West Hartford Business Buzz: September 29, 2014

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

By Ronni Newton

Shehrazad’s Cafe and Grill is one of two restaurants that opened recently next to Plan B on Park Road 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 found a few “new” restaurants on Park Road this week! While they may not be brand new, they opened during the time that there was no “Business Buzz” being published. (And since I didn’t know about them, I’m thinking maybe others were in the dark, too.) One of those is Shehrazad’s Cafe and Grill, which is located at 134 Park Rd., between Plan B and the 1001 Arabian Nights Hookah Lounge. I saw a mention of it in a friend’s Facebook post last week and had to go check it out for myself. Shehrazad’s is owned by the same owner as 1001 Arabian Nights, and specializes in Lebanese food like kabobs with homemade hummus. No alcohol served but you can BYOB. The Yelp reviewers seem to love it!
While looking for Shehrazad’s, I found the Park Tavern, which opened in May 2014 in the former Taqueria Tavern spot at 140 Park Rd. (on the other side of Plan B). The menu includes several fish dishes, chicken parm, burgers, sandwiches, and flatbread pizzas. Park Tavern also has happy hour with reduced-price drinks and half-price appetizers.

Robby Lingashi is running the Wyvern Squash Club. Submitted photo.

Kingswood Oxford has gotten into the squash business. No, they’re not running a farmer’s market. Back in February, the private school opened the Wyvern Squash Club in the former Kingswood Middle School facility at 18 Highland St. in West Hartford. The purpose was to not only ramp up KO’s own squash program, but to offer public access to a sport that’s growing in popularity. “It’s a sport you can start later and it’s not too late, and it’s very ‘hot’ at some great colleges,” said KO Communications and Marketing Director Michelle Murphy. KO hired well known international squash player and former Hartford Golf Club coach Robby Lingashi to run the club. There were 43 families that joined last year, and the buzz is growing according to KO. An official ribbon-cutting is planned for Nov. 6, and the new membership year began Sept. 15. Visit the Wyvern Squash Club website for more information.
Bouvier Insurance has good reason to be proud these days. The family-owned insurance agency, which employees 84 people in the region and has five locations, came in no. 7 on the Hartford Courant’s list of “Top Workplaces 2014” in the small employers category. They were also the sole winner of the “Ethics” award. The awards are based on emloyee responses to a survey about the workplace.
The West Hartford Town Council will consider an ordinance being proposed by its Community Planning and Physical Services committee regulating barbering, hairdressing, cosmetology, nail, tanning, tatto, and body piercing salons. Annual inspection and licensing of all salons which fall into these categories will be required if the ordinance is approved, and fees will be assessed to cover the cost of the inspection. The standards are outlined in the Connecticut General Statutes, but the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District currently has no mechanism in place to enforce them. According to Town Manager Ron Van Winkle, the salons are supportive of this measure and are promoting it as a way to maintain high standards in their businesses. Thanks to Town Council Minority Leader Denise Hall for bringing this to our attention. Who else besides me will be thinking about this while getting their nails done?

A Little Something Bakery is moving from Park Road! According to the latest status on the bakery’s Facebook page, they will relocate to 485 NewPark Ave., which is between Flatbush Avenue and Home Depot. “It is a great old building with a lot of character and charm,” according to the post.