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 midway through Sunday afternoon as I write this, and I know it’s going to hit me hard when it starts getting dark-ish at 4:30 p.m. I did appreciate the extra hour of sleep as I continue to recover from – on top of dealing with a broken right wrist – the virus (that included pink eye) I seemed to have acquired after returning home from my trip.

Typing is still slow going, but I got a different brace late last week and that helps a lot (along with using various forms of dictation). I have perfected left-handed eating with a fork and spoon, but the use of chopsticks with my left hand is still a work in progress.

I hope everyone enjoyed Halloween. Ted and I hiked up to Heublein Tower on Saturday (no wrist use involved, and I need to get some physical activity or I will go crazy, and we didn’t want to completely miss the fall colors), and then visited with the grand-kidlets in Granby before they donned their Spider-Man and pig costumes for trick-or-treating. After handing out most of our candy to roughly 70 trick-or-treaters on our street, Ted and I headed to Mecha Noodle Bar in the Center for a great dinner (and chopsticks experiment) and some equally great people watching of the costumed adults. I admit I’m not in the target demographic – and we were not wearing costumes – but were very surprised at the hordes of people waiting to get into certain spots in the Center.

I did, however, learn from a friend on Sunday that a West Hartford couple had attended a Halloween party dressed as … me and Millie! When I first heard about this I was rather scared about what someone would wear as a Ronni costume. It’s not something I had ever previously thought about, or would ever imagine. When I saw the photos I laughed so hard I cried, especially when I saw the “newspaper” highlighting Millie’s activities and what we ate. The outfit definitely looks like something I would wear, and Ellen and Keith Last (whom I do not know, but would love to meet) have given their permission for me to share these photos.

It’s going to be a relatively busy week ahead, including covering Election Day on Tuesday. As of Sunday morning’s report from the Secretary of the State’s Office, which included data through Saturday, West Hartford leads the state in early votes cast by a sizable margin!

One housekeeping item to note: Letters to the editor regarding the Nov. 3, 2026 election will not be published. Our next newsletter will not be published until after Election Day.

There have been many, many submitted comments in the queue lacking full names. Some are a bit mean, but others are not – and it would be great to approve them. PLEASE USE YOUR FULL NAME WHEN COMMENTING! Thank you to all who 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:

• When I got a sneak peek at Level99 last week – focused on the artists whose work is a key element of the social gaming venue – they weren’t ready to announce the opening date. I’m very excited about the new experiential business opening in town – and excited to now be able to break the news that Nov. 20 will be the opening date! Tickets for admission will go on sale this Friday, Nov. 6. Level99, located at 1427 in The Corbin Collection (in the former Sears building in Corbin’s Corner) is described as “a sprawling playground for adults and teens where players take on 50 life-sized mini-games and real-world challenges.” The 43,000-square-foot entertainment and dining venue is Level99’s first in Connecticut and fifth overall. Friends, families, couples, coworkers, etc. will be able to enjoy real-world interactive gaming through 50 physical and mental challenges, including 44 cooperative Challenge Rooms for 2-6 Players, 6 Player-vs-Player Duels, and an interactive art scavenger hunt (the artwork is more than just decorative) “including over 30 larger-than-life pieces. Players can dodge axes, crack puzzles, and outsmart real-world challenges as they earn Stars, collect rewards, and compete for a spot on the coveted leaderboard.” The challenges are interactive, with both mental and physical elements where players – to test “strength, agility, strategy, creativity, and teamwork.” Matt DuPlessie, CEO of Level99, said, “The greater Hartford community is an incredible fit for Level99. We’re excited to finally open our doors and invite guests to experience the thrill and challenge of Level99. Whether you’re looking for a fun night out with friends, a unique date night, something to do with family visiting for the holidays, or the best company party ever, Level99 gets you off the couch, off your phone, and working together, physically and mentally, all while laughing and making real memories together.” Signature games will include Axe Run (you actually have to dodge swinging axes), Ninja Swing, and Mansion Banquet. “It’s a massive playground for adults,” Troy Andrian, director of Operations for Level99, who moved from California to join the company and is now a West Hartford resident, told me last week. The West Hartford Level99 location will be able to accommodate up to 600 players in the gaming arena, plus includes the 160-seat Two Roads Kitchen & Tap – which operates also as a standalone destination – and features a counter-service restaurant and bar with a menu that includes Detroit-style pizza (one choice is the ‘Roni, Roni, Roni’ – which for obvious reasons I will have to try), wagyu burgers, and other dishes like birria tacos, loaded elote guacamole, “paired with Connecticut-brewed beer from Two Roads Brewing Company and a cocktail program that puts fresh, playful twists on familiar classics. A striking three-sided bar will anchor the restaurant, bringing guests close to the craft and energy behind the drinks.” Brad Hittle, President and CEO of Stratford-based Two Roads Brewing Company, said he’s excited for the opening and to be part of the destination. “Level99 brings together competition, entertainment, great food and craft beer in a way that creates a truly unique experience. We’re proud to be part of this new location and look forward to welcoming guests to Two Roads Kitchen & Tap for an experience that embodies our ‘Road Less Traveled’ spirit,” Hittle said. Tickets start at $29.99 per player, and are available for intervals of 2 hours, 4 hours, or all-day play. “A premium pass add-on will be available, offering expedited check-in and special gifts. To recognize inaugural visitors, the first 500 Players on opening day at Level99 West Hartford will receive a commemorative Level99 beanie hat upon entry.” Visit Level99.com for tickets, additional information, and details about the West Hartford venue. Hours will be Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight, and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will also be a Happy Hour on Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m.

