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

We’re fully into pumpkin season now, and I’ve seen some great Halloween displays popping up around town. The foliage is looking pretty good, too – although some trees seem to be staying greener longer than usual.

On Wednesday afternoon Ted and I met his college roommate and his wife – who live in the DC area but have been staying in the Berkshires – for a hike to Heublein Tower. The drive there, and the view from the top, were beautiful. We also drove the back roads to Avon High School late Friday afternoon (our son-in-law is the head football coach at Avon and we went to the game – which was a great win, too) and the setting sun on the trees was spectacular!

There was much more catching up to do, and we ended up enjoying drinks and an early dinner at Abigail’s in Simsbury after the hike. I don’t often cheat on West Hartford – but it was definitely a delicious meal and great atmosphere.

Other highlights from the past week included three ribbon cuttings (two are mentioned in the bullet points below), and the Chamber of Commerce Halloween Soiree at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society on Thursday evening, which We-Ha.com helped sponsor. Ted and I dressed up as Vision Zero – he was a safe driver and I was a safe (and appropriately attired in light colored clothing and dayglo with all of my reflective gear and blinky lights) pedestrian. I fully credit Ted for the idea, and was excited that we won “best couple” in the costume contest!

We ended up meeting Sam and a few friends and their families in Boston on Saturday to watch the UConn vs. Boston College football game – which was great fun especially since UConn won! The trees along the Mass Pike on the drive there were gorgeous, too.

I had been craving tacos all day (even more than usual), and Salt + Lime was the perfect solution when we got home Saturday evening. It was a full house but we got a seat at the bar, and my pastor tacos did not disappoint!

A quick note about letters to the editor: I do fact check them, and while opinions are welcome, please don’t present information as fact that cannot be verified, or is outrightly false. Also, please note that today, Oct. 20, is the last day that letters FROM political candidates will be accepted. Other letters pertaining to the election, including endorsements for candidates that are written by others in the community, can be submitted through Sunday, Nov. 2. After that it will be too late to be in a newsletter prior to the Nov. 4 election.

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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:

• Play It Again Sports has officially closed their West Hartford Center store, and is in the process of relocating to their much larger (as in three times larger) space at 635 New Park Avenue, Building 5. I had a chance to check out the new space and chat with owner Rachel Mintell late last week, and she is hoping for a soft opening this coming weekend, pending inspections from the town once the store has all their racks set up. While the brick and mortar space is not yet open, “we are taking online orders now,” Mintell said, and customers can pick up their orders outside, in front of the main door which faces the driveway. In addition to having much more space for displaying merchandise, the new location has an outdoor area (formerly the outdoor portion of the Wagging Tails dog park) where customers can swing golf clubs or test out bikes. Play It Again Sports sells new and gently used items in most categories, and according to Mintell, ski and snowboard equipment and boots are among the top-selling merchandise, and along with skates and hockey items are part of the “winter wonderland” department. They also offer a wide assortment of baseball and golf equipment, and bicycles as well as bike helmets and accessories, and equipment for many other sports as well. The new store will have space for sharpening skates, waxing skis, and tuning up bicycles. Mintell shared that she is extremely thankful to the Hall High School football team for going above and beyond last Monday with assisting in the move from the 15 South Main Street store in the Center – loading and unloading a 26-foot truck, and organizing the merchandise in the new store. “They really gave it their all,” Mintell said.  To order online, or to stay on top of plans for the grand opening, visit the website.

• The vacant Donut Crazy space at 993 Farmington Avenue will soon be the newest location of Crêpes Choupette, which currently has cafe locations in Darien, New Haven, and Westport. “It will have a European coffee shop vibe,” said Everett Zelson, of Charter Realty / Zelco Properties, who along with his brother, Asher Zelson, is handling the leasing of the space. “We are both excited for the brand to expand and succeed in Connecticut,” Everett said, and for the West Hartford community to get a taste of the fantastic crepes from the recipes of founder Adil Chokairy – who grew up in Paris and learned from his mother. “My favorite time of day was right after school when I would eat her homemade crêpes, made fresh with eggs and milk just bought from the market. She was a master of the art: without ever measuring the ingredients, she had a natural sense of exactly how much of each ingredient to use – a pinch of this and a fistful of that,” the website states. The “bones” of the former Donut Crazy are useful, Everett said, but there will be some work done on the space before the opening, which will hopefully be early next year, he said. He’s excited about the existing West Hartford vibe, and believes Crêpes Choupette will be a good fit in the Center.

• While we are on the topic of delicious and sweet treats, I’m excited to report that Pink Petal Bakery & Cafe opened last week in the former Green Teahouse space on the lower level of Westfarms just outside Macy’s.“Pink Petal aims to provide a fun and delicious experience for shoppers,” owner Tiffany Acosta. The menu is a mix of breakfast, lunch, and sweet treats. For breakfast, you can find pancakes, French toast, oatmeal, and breakfast paninis. Lunch options include paninis, wraps, salads, and soups. The sweet treats section features cheesecakes, cupcakes, cookies, donuts, ice cream, and more!” The menu is “diverse, high-quality, and fun … along with a trendy and inviting atmosphere,” Acosta said. I didn’t have a chance to sample any of the food when I took the photos on Friday, but I definitely will return as soon as possible and report back!

• In other exciting Westfarms news, Free People has reopened their fabulous new store in the Nordstrom wing – and it’s now located in the larger space that was previously lululemon (which moved to a much larger space on the upper level of Center Court last year). And Westfarms spokesperson Amanda Sirica has confirmed that the former Free People space – which is right next door – is being transformed into FP Movement, which is Free People’s activewear line, described on their website as being born out of the understanding that “so many of you (as well as our Free People staff) spend your days and nights in pursuit of fitness, wellness, happiness. FP Movement was born of that endeavor, a philosophy that later incorporated beauty + wellness to provide additional support for those looking to achieve balance both inside and out.”

