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

Neither the weather nor college basketball have been very favorable this weekend. I’m hoping, however, that the arctic attack will recede and happy to see that beginning Tuesday the high temperature will finally be a “normal” 36 degrees – and that will probably feel like springtime.

The UConn women were the exception to the bad basketball I watched over the weekend, and I’m hoping that the UConn men and the Duke men bounce back well after heartbreaking defeats in their most recent games. While both teams faced formidable opponents, Duke had been beating Carolina for the ENTIRE game, until the final 0.4 seconds. Perhaps it was good that Ted and I had gone out to Iron Horse Sports Pub to watch the second half of the game at, because I had to temper my reaction to the buzzer-beating 3-pointer that gave UNC the win. At least our dinner was good.

I’m writing this on Super Bowl Sunday, in advance of heading to a party at the home of our friends who are avid Chiefs fans so they will be much calmer and less invested in the game this year, and I will hope that our sports luck improves from Friday and Saturday. (Update: It was an all-around bad sports weekend for our favorite teams.)

I missed a few events that I would have really liked to attend this past week – including the grand opening party and ribbon cutting at Coracora. I had extreme FOMO, but was stricken with that awful cold that’s going around and down for the count for a few days. I also missed the Yard Goats season preview party (that was due to a conflicting event), which is always fun and a promise that preparation for springtime is underway. I am happy to note that pitchers and catchers report this week – also always a good sign that spring is coming.

The only member of my family who seems to be enjoying the cold weather and snow is Millie.

No trolls this past 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 Please comply or your comment will not be published.

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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 am so excited to share the news that Frisbie’s Dairy Barn will be opening soon in Blue Back Square! They will be taking over the space that was previously Kilwins, at 38 Isham Road, returning sweetness to the Webster Walk courtyard area, where (when the weather is warmer) people love to hang out and enjoy ice cream cones. Frisbie’s Dairy Barn is a New England-based business, founded in 2015 and serving handcrafted ice cream and specialty treats, which has become a community-focused and beloved and welcoming gathering place for families, friends, and neighbors across the area. An announcement shared with me notes that the brand is celebrated for its rich, creamy ice creams made with high-quality ingredients, signature flavors, and welcoming scoop shop environments designed for connection and fun year-round. “We’re excited to welcome Frisbie’s Dairy Barn to Blue Back Square,” said Connor Nolan, Vice President of Leasing at Brand Street Properties, the ownership group behind Blue Back Square. “Their focus on community, quality, and memorable experiences aligns perfectly with the spirit of our property and the Town of West Hartford. Frisbie’s will be a wonderful addition to our growing roster of dining and dessert destinations.” Frisbie’s is also known for holding a 24-hour National Ice Cream Day celebration (this year it’s July 19), when they stay open around the clock serving up their custom flavors and signature sundaes in a festive atmosphere. “Families line up at midnight and throughout the day to take part in the tradition – creating memories that embody the brand’s mission of bringing people together,” the announcement states. “Frisbie’s has always been about more than ice cream – it’s about community, celebration, and shared moments,” said Paul Parks III, Co-Owner, Frisbie’s Dairy Barn. “We’re thrilled to become part of the Blue Back Square neighborhood and can’t wait to serve West Hartford residents and visitors.” The super-premium ice cream is hand-crafted in New Britain where there is also a scoop shop, and they have additional scoop shops and walk-up windows in Windsor, CT (currently closed for the season), North Attleboro, MA, and another opening soon in Sturbridge, MA. No firm date has been provided yet for the West Hartford opening, but I’ll be following the progress and share details of the opening date and celebratory events as soon as possible. For more information about Frisbie’s, visit their website.

