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

Wow, it’s already June. Of course it felt more like March or early April on Saturday. It started raining hard while I was finishing up my run Saturday morning (thought I could make it back in time), and it felt almost like it was wind-driven sleet.

Fingers crossed that the weather will be nice and warm – but not too hot – for Celebrate! West Hartford next weekend. Come visit me in the Central Info Booth, where I will be most of the weekend wearing my Celebrate! committee hat.

Did you miss this column last week? I generally delay Business Buzz until Wednesday the on weeks where major holidays fall on Monday, but I was away for nearly a week and wasn’t able to gather the content for the column.

If you follow me on social media, you’ll have seen that I was at a wedding in Sonoma Valley, California, and then in San Francisco for a few days at the end of the trip. My future daughter-in-law’s brother was the groom, and we have known their family for probably 25+ years, and have known his now-wife for more than a decade. The welcome dinner and wedding were both at wineries, in spectacular settings amid the vineyards in perfect weather and it was wonderful time with family and friends. We stayed in a really cute town (Healdsburg) where they have some great restaurants, did some wine tasting at a few vineyards in Sonoma, happened upon the annual Healdsburg Parade (about 400-500 – no kidding – regiments participating and the entire town plus the population of other towns were there), drove to Bodega Bay on the Pacific Ocean, drove (and then walked) to the top of Mount Tam, and then walked miles and miles (more than 11 last Monday) up and down hills through many of San Francisco’s iconic neighborhoods. We took the red eye back and I days later I think I’m still recovering from getting just an hour of sleep on the flight.

A few of my favorite photos can be found below. I did take plenty of food pics, too, but will refrain from sharing those!

An official thanks to dog- and house-sitter extraordinaire Alex for taking such great care of Millie!

While I was away, most of the articles on the site were written by others, including our high school interns – who have been doing a great job. While I am definitely not a natural teacher, I very much appreciate the opportunity to work with students who are testing out the field of journalism, and ask for our readers’ continued understanding of the variety of voices and writing styles. that accompany their contributions. Also, sometimes I am not able to fact-check sports (such as who scored in a game) during the editing process, and ask that if you see errors, please email me and let me know. I am glad to do corrections, and prefer not to have anyone shamed on social media.

One of the other reasons I am probably still exhausted is because my schedule was very busy as soon as I returned, including some personal commitments such the Yard Goats game on Wednesday night and a friend’s retirement party on Friday. We got our vegetable and flower gardens/pots planted over the weekend, too.

Saturday night we had a delicious dinner at El Santo. The management of the restaurant changed about 18 months ago, and so did the menu, and we loved the dishes we ordered! The tequila shots were a treat from the management. We hadn’t been there in quite a while, and won’t wait that long again!

Spotted in West Hartford Center on Saturday night … this guy takes high viz to a new level!

No trolls the past two weeks, 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:

• Spitz Mediterranean Street Food has officially announced their opening date of June 12! They have been doing some updates to the interior,and will be opening in the former Plan b space at 138 Park Road. I stopped by last week, and was able to chat with Nick Chamberlain – who owns the franchise with his wife, Paige.  Spitz is popular out west and was originally launched by two college kids from Minnesota and Utah – and the Chamberlains are excited to open the first Connecticut location in West Hartford. They are originally from Simsbury, and Paige’s father and grandfather owned and operated West Hartford Lock on Prospect Avenue for many years. Nick said previously it was “only right to carry on the legacy of being West Hartford business owners.” Nick’s relatives own several locations out in Utah, and after visiting the Chamberlain’s felt the concept – which is fun, family-friendly, and delicious – would be a great addition to the Northeast. The Spitz website describes the menu as: “Mediterranean Food, Greek Food, American Classics & more! Named after the vertical method of broiling proteins that ensures a flavorful taste, our award-winning menu includes overflowing wraps, rich salads, gyros, wings, fries & more. The tender, delicious meat used in our wraps and bowls is halal certified. We also have a Vegan Menu, Gluten-Free options, a Kid’s Menu, Paleo & Keto options, and a dog-friendly patio; while our bar offers a rotating selection of craft beer, wine & sangria. Did we mention we have board games for kids and adults?! Spitz – unusual name, extraordinary taste!” Paige and Nick said they intentionally looked for a “second generation” space that had been a restaurant in order to speed up the timeline. They kept the booths from Plan b and reupholstered them, and Nick sanded down and refinished the tables. (He was working on them when I stopped by!) They came very close to their goal of opening by the end of May, and I can’t wait to be there for the opening! Signage should be going up soon, and check out the West Hartford-themed murals inside in the photos below. You can preview the menu here.