• I noticed a friend’s Instagram story a few days ago, praising the food Shawarma House, which is located in the convenience store building that’s part of the Gulf gas station at 956 New Britain Avenue, right on the Hartford line. I wasn’t familiar with this new business, but I trust the recommendation of my good friend, so I stopped by on Sunday to check it out – and was thrilled to see a familiar face! Seven years ago, in September 2019, I interviewed Omar Khalil, then a recent Hall High School graduate who was just beginning his freshman year at UConn. He was the first to attend college out of a group of Syrian refugees who had come to West Hartford several years earlier. Now a UConn grad with a degree in business management, Omar is very proud and excited to open his first business in town, which is now in its second week of operation and being run along with his brother-in-law! I sampled some of the delicious hummus on Sunday night, and look forward to returning to try the signature shawarma and other dishes, and to write a full feature story very soon. Congrats and best wishes to Omar on achieving the first phase of his dream!

• Rich Sin-Clair opened Smoke Public House five years ago at 140 Park Road, but months ago he started looking for a buyer after growing tired of the long commute from Stamford. Sin-Clair confirmed last week that the sale was completed in mid-September, and Smoke & Stone will soon be opening in the space. Town permit records don’t indicate any major changes planned, and while I don’t have any details about the opening, the description on the website is: “Bright seasonal plates. Thoughtfully chosen ingredients. An intimate room where smoke, stone and good company meet. … Our signature Hot Stone Experience brings premium ingredients, personal flavor choices and a little theater to your table. A meal to take your time with. A gathering to remember. We’ll reveal more as opening approaches.” Smoked and roasted dishes, food custom prepared on the hot stone, as well as salads and other fresh options, focus on ingredients from purveyors through which the owner has a relationship. Smoke & Stone will also serve wine and beer. Much more to come!

• Also on Park Road, BIRDCODE reopened its flagship restaurant at 120 Park Road in West Hartford on Wednesday, Oct. 28, following a complete remodel. According to an email from co-founder Brandi Killoran, the renovation includes all-new fixtures, furniture, and equipment and will bring milkshakes and specialty drinks to the location for the first time, while preserving the recipes and hospitality guests have come to know. “BIRDCODE serves fresh, never-frozen chicken, brined for 18 to 24 hours, individually hand-breaded and cooked to order, with hand-blended spices and house-made sauces. Signature offerings include The Sando, featuring chicken breast, vinegar slaw, pickles and Comeback Sauce on a brioche bun, along with Tenders and Code Bites. With heat levels ranging from Country with no heat to Code Breaker, BIRDCODE is made for people who love great, flavorful chicken – not just those who love it spicy. BIRDCODE’s Southern-inspired favorites have family roots. The recipes for its chicken, dipping sauces, mac & cheese, banana pudding and freshly baked cookies have been passed down through co-founder Brandi Killoran’s family, bringing a personal connection to the food served at BIRDCODE today. The reopening will also introduce BIRDCODE’s fall limited-time offerings to West Hartford, including Slidekicks chicken sliders, Caramel Apple Ginger Ale and Spiced Brown Sugar Root Beer specialty drinks, and Toasted Coconut and Mint Chocolate Chip milkshakes.” Killoran added, “We are grateful to the West Hartford community for embracing us from the beginning, and we are excited to welcome everyone back and bring more of the BIRDCODE experience to the place where it all began.” Organizations interested in hosting a fundraiser at BIRDCODE West Hartford are invited to contact [email protected]. More information can also be found on their website.