• Another business that I am excited about welcoming to West Hartford is Vivid Hue Home! I’ve always loved their shop on Route 4 near the center of Farmington, and their bright and colorful Instagram page (@vividhuehome) has always been a mood-lifter. “We have been in our current space in Farmington for 11 years,” said Vivid Hue Home owner Heather Moore Grahling. “Not only are we moving to West Hartford because of its energy and vibrancy, but our lease in this space was up,” she said, and it’s also providing the opportunity for a bit of a pivot in the business. They’ve always focused on home decor and gifts, but in the last quarter or so really started expanding into fashion, Heather said. “People were really head over heels,” she said of the clothing, which has a “very preppy, southern, Palm Beach vibe.” While they will continue to offer gifts and items for the home, fashion and style will become a key emphasis of the brand, with a focus on statement pieces – adding that she means standout and statement pieces, but not overly expensive items. “We want to do it in a mindful way, and also remain budget conscious.” Fashion accessories, purses, and jewelry will also be featured items, along with hostess gifts, “but less heavily focused on home decor,” Heather said. The new location in West Hartford will be a different type of space – a former office, just like the space she transformed in Farmington – but while it will be in the Center, it won’t have a storefront, at least initially. Vivid Hue Home will be taking over roughly 500 square feet of empty office space for the shop and dressing room inside the existing Sanditz Travel at 945 Farmington Avenue. “It will be a boutique inside the building,” and while you will have to know they are there and walk through the Sanditz offices, Vivid Hue Home has a loyal customer base that should find them without any trouble. Plus, there’s free off-street parking for shoppers in the back of the building. “We want the vibe and the energy of West Hartford,” Heather said, and looks forward to sharing more details as she starts painting and getting the space ready for a mid-April or early May opening when she will launch the spring collection. She said Vivid Hue Style dresses will be great for weddings and other special occasions, and I’m hoping that includes some mother-of-the-groom options for my son’s wedding this summer! As for right now, they’re still open in Farmington and offering 75% off winter season items.

• The new flagship location for award-winning Peruvian restaurant Coracora at 51 Isham Road in Blue Back Square had its soft opening on Dec. 10, 2025, and last Tuesday celebrated a grand opening and ribbon cutting. An estimated 200 guests attended the celebration, including town officials, representatives from the the Chamber of Commerce, industry professionals and even Peru’s consul general, along with content creators, Coracora regulars, and other community members. I am still so sad I was home sick and missed the fun, which included a ceviche bar, cocktail-making demonstrations, and music by DJ Hacker (and even dancing). There were remarks, more celebration, and gift bags for guests that included handmade Coracora llama keychains! The Blue Back Square location has now expanded their offerings to include lunch and happy hour. Coracora’s original location at 162 Shield Street remains open for dine-in and take-out as well, with a focus on Peruvian comfort food. More information is available on the Coracora website.

• I had mentioned a few months ago seeing a sign for ISA Cafe in the window of a vacant storefront behind The Laurel, and learned at Friday’s Elmwood Business Association meeting that permit applications have now been submitted for some minor updates to the space. According to Economic Development Manager Kristen Gorski, the small cafe at 657 New Park Avenue will offer coffee and pastries.

• I also learned at the Elmwood Business Association meeting that work is proceeding and ramping up at Level99 in The Corbin Collection, after a roughly three-month construction delay while some HVAC issues were being resolved. “They are projecting to be open this fall,” Economic Development Manager Kristen Gorski advised. Level99 will offer more than 50 “mental and physical challenges set in immersive artistic environments” in the 41,426 square foot space that can accommodate up to 600 players plus 250 diners in the restaurant area which will be a collaboration with Two Roads Kitchen & Tap. More information about Level99 can be found here.

• Home for Good, the thrift shop that will be a social enterprise mission in support of nonprofit Journey Home, is making great progress on the preparation for opening at 591 New Park Avenue. Construction is complete, the walls are painted, and the floors are done, said store manager Tina Heffernan, who was also at the Elmwood Business Association meeting on Friday. She said there will be a soft opening sometime in March, and a grand opening likely to come sometime shortly after Journey Home’s “Atomic Lounge” fundraiser on March 27. More information about the inspiration for Home for Good can be found here.

