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

I’m writing this week’s column on Sunday afternoon from a bed and breakfast in Taos, New Mexico!

Ted and I have been enjoying a quick trip (I’m back in town later today) that he surprised me with as a delayed anniversary celebration. I knew we were going to be taking a trip, and although a series of questions that I was able to ask (one per week, yes or no answers only) did lead me to correctly guess that we were going to New Mexico, the exact destination and itinerary was a surprise until the day before when I was trying to figure out what to pack. This is the third surprise trip Ted has planned, and I love that he does this!

We left crazy early Thursday morning (departed the house at 3:45 a.m.) for a 6 a.m. flight to Albuquerque, which connected through Baltimore. We drove up to Santa Fe – where I had been once for a few hours on a business trip more than 25 years ago, and Ted had never been – and spent two days there before heading to Taos, where neither of us has ever been.

We’ve enjoyed some fabulous meals (which included tacos of course), amazing margaritas and beers at local breweries, great weather, and some hikes through fascinating ruins of the settlements of various tribal nations. We visited the Taos Pueblo, and I climbed a few ladders while hiking on the Tsankawi trail and at the Bandolier National Monument, but I really stepped out of my comfort zone when we walked across the Rio Grande Gorge bridge, which is the second highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System, the seventh highest bridge in the country, and is about 600 feet above the Rio Grande River. There is a metal barrier on the side, but no barrier between the sidewalk and the cars, and the winds were blowing at more than 20mph. I’m glad to check that off my bucket list (or I should say to put it on my bucket list before checking it off).

We drove the Enchanted Trail around Taos on Sunday, and while I was already being slightly affected by the high altitude (Taos is at about 7,200 feet above sea level), when we were just under 10,000 feet above sea level I got winded just walking down the street! There was some spectacular scenery and I am so glad to have had this getaway and to really experience a part of the country I’ve never seen before.

We were searching for wildlife, after being told that elk, mountain lions, big-horned sheep, and bears could be seen in the wild. We did see a few prairie dogs in their natural habitat (I managed a photo of one of them), and some elk in the far distance that could be seen only through a telescopic lens of a photographer we met at a scenic overlook. We thought we saw an elk while driving, and even stopped the car and went back for a photo. When I zoomed in … it was actually two horses! And these are the only bears we saw – although the photo below is a screenshot of a video that Liz Kiyak, managing partner of Fleming’s, sent me Friday afternoon of a bear running across Unity Green right in West Hartford Center. Sometimes more wildlife is visible right in West Hartford than out west!

Just a few food and drink photos …

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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:

• Yes, I’m featuring Park Lane Pizza (337 Park Road) again, because over the past six months I have probably gotten more emails and messages about the status of this building than anything else. When Park Lane was featured two months ago in this column, the contractor I spoke with said he hoped they would be ready to open by the end of July. While that came and went, there has been some visible progress on the exterior, but people continue to wonder what’s going on. I stopped by last week, and this time I was lucky enough to run into the owner, Bobby Vavaroutsos – son of the founder of the business. “We’re getting there,” he told me. The dining room is completely renovated (juke boxes remain) and while the tarp is off the roof there is some exterior work remaining to be done, including completion of the siding and repair/replacement of some of the signage (it will be the same type of sign, but there is some damage to the track on the west side of the building). Most of the hold-up, Vavaroutsos said, is work that is being done in the basement. He didn’t want to commit to a date, other than saying that they are “very close.”

• West Hartford resident Jill Longman was pursuing one of her favorite activities while trying to decide the next step in her career – and ended up turning what was a hobby into a totally new career. Longman, who launched her home staging and interior redesign business, The Proud House, in April, was a middle school math teacher when she first got out of college, and then took a 10-year break when her youngest child was born. She said she then went back to work in a corporate job, but was unhappy with the culture of the company and other aspects of the job so she left, and took a course for certification in staging and redesign. Next she created a website, and started a business. “I tend to be a ‘leap firstly look later’ type of person,” said Longman. She put a post on Facebook announcing the launch of her business and got hired the first week for a bathroom redesign. “I’ve always just loved interior design, loved Zillow stalking,” she said. She and her husband bought their 1960s house in 2020, and she spent the pandemic working on updating it. Through some friends in the real estate business, and word of mouth, the Proud House is taking off. She is doing staging – both for vacant and occupied properties – as well as redesign. “I’m pretty frugal, and I like to use what I have,” she said of the staging jobs. She loves the “mash-up” of contemporary and vintage, and is a regular visitor to Brimfield. For more information about Proud House, visit the website www.theproudhouse.com, or check out her Facebook and Instagram (@the_proudhouse) accounts.

