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

Happy Thanksgiving week!

Thanksgiving is as late as it can possibly be this year, but it still seems like it came up very quickly. I’m very much looking forward to this year’s celebration – although with a 16-month-old at the table, it may be just a bit less calm than our [recemt] past Thanksgiving meals!

Please note that as usual for Thanksgiving week, we will only be sending out two newsletters – on Monday and Wednesday. While the news doesn’t take a holiday, the We-Ha.com team is trying to take Thursday and Friday off for some much-needed family time (Ted and I, and Millie, will be taking our usual trip to visit his mom on Nantucket), and we hope our readers will also be relaxing and/or holiday shopping. Of course we will be responding if there is breaking news.

Please also note that if you have Thursday or Friday trash and recycling collection, it will be delayed a day this week.

Ted and I teamed up to cover the Conard vs. Hall football game (he did the reporting while I did the photography) and after we thawed out and I published the story and photos we enjoyed a perfect dinner of apps, pizza, and draft beers at New Park Brewing with Sam and his fiancée, Kate, who were in town for a quick visit. Just a few photos are below because the rest will be part of a future story. It was out first “regular” Saturday night out in West Hartford in many weeks!

Earlier in the week we went to the soft opening at León Restaurant and Bar, but those food photos are part of the lead story in this column.

Thanks to the Exchange Club of West Hartford for having me as guest speaker this past week. Their meetings are held at the Back 9 at Stanley Golf Course, and include dinner – which this week was a pre-Thanksgiving turkey dinner, and I think there was even more food on this plate (I brought home quite an ample doggie bag) than I will attempt to eat at Thanksgiving dinner!

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:

• León Restaurant & Bar officially opened at 45 Raymond Road on Thursday, but I had a chance to visit and sample some of the items on the menu earlier in the week during the soft opening, and had a great experience. The cosmetic changes they’ve made to the space that was previously Birdie Lounge give it the feel of a classy and elegant Mexico City lounge, with a menu that chef Xiomara Zamudio says is “100% Mexican” with bold flavors and innovative combinations. Everything is made in-house with highest quality ingredients – and that extends to the creative cocktail menu as well where they make their own syrups. I tried the “Cactus Makes Perfect,” and it really was! Photos of the menus (as well as some additional photos of the interior) are at the end of the column, and feature a selection of appetizers/small plates such as tortilla soup, Croquetas de Cangrejo, and ceviche, salads that can be a full meal with the addition of a protein, and main dishes such as the Cinco-Hora Puerco (5-hour braised pork shank, adobo sauce, citrus, herbs, and charro beans served with tortillas) that Ted declared to be one of the most delicious Mexican dishes he has ever eaten. I, of course, had to sample the tacos. I had the Chicken Confit tacos this time, which were excellent, and plan to work my way through the other options that include Filet Mignon Arrachera, Beef Tongue, and Baja Fish of the Day. There’s music in the back room where the bar is located, kept at a level where you can still talk – and you can relax on the couches in front of the fireplace, too. Zamudio told me previously that when she saw the former Birdie Lounge space (it was Flora before that), she was inspired to go ahead with this new restaurant project, which is different from El Santo on Farmington Avenue, which she also co-owns. “My husband and I were in love with this restaurant as soon as we entered. We spent two weeks in Mexico City back in July. We visited many restaurants and bars –amazing concepts – and this building reminded us of the City a lot,” Zamudio said in September when she announced the plans. The restaurant is owned by Zamudio and her husband, Daniel Chavez, as well as Ulises Vera and Miguel Rivadeneira. For more information, follow León Restaurant & Bar on social media (@leonbarct), visit their website, or call 860-206-5991. León Restaurant & Bar is open daily, from 3-9 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and until 1 a.m. (kitchen until midnight) on Thursday through Saturday.

