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 the last day of March, and while there were many “lion” and “lamb” moments interspersed throughout the month, the first and last days of the month did not feature any remarkable weather.

As of Sunday afternoon, the forecast of Monday was just “meh” – but of course that’s just a forecast.

I had been extremely excited about the prospect of temps in the 70s on Saturday but clearly that front had other plans. I was especially hopeful for nice weather because Ted and I spent all day Saturday grand-parenting the kidlets while Katie and Matt were at an out-of-town wedding. We teamed up with Matt’s mom for dinner and bedtime and then she took the overnight shift – which was probably more exhausting – after we all enjoyed watching the UConn women beat Oklahoma while enjoying some Park Lane Pizza.

We were home in time to watch the Duke men punch their ticket to the Final Four with a 20-point win over Alabama!

On Friday we watched the Duke women defeat North Carolina (yay!!) and then on Sunday watched a very close and intense contest with South Carolina, sadly resulting in a win for the Gamecocks. Looking forward to watching UConn face USC on Monday night, and I will admit there is a part of me that’s relieved not to have to split allegiances as the women’s tournament continues.

We’ve also been following the success of UConn hockey and rooting for the men’s team to earn a trip to the Frozen Four. As I write this we just finished watching Sunday night’s overtime game (sadly not a win) with my sister, Debbi Zimbler, and her boyfriend, Carmine Mancini – one of West Hartford’s newest residents!

The season of fundraisers is underway, and this past week I attended the Go Red for Women Luncheon at the Connecticut Convention Center in support of the American Heart Association. We-Ha.com returned as a media sponsor, and according to the organization the event was very successful and more than $240,000 has been raised!

On Thursday I checked out the new Chipotle (see additional photos under bullet point below). I tried to keep it rather healthy (chicken, brown rice, black beans), but of course had to have the chips!

On Friday night Ted and I attended the Journey Home “lounge noir” prohibition-era-themed fundraiser which was held at The Birdcage in  Windsor – a very cool venue right near the railroad station in the historic district. I didn’t remember to take any food photos, but I did get one of a “Bees Knees” signature cocktail that I sampled, and couldn’t miss the opportunity to embarrass myself by dancing in public again when they offered Charleston lessons! I haven’t yet heard the fundraising results, but we got outbid in the silent auction and there was a good crowd and seemed to be lots of bidding.

A quick budget note, that I have explained in greater detail in the bullet points  below– which I hope people will read. Three things have happened recently: The state capped the mill rate on motor vehicles several years ago. Last year they changed the way cars are assessed for the 2024 Grand List. In January, the state allowed municipalities to add roughly 5% back to the previously-lowered vehicle values because of the impact it was having on the Grand List. This impacts the proportion of taxes on vehicles (which are slightly higher) compared to real and personal property (slightly lower) than if the adoption of a revised depreciation schedule had not been made. The Town Council DID NOT vote to increase taxes last Tuesday.

On a sad note, I read this past week of the passing of West Hartford resident Mal Doyle, 87. I met Mal about six or seven years ago, sharing the news of his creation of the Greater Hartford Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group and his work as a volunteer Ambassador for the PFF. He had been told in 2017, when he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, that he would only have a short time to live, but certainly defied the odds. He was always one of the most positive, cheerful, and polite people, and I truly enjoyed speaking with him each time our paths crossed. RIP, Mal. You can read his full obituary here.

Don’t be a troll; follow the rules. Below is our new troll monitor that Business Manager Bob Carr created with some help from ChatGPT. He’s watching for those who attempt to comment without their full name, or using a fake email, or with personal attacks. He may be emailing you soon …

I only had to email one person this week for not following the policy!

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:

• There are two businesses (actually kind of three, but I only have an update on two of them) sharing the spotlight today. Chipotle Mexican Grill opened their new location in Prospect Plaza (251 Prospect Avenue) on Thursday! The location – the third Chipotle in West Hartford – occupies roughly half of a new outbuilding in what was previously part of the parking lot. The building was approved by the Town Council in 2023, and is the only Chipotle in West Hartford to have a Chipotlane – a drive-through that allows for pick-up of mobile orders without needing to get out of the car. It’s not a traditional drive-through where your order is taken; orders picked up at the Chipotlane must be ordered online, and are already paid for in advance, and there are special spaces in the lot where drivers can park to place their order if they have not done so in advance. Of course you can also go inside the store to order – and chose take-out or can eat inside or on the 600-square-foot patio when the weather permits. The location is open daily from 10:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the newest protein, Chipotle Honey Chicken, is also being included on the menu for a limited time. According to a news release, West Hartford residents can easily set up fundraisers through Chipotle to benefit local causes.