• Another piece of interior design news: West Hartford-based Camden Grace owner Jeanne Barber is up for an HGTV Designer of the Year Award and is a final nominee in the “Dramatic Before and Afters” category. The project scope included a new kitchen, living room, playroom and dining room in a West Hartford home (on Newport Avenue). Voting is currently taking place and open through Sept. 26. Click here to vote for her entry, which is entitled “Home With Transitional Style and Crisp, Coastal Character.” And see the photos for an example of the redesign.

• The Maui gas station and convenience store at 898 Farmington Avenue (in front of the former West Hartford Inn which is being transformed into The Camelot) is now open. I’ll check it out personally this week, but thank you to Ed Sanady for sharing this photo with me. Gas prices are reasonable compared to most stations in town, comments I’ve seen on Facebook are very favorable about the convenience store (clean and well stocked), and I did hear – but can’t confirm – that there is free coffee available as an opening special.

• Barcelona chef Nick Souza will battle Sparrow chef Adam Greenberg to see who can create the best paella! The event will include “cocktails, tapas, and a friendly dose of competition as Executive Chef Nick Souza and Sparrow’s Chef Adam Greenberg (former Barcelona Chef and Chopped Grand Champion) go head to head with massive pans and simmering soffrito. Watch, taste, party, and cast your vote for the best of these iconic Spanish single-pan dishes as they’re prepared right before your eyes.” The paella battle will be held on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 6-9 p.m. at Barcelona. Tickets include two drinks. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets for the event.

• West Hartford resident Zoe Cramer has recently launched a new speed dating business – Sip and Sparks. “Our mission is to provide a safe, fun, engaging space for people to experience real, face-to-face meaningful connections across Connecticut, Southern Massachusetts, and Northern Rhode Island. In a world where everything is so virtual, we’re providing a refreshing alternative: a chance for your audience to reconnect in person. Since launching in November 2023, we’ve seen overwhelming demand for our laid-back, fun events. People are loving the break from screens, and our events foster the kind of genuine conversations that are so hard to come by online,” she said. The events have been held for a variety of age groups, and Cramer said, “from the energy of our younger crowd to the wisdom of our older groups, the connections made at our events are unlike anything else.” Cramer said she was motivated to launch the business because while speed dating events are common in cities, there are few opportunities in the Connecticut suburbs. “By hosting them locally, we’re making it easier for people to meet without the potential complications of long-distance relationships. It also spices things up for those that are looking to meet new people but are tired of the online dating scene,” she said. “We hope to eventually expand our events to other demographics, including the LGBTQ+ community, adults on the autism spectrum, and those with shared hobbies. For now though, our events are only for heterosexual cisgender individuals. We also have other non-romance based speed connection events that are in the works too!” For more information, visit the Sips and Sparks website or check out their upcoming events. Promo codes are shared on Facebook and Instagram as well (@sipsandsparks).

• Speaking of sips, Artisan West Hartford is holding “Sip for a Change,” as a fundraiser taking place throughout the month of September to benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. “Sip for a Change” is a unique craft cocktail that “blends vodka, caffeine-free butterfly blue pea tea for a stunning natural blue hue, lavender syrup, and a splash of lemon. Finished with sparkling seltzer, it offers a light, floral, and bubbly experience. With lavender sourced from the garden, it’s as sustainable as it is beautiful. Best of all, proceeds from each cocktail will support pulmonary fibrosis research and treatment efforts, so guests can sip with impact,” said Erin Spiegel, director of Marketing, PR and Communications for Delamar Hotels.

• Local business owner Ben Fuchs, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Private Wealth Advisor professional, and founder of Fuchs Financial (with offices in West Hartford, Middletown and Middlebury), will be featured has been a guest on The Wealth Council, which airs nationally on the FOX Business network, and will be featured on two more Sundays – Sept. 22 and Sept. 29.  The program aims to empower viewers with retirement finance knowledge, so they can make informed decisions about their financial future. It features leading financial advisors from across the country, sharing their expertise and experience on key retirement planning issues. More information is available at www.fuchsfinancial.com.

• Congratulations to Town Council member Carol Anderson Blanks, who was honored Sunday at the Ella T. Grasso Women’s Leadership Brunch!

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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