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

By the time you read this I will be thousands of miles away, likely in Fez after having spent a few days in Rabat, Morocco. We have embarked on the bucket list trip that Ted planned as part of his retirement in August 2025, and hopefully it is going to be a wonderful adventure!

I have not fully stepped away from We-Ha.com since founding the site in 2014 – and even during the rare trips I have taken without my laptop (most recently for a week in April 2022) when there has been an interim editor in place, I have gotten involved in a few issues. The laptop hasn’t taken this trip, and I hope to really take a complete vacation.

I am extremely grateful to Mia Jaworski for taking on the role of interim editor through Oct. 23! She’ll be handling many of the news stories, and writing next week’s Business Buzz and likely the following week’s column as well. Along with Mia, our team of reporters, columnists, and interns will be handling everything in West Hartford, and I have great confidence that I won’t be worried about the town while I am riding a camel across the Sahara.

If you need to reach Mia with some important news tips, her email address is [email protected].

I didn’t have much time for dining out last week, but did grab this delicious poké bowl from Pokéworks one day last week!

One troll last week – named “Concerned Citizen.” I appreciate having concerned citizens in town even if their submitted comments are not very neighborly, but when I emailed asking for a name my email came back as undeliverable. 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 Please comply or your comment will not be published.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:

• I took a drive down Newington Road a week or two ago when I was getting gas at Stop & Shop, and saw that the clearing of land had started on the property that will be developed as Madsen Acres. I reached out to the developer, and on Tuesday I met Lewis Brown, managing partner of Honeycomb Real Estate Partners, at the site for an update on the project. Back in January, the Town Council unanimously approved the application by Honeycomb Real Estate Partners for rezoning and creation of a Special Development District (SDD) in order to transform what is currently 2.49 acres of vacant land into an affordable condominium development called Madsen Acres at 230 Newington Road. “We’re starting to do digging and trenching for utilities and foundations,” Brown said, and he expects the pouring of the concrete for the foundations to begin in the next month or so. Looking across the now cleared property, Brown noted that they will be constructing a new fence between the site and the residence to the north. They are also taking down some dead trees in that homeowner’s backyard, and Brown said he’s happy about that. “We’re aiming to have the first building ready by July 2027,” he said, adding on a cool crisp morning that he is hopeful for continued good construction weather. The first of the buildings is the largest in the development which, when complete, will include six townhouse-style residential buildings of two stories each, with a total of 54 residential units – 38 one-bedroom and 16 two-bedroom homes. It’s a first-of-its-kind development in the state – submitted under Connecticut’s 8-30g statute as “assisted housing” – but unlike other proposals that have been considered by West Hartford under that statute, these units will be condominiums owned by residents who qualify based on income at at or below either 60% or 80% of the area median income (AMI). Brown said the project, which combines public investment with private developer capital, is at the forefront for creating innovative housing solutions. Homeowners will be able to build equity while ensuring that the homes remain “perpetually affordable,” and like any condominium complex, there will be a homeowners’ association, which in this case will be be funded by the development team with several hundred thousand dollars, Brown said. Prospective owners will also be able to seek financing through the state for down payment assistance. While there is no age restriction for Madsen Acres, Brown said he recently met with an advocacy group for seniors to discuss the need for more home ownership opportunities for those in the demographic who are looking to downsize. For assisted housing, assets are not included in the income eligibility calculation, so it could be an ideal solution for those living on fixed incomes. Brown shared the 2026 income limits for 60% and 80% AMI: $55,349, 60% 1 person; $73,800, 80% 1 person; $63,256, 60% 2 person; $84,342, 80% 2 person. The current sale prices for the units, according to Brown, are: $155,000 – 60% AMI 1 Bed (8 units); $180,000 – 60% AMI 2 Bed (4 units); $235,000 – 80% AMI 1 Bed (30 units); and $260,000 – 80% AMI 2 Bed (12 units). “They are brand new, fully amenitized,” Brown said, including with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The property is walking distance to Stop & Shop, and accessible both to Elmwood and Newington. There’s no website yet for Madsen Acres – which is named as a nod to the Madsen Dairy Farm that was located along Newington Road in the early 20th century – but Brown said they are already creating a waiting list and anyone interested can email him directly through the “contact us” tab on the Honeycomb website. Honeycomb is celebrating its fifth anniversary, and Brown said he is very proud to be introducing this great opportunity for affordable home ownership in West Hartford, and is looking to further expand the concept in other places. “There’s really nothing like it,” Brown said.

