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

Last week was a short work week – but for some reason it felt like a really long week and on Thursday I was sure it must be Friday already.

The week even featured great weather with some of those classic September days – warm and sunny days following cool mornings, including Wednesday when we needed the extra warmth of the fire pit (it’s propane, so easy to turn on and off) to enjoy morning coffee on the patio.

Then there was Saturday which brought back tropical-level humidity! I was outside a good part of the day – starting with a 7 a.m. long run, to the Community Preparedness Day at Town Hall with the grandkids (“Champ” loved the touch-a-truck part), covering the rededication of the Miracle League field, taking lots of the photos for this column, and then finally the Noah Webster House Real Ale Festival – our final event of the day. By then the big storm had come through, and although it was raining when we arrived at the Noah Webster House it had cooled off and was dry(ish) for most of the event and we sampled some amazing and unique beers and enjoyed dinner (falafel burger, chicken jerk burger, and soul fries) from the Salt & Pepper food truck.

Other dining experiences this past week included lunch with some of my We-Ha.com colleagues at The Friendly Toast (I couldn’t resist breakfast food, but they also have great bowls and handhelds), and stadium food at our last Yard Goats game of the season on Thursday night.

High school sports began this past week, and we were able to cover quite a few games thanks to reporters Paul Palmer and Mia Jaworski, returning intern Ryan Leef, photo contributions from Craig Rosenberg, and some submitted content. We will do our best to cover as many games and meets as we can – within the constraints of our resources and schedule. We welcome (I’ll shout it again in all caps), WE WELCOME submitted coverage of sports events. A brief summary (please be sure to include the score) and at least one photo is really all we need to ensure that your favorite West Hartford high school team gets some press. Contributions from parents, students, coaches, and fans of any type can be emailed to [email protected].

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We had two people comment this week without including their full names. I’m not going to call them trolls because I don’t think they were actually looking to hide their identities – although I still won’t approve the comments unless they respond to my emails and authorize the use of their full names. Thank you to all who comment with your full names! 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.

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:

• Jon Camacho has been a trainer in West Hartford for almost 15 years, and recently opened his very own studio, The Lift Effect, in a portion of the former Excel Fitness space at 589 New Park Avenue. Many may recall Camacho, a West Hartford resident, from his year’s at the former New York Sports Club in Blue Back Square. After leaving there he had briefly partnered with another trainer to open a small studio in town but recently had been training people mostly at their homes when he learned that the former Excel Fitness space was available because that business moved (to 9 Tolles Street). The space has now been subdivided with The Lift Effect leasing a roughly 1,700 square foot room and sharing the locker rooms and showers with Fitness with Jonathan, which leases the other portion. “I focus on functional fitness – longevity training, fitness for the decades,” said Camacho, working to achieve desired strength as well as individualized mobility goals. The first session is always an assessment, where he not only determines physical fitness and ability but also asks a lot of questions about why someone is interested in working out – whether it’s training for a particular sport, event, or hobby such as biking, running, pickleball, tennis, etc., or to achieve other fitness goals. He also works with clients who are continuing to recover from injury. “Ideally I want to be the bridge – when someone graduates from PT” and is trying to gain strength and establish routine. “I love helping people come out of injuries, to reach the next level,” he said. After an assessment, Camacho comes up with a customized plan for each client, that includes a warmup focused on issues that are important, and full body strength workouts to help achieve their goals. Sessions are an hour, and can be private as well as in groups of four to six – where each person is still doing an individualized workout and has access to their own rack and work station – which is something not common in group training programs. I’ve been a runner for decades and know that strength training (which I have been doing on my own several times a week) is important, but I agreed to an assessment knowing that I have struggled this year with some back and neck issues – and although I have put in some decent mileage over the past weeks training for the half marathon, I’ve definitely lost speed which may or may not be just related to getting older. Most programs are six to eight weeks and while there is no contract required, Camacho recommends coming at least once a week to get the benefit of the training. I’m giving it a try, and after an assessment I’ve completed my first training session. Despite the humidity I ran faster on Saturday than I have in recent months, and while it’s probably much too soon to see results, it’s not a bad sign! Camacho said he chose the name – The Lift Effect – because of its double meaning. “When you’re working out, there’s moment in the workout when you’re feeling good, like a runner’s high,” he said. That’s “the lift effect,” as is the fitness journey, he said, getting to “lift off.” Camacho said is focused on a holistic approach to wellness, not just strength training. There is also nutrition available at The Lift Effect – and he plans to expand group training, virtual training, and nutritional counseling in the future. I do wonder what he might say about my French fry habit, or that hot dog … For more information, visit the website. [Also, please note that this feature is not sponsored content. I interviewed Camacho before deciding to sign up for training, and am paying the regular rate.]

