our chefs will take guests on a journey to a different region of the world, highlighting the flavors, traditions, and ingredients that define each destination, all interpreted through Artisan’s signature lens of refinement and seasonal excellence.” The schedule is Portugal (March 2-8), Europe Centrale (March 9-15), Méditerranée (March 16-22), and Patagonie (March 23-29). “Voyage has become a much-anticipated annual tradition for us – inviting guests to experience the artistry of global cuisine without ever leaving the table. We look forward to welcoming diners throughout March for this celebration of culinary exploration,” said Erin Kenning, director of PR and Marketing for the Delamar. Click here to see the menu.

• Jane Owen, owner of West Hartford-based PR company JOPR, shared that Connecticut made a vibrant showing at the recent Sundance Film Festival, “hosting a lively gathering at The Velvet Room on Main Street to celebrate Connecticut filmmakers and introduce the state as an increasingly attractive destination for film and television production. The event was intentionally open and inclusive, welcoming filmmakers with direct ties to Connecticut as well as creatives, collaborators, and industry professionals interested in becoming part of the state’s growing filmmaking and cultural ecosystem. Guests gathered for an evening that blended community, conversation, and late-night Sundance energy, reflecting the collaborative spirit Connecticut is cultivating across the arts.” According to Owen, “The gathering was made possible through a partnership between the City of Hartford, the City of New Haven, Hartford Film Company, founded by Hartford native TJ Noel-Sullivan, Connecticut-based production company Weazl Sauze, owned by filmmaker Fernando Ferro, and Jane Owen Public Relations, a film-focused public relations company operating nationally with an East Coast headquarters in West Hartford.” Attendees included Oscar nominee Soledad O’Brien, Game of Thrones actor Gethin Anthony, Tim Molloy of MovieMaker Magazine, and Amy Beecroft, an executive at Verve, who represents Little Walnut, the new production company launched by Moby. There was also an announcement of the inaugural festival, The Long Weekend, a multidisciplinary (film, art, music, and tech) event that will take in Connecticut this July.

• Congratulations to West Hartford’s Alex Ackerman, a junior at Hall High School and a varsity soccer standout, who recently signed to play with the Hartford Athletic’s new USL W team which will be launching this summer! More information to come from the team as the season approaches.

• ICYMI, check out Melissa Cole’s most recent article about the CT Kids Passport! Click here for the complete story.

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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