A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.

By Ronni Newton

Silver Dahlia is still located at 970 Farmington Ave. in West Hartford Center, but has moved one storefront to the west. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Happy Monday, and welcome to a week where temperatures are supposed to be in the 40s – with even one day in the 50s!

It appears as if spring may really be getting down to business, and West Hartford businesses (perhaps with the exception of those involved in plowing or removing ice dams) may soon breathe a sign of relief that snow days are but a distant memory. Who else is ready to buy bright colored items for their home, anything with flowers, shoes that aren’t lined with fleece, and a jacket that’s not filled with down?

Bring it on … we promise not to complain about mud, allergies, or taking care of the yard.

If you have tips about businesses opening or closing, or doing something worth sharing, please provide that information in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

Here’s this week’s Buzz:

• Silver Dahlia – a shop where you can find lots of bright-colored, springy, happy merchandise – has moved. They didn’t go very far, but have nearly doubled the size of the store. In early February, Silver Dahlia moved next door, into the space formerly occupied by the Greeting Shoppe, and increased the size of the shop from 1,000 square feet to 1,700 square feet. “We have much more breathing room now,” said owner Kim Reid. Along with the extra breathing room, Reid said that the store now carries a greatly expanded collection of Vineyard Vines merchandise, for women as well as for men. “We now have skirts, shorts, pants, men’s buttondowns, polos, stow and go raincoats, and will have dresses, too,” Reid said. She said they have also increased their Spartina collection, especially the popular and affordable 18K gold-plated jewelry which has been selling really well in Silver Dahlia’s Glastonbury store, she said.
• Have you noticed the “Best of West Hartford” banner on top of the page? We hope so! We haven’t said much about it yet, but look for more information coming very soon about how to vote for your favorite West Hartford biz in a variety of categories. In preparation, we have signed on some fabulous Title Sponsors (Bouvier Insurance, Jeff Hodges Landscape Contractor, Cunningham Supply Inc, Lux Bond & Green, Stranger & Arnold Law, Doctors Express Urgent Care, and The Mercy Community) and now have added Sheehan, Hilborn, and Breen Funeral Home as a founding Silver Sponsor. The “Best of West Hartford” event will take place at West Hartford Town Hall in September 2015, and will honor the winning local businesses (based on community selection) and at the same time raise much-needed funds to support music programs for West Hartford Public Schools. If you would like your business to become a part of this exciting event, please contact Tony Sisti at [email protected] for more details!
• As of March 1, Angelo’s on Main, located at Rockledge Golf Club, has added an all-new organic menu called “Nurturing Foods.” The new menu includes several vegan dishes (vegan stuffed peppers, lentil loaf, black bean burger) as well as others that include meat or fish such as breast of chicken parmesan and pan seared wild caught scallops. Angelo’s will host the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours on Thursday, March 12 (5:30-7:30 p.m.).  And, to officially introduce the new menu, Angelo’s is offering an all-organic buffet on March 24. Click here for details.
• Fringe Hair Works, which just moved to a spectacular and historic new location at 7 North Main St., is holding a double open house with new basement neighbor Face it Medical Aesthetics & Spa on Sunday, March 15. The new spa, which will be working closely with Fringe, is being run by Anita Wolf and is located in the lower level of the building. The open house is scheduled from 1-6 p.m.
• ICYMI: West Hartford real estate business ERA Broder Group is now William Raveis Broder Group. The change happened just last week, and both Evan Berman and Scott Broder are looking forward to the enhanced opportunities and branding associated with joining the Northeast’s largest family-owned real estate business. Click here to read the article.
• Congratulations to West Hartford resident Brenton Graveley! According to an article in the Hartford Business Journal, the professor of genetics and genome sciences has been invited to serve a four-year term on the National Advisory Council for Human Genome Research at the National Institutes of Health.

Remember, if you have any business news to share, remember to add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!