• The Design District of West Hartford is partnering with Journey Home this fall to raise awareness of homelessness in Connecticut’s Capital Region and collect essential household items that help individuals and families turn housing into a home. From Nov. 2 through No. 30, the Design District will host a community-wide donation drive in partnership with Journey Home, collecting essential household items and home décor to support individuals and families working toward long-term housing stability in Connecticut’s Capital Region. Community members can contribute by dropping off donations at the following participating locations: Tile America: 585 New Park Avenue, West Hartford; CT Shower & Bath: 555 New Park Avenue, West Hartford; Heartwood Reno: 41 Grassmere Avenue, West Hartford; and Linked Media: 67 North Main Street, West Hartford. Journey Home has spent two decades working to end homelessness in Connecticut through sustainable solutions that prevent housing loss, connect people experiencing homelessness with housing, and support long-term housing stability. With a mission to ensure a home for all, Journey Home recognizes that securing housing is only the first step. Access to essential furnishings and household supplies helps individuals and families turn a house into a home and build a foundation for a more stable future. The Design District’s donation drive will support two Journey Home programs on New Park Avenue: A Hand Up Furniture Bank and Home for Good Thrift Store. Requested donations include shower curtains, liners and rings; shower curtain rods; clean washcloths; pots and pans; toasters; coffee makers; small countertop microwaves; fans; clean sheet sets and comforters in twin, full and queen sizes; silverware; framed original artwork; taper candle holders; handmade ceramic pottery; baskets; hardcover coffee table books; and brass or marble decorative items. Larger household items may also be accepted through direct drop-off at the warehouse, subject to Journey Home’s donation guidelines. Through this partnership, the Design District is bringing together local businesses and community members around a shared opportunity to make a tangible difference for people working toward housing stability. For more information about the donation drive or accepted items, visit journeyhomect.org.

• Progress on El Pollo Guapo – and signs in the window indicate they are hiring! I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opening since we shared the news in early August that they will be taking over the former Kitchen Plate/Boston Market space at 1240 Farmington Avenue, and can’t wait to provide further details!

• Congratulations to Trio Properties on the grand opening of Greyson West, 160 Simsbury Road in West Hartford, which celebrated with a grand opening on Thursday that was attended by Mayor Shari Cantor, town officials, members of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, investors, and Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno. The 108 apartments have been developed as an adaptive reuse of the former Hoffman Summerwood property. The Town Council approved the conversion of the property to non-age-restricted housing in June 2025, and work began about a year ago. The three-story building has three elevators and many amenities – outdoors includes a pergola, cafe tables, outdoor kitchen, hammocks, and Adirondack chairs, and a separate dog walk area. The interior includes a club room, training kitchen, conference center, Java-Bar, golf simulator room, we-work area, wellness spa with a sauna and salt room, fitness center, dog wash station, and library. I had visited this property when it was Hoffman Summerwood, and it’s really an amazing transformation. Greyson West includes 84 one-bedroom, 18 two-bedroom, and six three-bedroom units, all with in-unit washers and dryers and high-end finishses. Rents range from roughly $2,400 to $4,500, and 20% of the units have also been set aside as affordable for those earning 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and will have lower rents. They had initially agreed to have 8% of the units affordable when approval was given by the Town Council, with the caveat that they were applying for funding through the Connecticut Housing Finance Corporation (CHFA) in order to be able to increase the number of affordable units through their Build for CT program – and securing that led to the increase to 20%, with rents set by CHFA. The affordable units will be spread throughout the building, and will be a mix of unit sizes. For more information, visit the website greysonwesthartford.com.

• Gveenah‘s new location at 846 Farmington Avenue is coming along! Owner Roi Graber said it will be a few more weeks, but the existing location right along the same strip (844 Farmington Avenue) is still open!