• I know it’s a separate bullet point but I am considering Teriyaki Madness to be sharing the spotlight this week with Chipotle just as they share the same building. I had a chance to speak with franchise owner Ken Schanke last week, and he said the West Hartford location in Prospect Plaza will be his fifth Teriyaki Madness in the state, with plans to open in mid-May. Three locations are open already (Manchester, Enfield, Hamden), and Avon opens April 11. Although he doesn’t own the Jersey Mike’s Subs in Prospect Plaza (it’s a Rod Smith award winning location, story for another column), Schanke actually owns four Jersey Mike’s stores in Connecticut, and that led him to also get involved with the Teriyaki Madness brand. “We were pioneering a new brand. I loved what it represented,” Schanke said about opening his first Jersey Mike’s in this area in 2018 in Manchester. Eventually, he said, “I wanted to develop something different … not chicken,” he said, noting that there is a proliferation of fried chicken franchises popping up. What he liked about Teriyaki Madness was the emphasis on freshness and preparing everything in-house. They chop the vegetables on location, marinate the chicken in their special teriyaki sauce and then, “everything’s made fresh in a wok,” he said. Other than the orange chicken, everything on the menu is gluten-free as well. Schanke said while visiting his father in Oklahoma, he took a side trip to Las Vegas to check out the Teriyaki Madness locations there. “I visited eight stores in Vegas in one day,” he said trying a different item in each of the stores as his “litmus test” before deciding to invest in the brand. Schanke has five kids, and all are involved in various sports, and he said Teriyaki Madness is a good product for athletes with lean protein and good carbs. I think the menu (click here) looks great, too! As a franchise owner, Schanke said he focuses on the three P’s: Product, People, and Passion. Teriyaki Madness had the appear of a unique and fresh product, the people who work there are trained in customer service, and there is passion to be able to give back to the community through a day of giving. Last week, in fact, the three existing stores raised $125,000 in partnership with the Where Angels Play Foundation to support the building of a special playground in memory of the four Koropatkin children who tragically lost their lives in a multifamily house fire in Somers – about a half mile from his own home – on Jan. 3, 2024. In prior years they have supported Make a Wish, he said. They hold another day of giving during the year to support a local high school, he said. As for why he chose West Hartford, Schanke said he and his wife used to work for Yellow Pages, and the town was part of their territory. “We had looked all over West Hartford,” he said, and then the Kane Street/Prospect Avenue area caught his attention when D’Angelos was being rebuilt as Starbucks. “I loved it,” he said of the neighborhood where Teriyaki Madness will open, and when he learned that there was a “little sliver” of the outbuilding that was being built for Chipotle left available, “I said I’ll take it.” The 1,100 square feet is a little bit smaller than some of the other locations, but they do a lot of take-out as well as catering for teams, so he thinks it’s large enough. I’ll announce the opening date as soon as I have the details.

• While we’re on the subject of fast casual, I followed up with the media relations firm that handles Chick-fil-A because the Bishops Corner location not only has a sign up, but the fencing is now down and it looks very much ready to open. They said the opening would be in the next few months, and do not want to provide information at this point about the owner-operator for the store. This was the official statement they provided: “It’s our pleasure to confirm we will be opening a new Chick-fil-A restaurant, Chick-fil-A Bishops Corner, in West Hartford this year. The Chick-fil-A business is built to add positive impact to the communities we serve, and our local Owner-Operators do this by supporting the development of their Team Members, cultivating relationships with local organizations and businesses, and tailoring philanthropic efforts to meet the local community’s needs. We are excited to join this neighborhood, where each locally owned and operated restaurant creates 80-120 jobs. Visit the Chick-fil-A Press Room to learn more about our food, our people and the latest Chick-fil-A news.” I went to take some photos on Sunday and when I peeked in the window (see photo) it was fully furnished and looked nearly complete. In fact while I was standing there chatting with a friend who was walking by, at least three people walked up and tried the door to see if it was open.

• I’ve gotten a few questions about what’s happening in the Arapahoe parking lot (corner of LaSalle Road) and confirmed with Town Manager Rick Ledwith that the fenced off area is where the heavy construction equipment being used in the West Hartford Center Master Plan construction project will be kept overnight so it won’t take up space on the roadway. There are still some public parking spaces available. The construction work, which includes the removal of the 36 street trees, is expected to begin this week and will take place in phases.

• Just over the West Hartford line, renting space from Temple Sinai (41 West Hartford Road ), is a new addition to the community. Around the Clock 4 Tots, a full-service daycare center designed to support working families, opened on March 18. “Offering flexible hours from 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., the center is committed to providing high-quality early childhood education and care. With a focus on developmentally appropriate activities and individualized attention, Around the Clock 4 Tots aims to be a trusted partner in the early stages of a child’s growth. The facility is conveniently located, making it an exciting option for parents seeking reliable and caring support for their little ones. For more information on enrollment and services,  contact owner/Director Tiffany West 860-997-6344 [email protected] or stop by to take a tour of the center!” According to West, Around the Clock serves children ages 6 weeks to when they are ready for kindergarten.