• Beloved Companions (1123 New Britain Avenue) had their ribbon cutting last week with town officials and the Chamber of Commerce after a soft opening of their West Hartford location a few weeks ago. While the space is small, there are separate areas to accommodate meetings with families to “discuss final arrangements for their pet companions,” owner Dave Olson said, as well as several viewing areas where you can “say a final farewell or prayer if you like, in a serene and peaceful atmosphere.” There are not any pet cemeteries with available plots in Connecticut, he said, but many Beloved Companions clients do opt for cremation – which they do at the crematory at their New Britain location. The sister business, Pawz at Peace (pawzatpeace.com), also owned by Olson, provides gentle and compassionate in-home euthanasia, and clients are dealing directly with the provider of the aftercare which is a comfort to pet owners. “We provide a memory, an experience – the best end-of-life experience,” said Olson. Beloved Companions was founded in 2012, with their first location in Avon, and in addition to the new location in West Hartford they are opening in North Haven soon.

• The leasing office for One West Hartford – the 172-unit luxury apartment development under construction at 950 Trout Brook Drive – will be opening on Nov. 1, 2025, in the former Pink Soda space at 990 Farmington Avenue. I toured the One West Hartford development back in May, and look forward to seeing some completed units as soon as they are available!

• There’s significant progress visible now on the Rockledge Golf Club driving range. According to a report to the Town Council’s Public Works, Facilities, and Sustainability Committee earlier this month, the foundation is complete, and work on connecting the utilities and assembling the building is in process.

• Progress continues on the new Animal Control facility as well, and the foundation is complete.

• LaSalle Road re-opened in both directions on Friday, Oct. 10, and the experience for drivers and pedestrians is improving by day. Work on one remaining stretch of sidewalk (on the east side between Bricco and Harvest) is still in the process of being  reconstructed, and there are small spaces that are still being worked on and some orange barriers remaining, but clearly this year’s work on the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan is on schedule to come to a close within the next few weeks. And while I thought it was happening last week, according to Town Manager Rick Ledwith, the new trees will be planted in the soil cells this week! Below are some photos as of Friday, Oct. 17. I can’t wait to share photos with the trees in the next column!

• We listened to YOU! NEW this year… After 10 years of the Best of West Hartford, there are a few NEW things about VOTING you’ve been asking for. We think you will enjoy these enhancements to our 11th Annual Contest!” organizers of the event from 2020 Media shared: Advertise YOUR BUSINESS in YOUR CATEGORY! There is a BUTTON at the top of the ballot home page, (AD PROMOTE). This allows you to submit your own AD to be shown in your CATEGORY. Register Your Business to appear in the category! IF your business has NOT placed in the TOP 3 in the prior year then go ahead and ADD IN your business (First click AD PROMOTE, then Register). ADD a NEW Category! You can email Hillary ([email protected]) to have a NEW CATEGORY added! This is the PEOPLE’S VOTING platform so we value you being involved.” Click on the image below or go straight to the site here to cast your vote.

• After a distinguished 42-year career assisting prominent figures in the public and private sectors, West Hartford native Lisa Masse Bremmer has embarked on a new chapter from her Atlanta, Georgia home and her debut novel, The Executive Assistant, will be released on Oct. 28. The news release states: “In The Executive Assistant, Gabriella Caloroso embarks on a transformative journey that intertwines self-discovery with the complexities of political life. As a recent New York University graduate, she begins her career as Executive Assistant to Senator Maxwell Harrison, a prominent figure in Washington, D.C. Initially filled with ambition, Gabriella’s excitement quickly fades as she becomes embroiled in a world rife with political corruption and family secrets. This awakening forces her to confront her ethical beliefs and identity, pushing her beyond the confines of her senate office into a broader realm of advocacy.” According to the release: “Her narratives and parables inspire and support those striving to lead effectively and overcome life’s hurdles. With a heartfelt approach, Bremmer delves into universal struggles, championing resilience while shining a light on the complexities of personal growth, self-acceptance, and the pursuit of one’s goals. Through her compassionate storytelling, she invites readers to thoughtfully contemplate their own sense of purpose and legacy, offering wisdom and grace that resonates across generations. For inquiries and speaker requests, contact [email protected],”

• WWUH, 91.3 FM, UHart’s community service radio station, received the CT Broadcasters Association’s award for Best College Radio Programming at the CBA’s annual awards gala on Tuesday, Oct. 7. “It was an incredible honor accepting the award on behalf of the University of Hartford and the station’s all-volunteer staff,” said John Ramsey, the station’s general manager. “Receiving this kind of award from our peers in the state’s broadcasting community is a real testament to the outstanding community service programming offered by UHart Radio.” At 91.3 on the FM dial and online at wwuh.org, WWUH broadcasts an eclectic mix of music and spoken word programming 24/7 from studios located on UHart’s West Hartford campus. Musical programming includes jazz, classical, folk/Americana, swing, blues, rock and other genres.
• Did you know …

• ICYMI, a significant restoration project at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society was celebrated on Thursday – Noah Webster’s birthday – with a ribbon cutting attended by Gov. Ned Lamont and many other local officials. Complete details can be found here.
• This year’s WEHA Artists Emporium holiday market is called ART STOP, and it combines the offerings of many local artists in one space. Click here for the full 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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