• U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal visited Good Cause Gifts at 973 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center on Tuesday in recognition of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. He was joined by Mayor Shari Cantor, leadership of Futures Inc. (the nonprofit supported by the Good Cause Gifts social enterprise business), the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, Good Cause Gifts employee Andrew Jortner, and others to learn about the inclusive environment promoted by the business that also celebrates individual abilities and creates meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities in the community.

• We-Ha.com has been a proud sponsor of the Connecticut Forum for the past several years and we are sharing the following news about the organization’s leadership, announced Monday: The Connecticut Forum has announced that Mana Zarinejad has resigned from her role as Executive Director effective Oct. 29, 2026. Doris Sugarman, co-founder and former CEO, will serve as Interim Executive Director while The Connecticut Forum’s board conducts a nationwide search for a new Executive Director. The Board of Directors thanks Mana for her many contributions to The Connecticut Forum’s ongoing success over the past two and a half years. “Throughout her tenure, Mana has been a dynamic champion of The Connecticut Forum,” said Board of Directors Chair David Daye. “She has been instrumental in engaging many new stakeholders across our community and helping to secure new funding sources for the organization.” The Connecticut Forum, now celebrating its 35th anniversary, recently kicked off its 2026-27 season with a highly acclaimed event featuring Trevor Noah. Three more high-profile events are scheduled for the remainder of this season, including conversations with Andrew Ross Sorkin, Chris Hayes, and Samantha Power. “Doris’ deep understanding of our mission and longstanding relationships in our community will provide continuity for our staff, audiences, and supporters as we build on the organization’s strong foundation and pursue its next chapter of growth,” said Daye.

• Veterans Memorial Rink recently reopened following an extensive renovation, and a ribbon cutting was held on Friday in celebration.

• Congratulations to Saint Mary Home in West Hartford, which has received a Center of Distinction Certificate, awarded by Wound Care Specialists, LLC, Connecticut’s largest provider of post-acute and long-term care wound management services. The administrator, clinicians, and medical director from Saint Mary Home and Wound Care Specialists gathered last month to celebrate the Center of Distinction award. The Center of Distinction Certificate is given to skilled nursing facilities in the Wound Care Specialists network that have demonstrated continued superiority in wound healing for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. “This recognition means so much to our clinical team, whose focus on high-quality compassionate care and successful outcomes guides their work with our residents every single day,” said Saint Mary Home Administrator Rachel Goodsell. Saint Mary Home is a member of the Wound Care Specialists network of more than 200 client skilled nursing facilities, with access to benchmarking data and proven experience.  Saint Mary Home offers highly specialized wound care to residents with acute and chronic wounds.

• A big thank-you to the restaurants that have joined our new We-Ha.com Happy Hour Guide! Check out the drink and food specials from Arugula Bistro, Ichiro Hibachi & Sushi, Fat Duck Tavern, Coracora, and El Santo, all in one place in the Lifestyle section: https://we-ha.com/happy-hour-guide/. You can also see more on our Facebook and Instagram pages. Want your restaurant featured? There’s still time! Email Melissa Cole at [email protected] to learn more.

• Photos below are of West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan construction as of Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026. Much of the work is complete and the number of orange barriers has greatly decreased. Probably the biggest disruptions right now are the condition of the Farmington Avenue (milled, not yet paved, with parking a bit random) – and closure of the entrance to the Farmington Avenue lot from Farmington Avenue (accessible from LaSalle Road). Some benches as well as bike hitches have been installed, and I hear that trees are coming soon!

• The new Animal Control facility on Brixton Road is looking good!

• I checked out the construction of the Garden Homes development of the Residences at Heritage Park (1360 Trout Brook Drive) over the weekend, too. The first two buildings are really coming along.

• In demolition news, the former St. Brigid School building at 100 Mayflower Street is now gone. The dog park remains closed while the debris is being removed. I know it’s supposed to be back open by now and I’ll try to get an update ASAP.

• ICYMI, here’s a sneak peek at the artwork inside Level99 and a chance to hear about the artists who have created it.
• Click here to listen to the latest episode of On The Scene featuring hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr who are joined by teacher and basketball coach Garrett Hickey for a conversation about the people and purpose behind Connecticut high school sports. All “On the Scene” podcasts can be found on the bottom of the We-Ha.com homepage.

• 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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