• On Thursday, Windsor, a women’s clothing retailer, opened in the former Hallmark store space (lower level, Nordstrom wing) at Westfarms. According to the Westfarms website, “Founded in 1937, Windsor is the leading special occasion fashion brand providing glamorous, on-trend styles for all the occasions in a woman’s life. Women come to Windsor to find that perfect look for all of life’s important moments from a formal dress for their first dance to a graduation dress, to that perfect wedding guest dress. Visit Windsor to find the latest trends in women’s clothing, from bustiers, to cargo pants, to elevated cocktail dresses and formal dresses for everything from date night to New Year’s Eve outfits. sells bridal attire and other formal wear.”

• Thanks to one of our loyal readers for alerting me to this being Girl Scout Cookie time! Sales actually began over the weekend, but there are still plenty of opportunities to purchase the yummy treats locally, including at Hall’s Market, Blue Back Square, Stop & Shop, Crown Market, and more.  The list of local cookies booths with dates and times can be found here.

• Congratulations to West Hartford resident Jonathan Winer, district athletic director at Capital Region Education Council (CREC) in Hartford, who is a 2024 NIAAA State Award of Merit recipient. He received the award during the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors (CAAD) state conference held on March 27, 2025. According to the news release, Winer is currently serving in his 12th year as the Athletic Director for the CREC Magnet Schools. He oversees the athletic programs at four high schools and four middle schools and has grown the programs from their inception upon his arrival in 2013. He is most proud of the culture of developing the whole child which is reflected in the more than 25 sportsmanship awards at the league and state levels. Winer also serves as Commissioner of the Capitol Region Athletic League where he has overseen its growth from 5 to 14 schools over the past several years. Under his leadership, CRAL has earned a reputation throughout the state as a beacon for sportsmanship. Winer is active at the state and national levels. He is member of both faculties and regularly teaches leadership training courses. He believes in the value of being a learning leader and has taken 60 LTCs. He serves on the CIAC Sportsmanship Committee and the NIAAA Publications Committee. His articles have been published in the IAA Magazine times and he presented a workshop at the 2022 NADC Conference. Winer also created CIAC Module 27, Building Character Through Athletics and served as a mentor for the NIAAA District Athletic Director Cohort. In 2023, Jonathan received both the Edward Lynch/Gerald McGrath Commissioner Award from the Central CT Basketball Officials Board and the Distinguished Service Award from the Central CT Soccer Officials Association. Jonathan also teaches a coaching course at the University of Saint Joseph. Prior to his time as an athletic director, Winer served as an elementary school teacher and collegiate basketball coach. A West Hartford resident, Winer and his wife Julia have two children, Patrick (8) and Alexandra (6).

• Here’s a quick (-ish) budget note, the longer form version of what I included above because I know some people read just the introduction to this column and others skip to the bullet points. I have seen some reports and comment threads on various social media sites that include misinformation and appear to indicate that the Town Council voted last week, 8-1, to increase the taxes on vehicles. The fact is, however, that the Town Manager’s budget proposal for FY2026, presented on March 11, includes an overall increase in taxes of 7.35% in order to meet the projected expenses. That proposal, which is being currently reviewed on a line-item basis by Town Council committees (and will be put to vote on April 22) already contemplated that the town’s Grand List would be revised to adopt a modified motor vehicle depreciation schedule that was approved by the state legislature in January 2025. Legislation passed in 2024 had required municipalities to switch from valuing vehicles based on J.D. Power Pricing guides to MSRP, which resulted in a significant overall drop in the assessed value of the motor vehicle list, causing some municipalities to have negative Grand List growth that would lead to even greater burden on homeowners in order to meet the revenue requirements. The West Hartford Grand List released in January had a drop of $50 million in motor vehicle values, but by the time the budget proposal was released the town manager knew that the state would permit an update that adds roughly 5% to the motor vehicle values. Yes, it shifts the tax burden somewhat so that those who pay taxes on vehicles only will have a higher tax bill based on their cars’ greater value, but if you own a house and cars, it won’t really affect your overall tax bill – only the proportion of taxes on cars in comparison to other property. The action taken by the Town Council on March 25 to adopt a revised motor vehicle depreciation schedule was for the purpose of being able to revise the Grand List, and doesn’t impact the overall recommended tax increase. And the motor vehicle mill rate of 32.46 mills is capped by the state and WILL NOT and CANNOT be increased by the town. The “Budget in Brief” (click here) also provides a good review of the proposed budget. For those who still have questions, there are two more community conversations with the mayor and deputy mayor, town manager, superintendent of schools, and board of education chair and vice-chair today where your questions can be answered. Those sessions are at 8:45 a.m. at the Faxon Library and 6 p.m. at the Noah Webster Library. There are also budget hearings on Tuesday, April 1 at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, April 8 at 6 p.m. at Town Hall.

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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