• Brittany Benedict is opening Hideaway Cuts for Kids, on Tuesday, June 2, bringing a kids’ salon to the space that was most recently Pink Soda (and previously Top Level and Final Cuts) at 36 LaSalle Road. It’s on the second floor, and accessible through the door next to Friendly Toast. “I will have a barber lounge with two chairs on the bottom leve, and the kids salon up top in the loft, with cars for the kids to sit in, big chairs for the older kids/teens, and TVs with cartoons,” she told me. All girls haircuts include a “mini mani” (one coat of nail polish), and she will provide certificates, photos, and saved locks of hair to celebrate first haircuts. And, they will host themed birthday parties, too, she said. Benedict has been in the cosmetology/barbering business for more than 20 years, and previously managed the Six Flags Roller Coaster Cuts in Blue Back, a family-owned salon in Rocky Hill, and the Kennedy’s Barber Club in Blue Blue Back Square. Most recently she has been renting a chair at 968 Farmington Avenue for her ScissorHands Barber Co. The awning will be replaced soon, but in the meantime there is a sign on the sidewalk (during the day) directing customers to the space. Hideaway Cuts for Kids will be open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To make an appointment, call 860-414-7901 or email [email protected]. Appointments can also be made through their square site – that I accessed through Instagram (@hideawaycutsforkids).

• Speaking of hair styling, the tagline for the Park Road restaurant Babe was already “Where Taste and Aesthetic Collide,” and now that will have further relevance as the restaurant is splitting the space and adding a barber shop operation to the 134 Park Road location. West Hartford Economic Development Manager Kristen Gorski said the two businesses will be separated within the space, and will have their own interior doors.

• A wrap covering the windows and doors now indicates that Bliss Matcha and Beyond is coming soon to 981 Farmington Avenue, which was formerly Boost Bowls.

• Also seen in my travels through the Center: the sign is now up at Crêpes Choupette at 993 Farmington Avenue!

• The Park Road Association has announced its first “Park After Dark” event, which will be held this coming Wednesday, June 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Smoke Public House (140 Park Road). According to the Park Road Association’s Facebook page, the Events Committee, the new initiative is intended to foster a greater sense of community in the area: “Once a quarter, a different restaurant will host a Happy Hour. We encourage anyone interested in the Park Road neighborhood to attend. This is a chance to meet and/or catch up with friends, neighbors, and colleagues, talk to members of the Park Road Association, and hear updates about what’s going on in the neighborhood. This may be especially helpful for those who cannot attend our 8:30 am monthly meeting.” I ran into Smoke Public House owner Rich Sin-Clair and he said he’s excited about hosting the first Park After Dark event, and will feature live music by Audrey Vandermark and a happy hour menu with food and drink specials.

• Congratulations to Angel Land on their official ribbon cutting and grand opening held on Thursday. Owner Tom Kwok is very happy that the West Hartford community has embraced the indoor playground, which is located in the Corbin Collection (2433 New Britain Avenue), in the former buybuy Baby space. Mayor Shari Cantor was accompanied by one of her toddler granddaughters, who had a great time playing after the official duties were done. More details about Angel Land can be found in a Business Buzz column from a few weeks ago, which featured the soft opening.

• The developer of Center Park Place (Arapahoe Group LLC, which is a collaboration between Lexham Private Investors, Simons Real Estate Group, and Manafort Family) has made a change to the real estate brokerage firm managing the sale of the luxury condominiums that are currently under construction in West Hartford Center. Catherine McCahill of William Pitt/Sotheby’s is now handling the account. The initial plans were for 58 units, but I count 56 after a few of the sold units have been combined – including one top floor home that is three bedrooms and 2,755 square feet. A total of six condos have been sold and six more have been reserved, according to the website. More information can be found on the Center Park Place website, which indicates that the condominiums are priced from $1.2 million to $2.5 million, and include one-bedroom units with an office, two-bedroom units, and two-bedroom units with a  den – as well as the already sold three-bedroom home. Some photos of the construction progress can be found below.

• Shinjuku Station has applied for permits and hopes to open the all-you-can eat sushi restaurant (with a conveyor belt) in Prospect Plaza in late July.

• More construction updates – or in this case, deconstruction. The demolition has started on the former UConn campus, which will be developed as Heritage Park. The former Undergrad Building is already in the process of being taken down, and according to online records, the permit has also been issued for the demolition of the Maintenance/Facilities Building, but permits are still outstanding for the Library (that’s the one that faces Asylum Avenue) as well as the IT building.

• Great progress continues on the new Animal Control facility on Brixton Street.

