A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.

By Ronni Newton

Comcast’s xfinity store has now opened at 1253 New Britain Ave. in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Business Buzz” is exactly what it sounds like – a column featuring news about West Hartford’s businesses! We hope you like reading this column as much as we enjoy digging up the information to put into it.

We know that you like to be “in the know,” and we will try to make sure that you are. This weekly column highlights business stories you may have missed during the past week as well as any other business-related scoop we might have. Sometimes the news isn’t enough for a full story (or we haven’t been able to get all the details yet), but it may still be newsworthy so you’ll find it here.

This column needs your input, too! If you have tips about businesses opening or closing, or doing something worth sharing, please provide that information in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

• We’ll start with some bad news first this week. Pinkberry, which opened in Blue Back Square with great acclaim exactly three years ago (Oct. 6, 2011), has closed its doors. The frozen yogurt store was closed as of Monday, Sept. 29. The Pinkberry store at Westfarms Mall remains open.
• Another closing to report is Office Depot in Corbins Corner. According to an article in the Hartford Courant by business columnist Dan Haar, the West Hartford store is already holding a going-out-of-business sale and will close for good on Nov. 15.
• Akua Ba Fitness is moving out of Blue Back Square. According to the fitness studio’s Facebook page, the “big move” to 121 Talcott Rd., West Hartford, will be in early November. According to the post, “Construction is going great and we will soon be announcing all of our great membership deals and special offers. The team is so excited for the new facility and we hope you are too! Stay tuned for photos of our new home! Call us at 860 967-0561 for more information.” We-Ha.com has office space in that same building, so we are excited to welcome Akua Ba to the neighborhood!
• The new Comcast xfinity retail store at 1253 New Britain Ave. quietly opened on Sept. 22 at the site of the former Blockbuster store. If you need to get an HD cable box, make any changes to your service, or deal with Comcast in any way, the store is open and ready to take care of you. Right now it’s not at all busy, and the employees are really friendly! (Seriously!) The West Hartford Town Council approved a zoning change back in February which allowed for 28 additional parking spaces to be constructed on the west side of the property between the existing parking area and Knollwood Road, but that work hasn’t been done yet.
• Harvest Country Store, at 161 Oakwood Ave., received permisison from the West Hartford Town Council in May  2014 to obtain a license to sell beer. The store has now added a “beer cave” and stocks over 1,000 beers. They also have a expanded their deli offerings and an expanded selection of gluten free options.

If you have any business news to share, remember to add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].