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

Since it’s now October, I have started (slowly) replacing some of my summer decor with fall items. We still have a few lingering zinnias growing in the garden, and a few tomatoes left to harvest.

Late last week it certainly felt quite summer-like – and even though the temperature was only around 70 on Saturday it was very hot sitting in the sun at the UConn game. The team got pretty hot at the very end, too – but sadly it wasn’t quite enough for the win. We had a great tailgate though (apparently my daughter saw me cheering for the TV camera with some of our tailgate neighbors and sent the below photo!) and it was great to have the newlyweds visiting for the weekend! Thanks to my sister and her boyfriend for our tailgate fare – that included delicious doughnuts from Elmwood Pastry Shop!

Ted and I saw “The Happiest Man on Earth” at Playhouse on Park on Friday night. We have seen countless shows at Playhouse on Park (have had season tickets since I think the second season), but this show was definitely a standout, and such a powerful and thought-provoking performance and message. You can read more about the show here.

West Hartford dining over the past week included a wonderful dinner and (and great catch-up) with friends at Rockledge Grille that was accompanied by a gorgeous sunset on Thursday night, and a fabulous dinner with Sam and Kate at León Restaurant & Bar on Saturday night.

I’m still waiting for a few people to respond to my email requesting their last name so I can post their submitted comments, which are not troll-like, just not complete. 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 Please comply or your comment will not be published.

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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:

• Congratulations to the three West Hartford restaurants who are finalists for Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association (CRHA) 2026 CRAZIES Awards! They include Mozz & Co (22 Raymond Road) in the category of “Restaurant Newcomer,” and both The Laurel (1046 New Britain Avenue) and Gveenah (currently at 844 Farmington Avenue, but moving a few doors down to 846 Farmington Avenue) as finalists for “Hartford County Restaurant of the Year.” The finalists of the 8th annual CRAZIES were announced last week, and on Monday, Dec. 7, hospitality owners, operators, restaurateurs, hoteliers, chefs, industry staff, vendors from across the state will come together at Foxwoods Resort Casino to celebrate the success of their industry and honor winners across more than 20 award categories. Last year’s CRAZIES gala hosted nearly 1,600 guests and generated more than 25,000 online public votes. “Connecticut’s hospitality industry is powered by incredible people who bring passion, creativity and excellence to their communities every single day,” said Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association President & CEO Scott Dolch. “The CRAZIES are our opportunity to put a spotlight on the very best of our industry, and this year is especially exciting as we celebrate restaurants, hotels and hospitality together like never before. Congratulations to our 2026 honorees and finalists, whose talent, dedication and commitment to hospitality continue to raise the bar across Connecticut.” The CRAZIES selection process began in July with an online public nomination process and a state-wide group of industry insiders. Subsequently, nearly 35 food, hospitality, and lifestyle media, content creators and writers held multiple meetings to finalize the list of honorees and finalists for 2026. The full list of honorees and nominations can be found at www.craziesawards.com and you can also find out more about the finalists, purchase tickets and/or become a sponsor of the Dec. 7 gala. The public can now vote by CLICKING HERE through the end of November for each category – so let’s support our local businesses! For additional information, email [email protected].

• Earlier this year, what was the Connecticut Restaurant Association rebranded as the Connecticut Restaurant & Hospitality Association (CRHA), and along with the new focus, for 2026 the CRAZIES will recognize an outstanding Hotelier of the Year.  Charles Mallory, Founder and CEO of Greenwich Hospitality Group – which includes the Delamar West Hartford hotel – has been named the inaugural recipient. “Through his acclaimed Delamar Hotels collection, Charles has set a new standard for luxury hospitality in Connecticut, combining exceptional guest experiences with a continued commitment to investing in our state. With the recent openings of Delamar Mystic and Delamar Westport, his vision continues to strengthen Connecticut’s reputation as a premier hospitality destination – making him a deserving choice as the first-ever CRAZIES Hotelier of the Year,” the CRHA said in the announcement.

• The space that was formerly Lil Hope at 18 LaSalle Road (they moved in August to 990 Farmington Avenue) will become Salt Studio. The permitting process is underway, and according to the town’s website, Salt Studio will be a “nail and esthetics salon.” The old awning has been taken down, but no other visible work on the build-out has gotten underway yet.

• Congratulations to Mindful Transformations which celebrated their ribbon cutting with the Chamber of Commerce and town officials on Sept. 30 at 16 Brace Road. According to the description of the business provided by the Chamber, Mindful Transformations is a team of licensed therapists and holistic practitioners that brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and compassion to their work. Each member of the team is committed to providing personalized care to meet the unique needs and goals of clients – including individuals, couples, and families. Visit their website for more details.