• GOLFTEC (1146 New Britain Avenue) has been helping members of the West Hartford community improve their golf game for more than seven years, but they’ve recently upped their game to help guests have more fun while lowering their score. “We’ve put projectors and screens in every room,” franchise owner Dave Souza said, replacing what was formerly just netting in the five rooms they use for lessons. Functionally, the equipment is intended to analyze everything about your golf swing, but the upgrades allow you to visualize where the ball is going rather than just getting feedback from swinging at the net, and potentially getting distracted by a screen off to the side which provides more data. There are now 30 different golf courses you can choose from – including Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, and Quail Hollow – as well as some fun and interactive driving ranges that allow you to practice aiming at various targets. Scott Jeamel, whom I observed practicing his swings, had started a few years ago with a 20 handicap and is now down to a 6½ handicap, he said. You don’t need your own clubs to take lessons at GOLFTEC (although they sell custom-made clubs). All students have their own “clubhouse” that keeps a record of their progress, including recorded segments from lessons, and members can come in and practice on their own in between lessons, Souza said, and can also record their own swings on an actual driving range and obtain feedback. “We’re excited because it’s a new thing for our students, a new way to experience GOLFTEC,” Souza said of the screens and projectors. “You can have fun, but learn to play, too,” he said, noting that they offer packages that make great holiday gifts.

• A few weeks ago we mentioned that Donut Crazy (993 Farmington Avenue) was closed temporarily but would be reopening, and I am happy to say that they are back open – and that’s a sentiment shared by my family members because of course I couldn’t visit without bringing home some goodies! There are no changes in operations, and no change in management, other than that the West Hartford location was previously a franchise (owned by Irene Luaices), but is now corporate-owned.

• Last week was another banner week for ribbon cuttings, starting with The Book Club on Tuesday morning. Located on the second floor of 76 LaSalle Road (above Bricco) The Book Club is a bright and cheerful space – and I couldn’t help but smile the moment I walked in the door. According to its website The Book Club “is a unique program designed to foster a love of reading, build strong habits of discourse, and strengthen critical comprehension skills during the foundational years for young readers.” Owner and West Hartford resident Heather Moran said The Book Club is designed for children as young as age 1, and up to age 10, and the former teacher, academic dean, and curriculum developer said she wants to provide the opportunity for students to not just read books, but also to have an opportunity for discussion like adults might have at a book group. There are several separate rooms for the different age groups (the youngest students are learning to use their five senses as they explore books and readers’ theater), including a “Harry Potter” type room for students ages 7-10 that requires a password to enter. Moran said she had been looking for this type of space for her own kids (ages 9, 6, and 4) and when she couldn’t find anything around she decided to start her own business. “At third grade, your love of reading and ability to read is a better predictor of future success than the SAT,” Moran said, and she is hoping that a space like The Book Club will help fill a gap that can’t be addressed during a regular school day. Classes, which are 6-week sessions, will begin in January, but registration is open now through the website. You can also email Moran ([email protected]) or call 860-206-5355 for additional information. Eventually, Moran said, she will add drop-in opportunities and perhaps host birthday parties.

• Bean Restaurant Group and their partners were in town Thursday for a ribbon cutting at Crush Wine Bar, which opened a few weeks ago at 37 LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center. In attendance as Mayor Shari Cantor cut the ribbon were Peter and Melissa Picknelly from Peter Pan Bus Lines as well as Edison, Nick, and Nate Yee. Representatives from LCR, which designed the space, also participated in the ribbon cutting.

• Earlier in the day on Thursday, Massage Envy (345 North Main Street in Bishops Corner) held a ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce to celebrate their recent renovation of the 3,310-square-foot space they have occupied since 2011. Anthony Vidal, owner and COO, said this is the third refresh of the space as he provided a tour and peek inside several of the 13 rooms. (They have 14 massage beds, with one of the rooms accommodating couples), and employ 22 licensed therapists who have an average tenure of 5.5 years, and five estheticians. “This is not basic massage therapy,” Vidal said of the services available at Massage Envy, which include light therapy, lymphatic drainage, and more. For more information, visit the website.

• While at Massage Envy in the Bishops Corner shopping center, I was hoping to be able to get some details about Salsa Fresca, which has been “temporarily closed” since at least sometime in September. No one seems to know for sure if it is closed for good (as is being reported on Yelp), or if the closure is truly temporary. The West Hartford location still appears on the website, but if you try to order for take-out or delivery, it’s directing you to the Newington location.

• Also on Thursday (which was quite a busy day), NBT hosted the Chamber of Commerce‘s Business After Hours at their West Hartford branch at 68 South Main Street.

• I took this photo a week or so ago and just saw that this past week the Head Spa posted on their Instagram (@theheadspact) that the West Hartford location at 606 New Park Avenue will be opening on Dec. 1. I was in touch with the owner, Jenn Robin Ortiz, back in March when the plans were first revealed and will definitely check out the space when it opens. According to the Head Spa website: “A Head Spa includes, but is not limited to, deep scalp massage, herbal oil treatments, cleansing hair masks, scalp exfoliation, steam therapy, Ayurvedic hair rinses, and of course, an invigorating shampoo and conditioning treatment. These services will gently clean the scalp of any dirt, oils, product build-up, or aging skin cells. A head spa also increases blood flow to our hair follicles which encourages hair growth.”