• Hartford HealthCare has submitted plans, that will be received by the Town Council at its Tuesday, Feb. 10 meeting and set for public hearing, to amend the Special Development District at 445 South Main Street to accommodate renovations and façade updates to their existing building. The Design Review Advisory Committee (DRAC) has already reviewed the plans, which include new gateway signage at the corner of New Britain Avenue and South Main Street.

• It may be a bit hard to see due to all of the snow, but the old building on the site has been completely demolished and work is moving along for The Jayden, a five-story mixed-use development that will include 70 residential units at 579 New Park Avenue. Plans are to start the actual construction with pouring of the footings in late March or early April, once the weather breaks.

• A new workshop, “Applying Philanthropy in Action,” will introduce Millennials (ages 30-45) and older Gen Zers (ages 22-29) to the Jewish values of community and philanthropy on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Services Building, 333 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford. The event is being presented by three West Hartford organizations – Mandell Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. To register for the free workshop, click here. Kathryn Gonnerman, President & CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation, will lead the interactive workshop. “Nothing is more powerful than community members connecting with each other by sharing their passions,” Gonnerman said. “We will have fun in this workshop, exploring the various ways people can give their time, talent, and treasure to their favorite causes, and how they can put their values into action.” Applying Philanthropy in Action is one of a series of 101-level interactive workshops in the Next Gen Impact Lab: Philanthropy + Community in Greater Hartford. A first-of-its-kind series, Next Gen Impact Lab allows participants to explore their philanthropic identity with their peers and learn ways of building Jewish communal responsibility in Greater Hartford and beyond.

• Today’s sad news: Boost Bowls is closing their location nearly three years after opening at 981 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center. “When I opened Boost Bowls in May of 2023, I was just 23 years old with a dream, a lot of determination, and a deep belief that this community would embrace something new,” said Nicole Bartel, who was a store manager at Boost Bowl in Newtown before taking over as owner/operator of the West Hartford location. “From the very beginning, West Hartford did exactly that. This town welcomed me, supported me, and gave me the opportunity to grow not only as a business owner, but as a person. I have met some of the most amazing people along the way – customers who became regulars, regulars who became friends, and neighbors who showed up day after day with encouragement, kind words, and loyalty. For that, I will always be thankful. Being part of West Hartford Center has been an honor. This community has a unique energy – one rooted in connection, support, and pride in local businesses. I have truly loved being here and serving a town that values small business owners and the people behind them. There are so many moments I will carry with me forever: early mornings prepping, familiar faces walking through the door, conversations across the counter, and the simple joy of watching Boost Bowls become part of. Through this experience, I gained invaluable lessons about resilience, leadership, perseverance, and who I am – lessons that will stay with me for a lifetime. Boost Bowls pushed me to grow in ways I never imagined, and I will always be proud of what I created here. I want to thank every single person who supported Boost Bowls, whether you stopped in once or made us part of your weekly routine. Thank you to West Hartford for giving a young entrepreneur a chance, and for making this journey so meaningful. While this chapter is coming to a close, the love and appreciation I have for this community will always remain,” she shared in a statement. She said the closing will be in mid- to late-February. Bartel, who has been commuting from Southbury, said she plans to obtain her real estate license, and is ready for the next chapter. No information yet on the future of the space.

• ICYMI, Lyons Auto Service is under new ownership by New England-based and family-owned VIP Tires & Service as of last week, and will officially be known as Lyons Auto Service by VIP.  Read the complete story here.
• The Children’s Museum announced last week that after much consideration, they will be closing the physical museum space at Emanuel Synagogue, which had sustained extensive flood damage in November. The preschool and Roaring Brook Nature Center will remain open, and outreach and education will continue through the TCM Mobile Museum. Complete details can be found here.
• Updates on construction in the Center were the topic of a recent stakeholder meeting at Town Hall. Click here for the full story.
• One of the events I missed due to being sick last week was a press conference at the Wise Old Dog in West Hartford regarding the state’s new training requirements before obtaining a liquor license. Thanks to CTNewsJunkie for sharing their full story with us!
• 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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