• ABLE MADE‘s Bodycon line had its screen debut on the ninth episode of the current season of the Apple TV series “Ted Lasso.” West Hartford resident Suzanne McKenzie, founder and owner of ABLE MADE, had previously shared that character Keeley Jones wore the ABLE MADE Ren Soccer Love Tee on the majority of the first episode of this season of the show. Sales help support the Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation Soccer & Health Camps affordable ($0-99 for a full week of camp) for city-youth in Hartford, Boston, and NYC.

• West Hartford resident Jordi Herz has co-authored (with Shauna Cagan) the soon-to-ne-published book Why Didn’t You Bitches Tell Me? The following is the description from distributor Simon & Schuster: “One day you’re a functioning adult human and the next you’re sweating through your sheets, sprouting chin hairs, and rage-crying in random places. Spoiler: turns out this is all completely ‘normal.’ Enter Why Didn’t You Bitches Tell Me?, a heartfelt and unapologetically honest guide for women in midlife, offering solidarity through frank testimonials, eye-opening anecdotes, and cheeky illustrations aimed to build community and destigmatize the experience of being in an aging female body. Addressing the millions of women that stumble through this hormonal obstacle course armed with only misinformation and shame, Jordanna Hertz and Shauna Cagan tackle everything from hot flashes, HRT, and bone health to Botox, sex, and the lonely experience of becoming culturally irrelevant. Blending expert insight, candid stories from real women, practical advice, and cultural commentary, Why Didn’t You Bitches Tell Me? validates the experiences countless women live through but seldom see openly discussed. Why Didn’t You Bitches Tell Me? is the book we wish someone had handed us much earlier.” The book will be published on Oct. 13. Both Herz and Cagan will be at a book talk and signing at River Bend Bookshop at 244 Park Road in West Hartford on Oct. 16, 6:30 p.m. For tickets to the event, click here.

• Moms and More of West Hartford is planning the annual Halloween Stroll for 2026, and is looking for businesses to participate. They shared the following: “This is the 25th anniversary of the stroll and we’re thrilled to be continuing such a time-honored tradition. The stroll will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24 (rain date Sunday, Oct. 25) from 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. This well-attended community event attracts around 5,000 people to West Hartford Center, Blue Back Square, and the front lawn of Town Hall for trick-or-treating, live music, and more. It is free for businesses to participate in the festivities; business can register here. For businesses without a storefront in town center, they can set up a table on the front lawn of Town Hall. We look forward to seeing you there!”

• It didn’t take long for the sign over the now-closed Starbucks in Corbin’s Corner to be covered up. I took this photo on Friday, and the windows are papered over now, too. I haven’t heard anything about a replacement business for that space.

• In last week’s column we reported on the closing of Chip City in Blue Back Square, as well as the other Chip City locations in Connecticut. It’s now clear that it wasn’t just the Connecticut locations, but rather all of the Chip City stores that have closed. The following statement was posted last week on the company website: “Despite extensive efforts to stabilize our business in the face of significant macro-economic headwinds, we have made the very difficult decision to close all of our Chip City locations. We are grateful to our dedicated employees and loyal customers who have supported us for the past 10 years.”

• I stopped by to get an updated photo of the new Animal Control facility under construction on Brixton Street on Friday, and while I couldn’t go inside because they were in the process of blowing in insulation, it’s looking great on the exterior and progress continues!

• Also in demolition and construction news, the demolition of the former Cunningham Supply showroom and warehouse at 705 Oakwood Avenue was completed. It looks like clean-up is still ongoing, and a fueling station for town vehicles will be built on that site.

• The West Hartford Dog Park will remain closed through Oct. 20, according to the town, while the demolition of the former St. Brigid School at 100 Mayflower Street continues. The walkway between Beachland Park and the Mayflower Road site is closed as well. “The Mayflower Street access road to the property will also remain closed while the entire building structure is removed, trucked off-site, and dumpsters are emptied,” the town said in an email. Once the demolition work is complete, site restoration work will begin, the town said, “including infilling the building’s old foundation and restoring driveway access from Mayflower Street to the dog park.” Eventually the new Elmwood Community Center will be constructed and the property will be merged with Beachland Park, but that work has been delayed due to the projected costs and plans to seek grants.

• Update on construction in the Center, where the West Hartford Center Infrastructure Master Plan continues to move ahead. Most of the sidewalk has reopened in front of Sparrow, and they now have a few tables set up outside. The final section of sidewalk demolition – between Barcelona/bar taco and Westfield Bank – is now underway.

FYI for any Best of West Hartford winner or finalist, if you receive a solicitation to purchase merchandise from any company other than 2020 Media or Tom Hickey or Hillary Sarrasin, be advised that it’s a scam! I actually received one from “Stella” at the “Framed Honors Store” offering to sell me a plaque … I hope to have photos from last Monday’s event to share in next week’s column!

• ICYMI, Melissa Cole interviewed Monica Lita of Effective Motus last week for a spotlight feature on her specialized massage business. Click here for the full story.
• 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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