• Gov. Ned Lamont and the Connecticut Office of Statewide Marketing and Tourism announced the launch of the Connecticut TV-to-Table Trail on Monday – a new statewide culinary tourism experience featuring Connecticut chefs and restaurants that have appeared on national food television programs. The announcement was made at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, hosted by Connecticut native and James Beard Award-Winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and longtime television personality Scott Conant. A news release noted that the trail gives food lovers the opportunity to go beyond the screen and experience the places behind the television appearances – from chefs who have won Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay to restaurants featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Best Bite in Town, Guy’s Grocery Games, Cupcake Wars and other national programs. Several of the chefs on the trail have West Hartford connections, and include Adam Greenberg of West Hartford’s Sparrow (and Newtown’s tacobarn), West Hartford resident Tyler Anderson (Millwright’s and TaQue) and  The chefs are also cooking for a cause, with each competitor selecting a charity they would like to support. The winning chef in the TV-to-Table Throwdown will earn a $2,000 donation for their selected charity. Anderson is a James Beard Award nominee and Connecticut Chef of the Year, winner of Chopped, was a finalist on BBQ Brawl, and has also appeared on Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay. Greenberg won the Chopped Grand Champion Tournament and Beat Bobby Flay, was runner-up on Guy’s Grocery Games and Alex vs. America, and competed on Tournament of Champions. Click here for more information and to see the full trail.

• Demolition is now underway for Nana’s Dim Sum and Dumplings at 111 Memorial Road in Blue Back Square! The door was propped open when I walked by last week and I could see the space was in the process of being cleared out! I’ll be following up as the work progresses. Back in the spring they placed wrap on the windows that includes “About Us” details: “At Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings, we bring the warmth and flavor of handmade dim sum to every community we serve. What began as a single neighborhood restaurant has grown into a growing restaurant group with locations across New York and Colorado – each dedicated to sharing authentic recipes, welcoming hospitality, and the comforting taste of home …” Another window shares the “Handmade with Heart” concept: “At Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings, every dish is made by hand – from the delicate pleats of our dumplings to the rich broth in our noodles. We believe real flavor comes from craftsmanship and tradition, not machines. Each bite reflects our care, skill, and love for authentic dim sum culture …” Nana’s currently has seven locations in Colorado and one in Scarsdale, NY – and West Hartford will be the first in Connecticut.

• Westfarms is encouraging eligible graduating high school seniors in the surrounding community to apply for the Shari Simon Greenberg Community Scholarship through Simon Youth Foundation (SYF). The Shari Simon Greenberg Community Scholarship provides a $1,000 one-time, non-renewable award to eligible graduating high school seniors to support their next step after high school, whether through a two- or four-year college or university, vocational training, or trade school. In addition, 10 of the highest-ranking scholarship applicants nationally are selected to receive a Shari Simon Greenberg Community Scholarship Award of Excellence. These awards are renewable for up to $1,000 per year, subject to available funding, for up to three (3) years or until the recipient earns an associate or bachelor’s degree, whichever occurs first. Applications for the 2026–2027 scholarship cycle are now open through Feb. 12, 2027, at 5 p.m. EST. Scholarships awarded through this application cycle will be paid directly to recipients’ accredited post-secondary institutions beginning in Fall 2027. Eligible applicants must be high school seniors who live and attend school in a Simon community, plan to graduate by Spring 2027, are legal residents of the United States or Canada, demonstrate academic promise and financial need, and plan to enroll full-time in an accredited post-secondary program following graduation. Westfarms is proud to help connect students within a 50-miles radius with this opportunity and encourages students, families, educators, and community members to spread the word. To learn more about the Shari Simon Greenberg Community Scholarship, confirm eligibility, and apply, visit syf.org/scholarships.

West Hartford resident Jon Slifka has been chosen as a speaker for TedX Hartford. The theme of the 10th Anniversary event, which will be held at Infinity Music Hall in Hartford on Dec. 6, 2026, is “UNSEEN,” and we are hitting a wide variety of impactful talks to really open your eyes to things you might have been overlooking. Plus, amazing entertainment acts,” the website states. Slifka, a disability rights advocate who is currently executive assistant to Connecticut’s Commissioner of the Department of Aging and Disability Services, will be speaking on the topic of “Are stairs really required by law?” Tickets to the event are now available online, and it will begin with cocktail hour from 5-6 p.m. and the show from 6-9 p.m.

• More progress on construction in the Center, where the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan continues to move ahead. Only a very small piece of sidewalk is still blocked off in front of Sparrow, and they now have a few tables set up outside. The corner of Farmington and South Main is almost fully complete, too. The final section of sidewalk demolition – between Barcelona/bar taco and Westfield Bank – is now fully underway. I expect it to look very different when I return.

• I took some photos of the continued progress on the Center Park Place luxury condominium development, too.

• 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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