• The Miale Team at Keller Williams Legacy Partners held a Turkey Drive for Connecticut Foodshare on Sunday at West Hartford Town Hall. About an hour into the event, event organizer Deb Ortega said they were well on their way to the goal of collecting 200 turkeys and raising $5,000. Guests included Connecticut Foodshare CEO Jason Jakubowski, Mayor Shari Cantor, several mascots, and Rocky Hill Police Officer Will Jordan, whose “Round of Sausage” response to a question of “Wheel of Fortune” recently went viral. When I was there a representative from Martin Rosol’s Meats of New Britain was also at the fundraiser – as was Gameday Connor, who I was very excited to meet!

• Another successful fundraiser for Connecticut Foodshare took place on Saturday. The annual Macca Family Hall-Conard Tailgate raised more than $5,000, and is one of Connecticut Foodshare’s largest fundraisers, CEO Jason Jakubowski said. I was sad to miss this year’s tailgate, which this year was held after the game, at Beachland Tavern.

• The Connecticut Data Collaborative (CTData) has announced that West Hartford residents Elizabeth Rose and Jack Dougherty have joined the organization as Data Strategy coaches. As members of the Data Strategic Planning team at CTData, Rose and Dougherty will coach nonprofits and public agencies on learning how to better use data and storytelling to achieve their goals. For Dougherty, his efforts coaching nonprofit organizations at CTData will be an extension of the work he has been doing as a faculty member, working with Trinity College students for the past two decades. In addition to his half-time role at CTData, he is a Professor and Director of the Educational Studies Program at Trinity College in Hartford, where he and his students have collaborated with Hartford-area partners on education, housing, and data visualization projects during the past 25 years.  He completed his undergraduate degree at Swarthmore College and earned his Ph.D. in educational policy studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Elizabeth Rose brings 13 years of experience in the nonprofit culture and history sector in Connecticut. Most recently, she served as the Executive Director for the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford since 2020, and prior to that she was the Director of the Research Library at the Fairfield Museum and History Center, where she was involved in creating more than 18 exhibitions on a wide range of topics “We are looking forward to pooling our skills to help more organizations through the Data Strategic Planning initiative,” commented Dougherty and Rose. “Nonprofits pursue important and meaningful work in Connecticut, and improving their use of data to tell their story will help to extend their reach and impact.”

• Click here to listen to the latest installment of the “On the Scene” podcast, where On The Scene hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr talk with Barbara Foley and Nancy Woodward of the Ron Foley Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer. Podcasts can also be found at the bottom of the home page on the revamped We-Ha.com website!

• If you get one of these notices, beware – it’s a scam to get you to purchase something. The Best of West Hartford (see bullet point below) was celebrated last week at the Mandell JCC, and “West Hartford Best of 2024” is NOT the same thing, and as far as we know is NOT a legitimate contest.

• ICYMI, the Best of West Hartford (the actual BOWH) and “Dancing with the WeHa Stars” was held last week at the Mandell JCC. I am definitely inspired to improve my dancing skills following this event, and my dance partner, Dennis House, and I again want to express our appreciation to Christian and the rest of the crew at Arthur Murray for putting up with our crazy schedules which made practicing a challenge. Click here to see event photos and details.

• West Hartford-based Verogy has developed a solar energy project at a former landfill site located at 180 Johnson Street in Middletown that was celebrated last week by local and state officials and clean energy stakeholders. The 809 kW DC solar energy system will generate over 1 million kWh of clean energy annually, enough to power an estimated 105 homes per year.“Where some see an unused space, we see potential,” Will Herchel, CEO of Verogy, said in a statement. “Our work with the City of Middletown has turned this former landfill into a productive asset that generates clean energy, reduces carbon emissions, and demonstrates the power of innovative thinking in sustainability. We are proud to help Middletown lead the way in transforming underutilized land into a resource that supports local economies and strengthens the city’s commitment to sustainability.”

• ICYMI, Wampanoag Country Club had a ceremonial groundbreaking last week for the new clubhouse that will replace the building destroyed by fire last April. Click here for the complete story.

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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