• Below are some photos that provide a look at the current status of the construction of the West Hartford Center Master Plan on Farmington Avenue. When I first drove through last week (after having been out of town for a week), I was shocked out how many orange barriers there were. When I returned on Friday afternoon, however, to walk around and take some photos, I realized that much more of the sidewalk was actually open than appeared from the road. And while a swath of parking spaces on Farmington Avenue itself are blocked off, on Friday afternoon, I had no problem at all finding a parking space in the Brace Road lot. When we had dinner in the Center on Saturday night (see pics from El Santo above), the lot was more crowded, but we ultimately did find a spot. Please give our West Hartford Center businesses some extra love during this time of disruption!

• The celebration of state Rep. Tammy Exum‘s retirement from the state legislature had quite a notable guest list, including Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, House Speaker Matt Ritter, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, State Treasurer Erick Russell, State Comptroller Sean Scanlon, State Sen. Derek Slap (chief party planner), State Rep. Brandon McGee (emcee), and many other current and former state legislators and constitutional officers, as well as town officials – and of course friends and family – honoring her and presenting her with proclamations and citations. I have been personal friends with Tammy (as well as her late husband, Earl) since her son Kyle and my son Sam were best buddies in kindergarten at Webster Hill back in 2003 (yikes), and while I was at the party in that friend role, I couldn’t resist taking a few photos which are posted below. Tammy announced early this year that she would not seek re-election to the 19th District seat she has held for seven years, but does plan to continue her advocacy work encouraging people to obtain coronary calcium scans (and insurance companies to cover the simple but potentially life-saving test), as well as children’s mental health.

• Best wishes to Katherine Bruns, who has been the town’s recycling coordinator for more than six years, as she leaves her position this month to spend more time with her family. She does plan to train her replacement, who has not yet been hired.

• Gov. Ned Lamont announced on May 22 that Ari Santiago of West Hartford has been selected to serve as interim chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education, the governing body for Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU). Santiago has been a member of the board since 2020, serving as an appointee of the governor. He is vice chair of the board’s Finance and Infrastructure Committee, and a member of its Technology Committee. “As an entrepreneur who started a one-man IT company in Hartford and then turned it into a nationally recognized organization, Ari has unique experience both in the development of cutting-edge, technology solutions, and also operating a business that meets the needs of hundreds of customers and provides employment to workers here in Connecticut,” Lamont said in the announcement. “I am proud that Connecticut’s public higher education institutions are consistently ranked among the best in the nation and recognized for their achievements in educational excellence and academic success. The top mission of our CSCU schools must be to provide students with the innovative, forward-thinking skills needed to obtain long-lasting careers in good-paying jobs, and I want to ensure that our public colleges and universities are partnering with the business community and creating the workforce needed to grow economic success. Looking forward, it is my expectation that the Board of Regents will take concrete steps within this next week to move ahead on the appointment of an interim chancellor to lead this important system,” he added. “I joined the CSCU Board of Regents because I believe deeply in what this system can do for students, for communities, and for Connecticut’s economy,” Santiago said. “I am accepting this role with clear eyes. The events of recent weeks have been troubling, and the public, and especially our students, deserve better. Let me be direct: the independent investigation being started must proceed with full transparency and without interference and, following it, any necessary changes will be made. That work will not wait. At the same time, this board cannot be defined solely by what has gone wrong. CSCU educates the next generation of Connecticut’s citizens and workforce, and I intend to make sure we are doing that job at the highest possible level. I am honored to accept this role and ready to get to work.”

• AARP presented Mayor Shari Cantor and Town Manager Rick Ledwith with West Hartford’s official  certificate of acceptance into the AARP Age–Friendly States and Communities Network on May 19th at the Senior Center in Bishops Corner. For more information about the town’s process of earning the designation, click here.

• It was a very hot day, but the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce had a very successful WEHA Health and Wellness Fair in Blue Back Square on May 19.

• I like to save the bad news for last … The FIX IV Therapy is soon closing for good. They following is the message that they posted on their Facebook page on Thursday.

• Click here to listen to the latest episode of On The Scene featuring hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr who sit down with Edwin Thrower and Herb Emanuelson of the Capital Classics Theater Company to explore the passion behind one of Greater Hartford’s most beloved summer traditions. From the magic of Shakespeare under the stars to the importance of volunteerism and nonprofit board service, this conversation highlights how local arts organizations thrive through community support, dedication, and shared purpose. All “On the Scene” podcasts can be found on the bottom of the We-Ha.com homepage.

• ICYMI, last week Melissa Cole spoke with Heather Grahling, owner of Vivid Hue Home, about how she started her business, and why she somewhat changed the focus and relocated to West Hartford Center. Read the complete story here.
• 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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