• Little Caesars is now open at 1032 Boulevard, in the Boulevard Shops. According to the website, the restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

• The sign is up, and Beloved Companions and Pawz for Peace – sister businesses owned by Dave Olson – will be opening later this month at 1123 New Britain Avenue in Elmwood, in the space that was going to be Cake Gypsy. Beloved Companions (belovedcompanions.com) offers pet funeral and cremation services (the cremation is done elsewhere), while Pawz at Peace (pawzatpeace.com) provides gentle and compassionate in-home euthanasia.

• Also in Elmwood, there is a site plan application filed with the town for a change of use for the former Bank of America building at 1161 New Britain Avenue. Dr. Hongping Xu has filed the application, looking to open a Clarivision optometry office at that location. According to the narrative submitted to the town,”Clarivision Advanced Eye Care was established in 2020 and has been practicing in Cheshire for 4 years. During the past 4 years we have served more than 10,000 patients for their eye health and eyewear. We are hoping to extend this service to West Hartford.” According to the application, they plan to provide eye exams, treatment for ocular disease, myopia, and services for those with low vision, and plan to expand services in the future to treat patients with “binocular vision problems and patients who suffer from vision disorders caused by brain trauma.” They will also offer prescription glasses and contact lenses. They plan to be open six days a week and have five employees. Hongping Xu is one of the principals of JO Real Estate Holding LLC, which purchased the former Bank of America building in February for $865,000. More to come!

• I was driving down New Park Avenue early last week and notice “DEMO” written in the window of 579 New Park Avenue, which will be redeveloped into The Jayden. I stopped by on Wednesday to take some photos and happened to run into Bill Gozzo, who confirmed that he has relocated Gozzo Design and Remodel to 21 Jefferson Avenue, in space behind New Park Brewing. I’m glad I took these photos when I did, because as of Saturday there was opaque green fencing around the entire property, so perhaps the demolition is going to be happening very soon. More details can be found here about the Brownfield grants that will help this project, as well as the expansion of Playhouse on Park to move forward.

• Also relocating is Pink Flamingo Party Company. I spoke with owner Ashley Sodipo last week and she said their lease is up at 1001 Farmington Avenue, where they have had a retail business for the past four years, and she confirmed that they will be closing that location and moving the entire business to their existing warehouse space at One Hartford Square, New Britain. “We do so much more with balloon delivery,” said Sodipo, and while they will sunset their retail paper goods business and no longer have the walk-in business from West Hartford Center, she said they will continue to serve the community with what has been their core business. “We are so excited,” Sodipo said about the move to a delivery-based business. The move should take place by the end of the month. Follow @pinkflamingoparty.co on Instagram for updates.

• I received a press release on Thursday, indicating that Connecticut Home Interiors (830 Farmington Avenue) started their liquidation sale on Sept. 4 and will close its doors permanently. I stopped by on Friday to take some photos and had a chance to chat briefly with owner Tom Hall. “I’m finally retiring after 41 years,” he said, noting that although he bought the building in 1983, it’s been a furniture store for more than 73 years – and was formerly Marholin Lane Furniture, with a bike shop on the lower level. When he took over the space, Hall said, “We started upgrading and selling the best furniture made.” For the past four decades they have featured brands such as Bernhardt, Bradington-Young, Caracole, Century, Hancock & Moore, Hickory Chair, Stickley, and Theodore Alexander, but Hall said that not only is he ready to retire at age 82, but the nature of the business has changed, with most furniture now produced overseas. Connecticut Home Interiors employees all have been with him for 25 to 35 years. “It’s been a long time for all of them. We’re kind of like family,” he said. In May, Hall sold the 30,000 square foot building for $2.4 million to listing agent Michael Guidicelli of Regions Commercial Real Estate Advisors. Guidicelli, who owns adjacent property, will probably plan to redevelop the site, Hall said, but there are no plans filed with the town at this time. He previously owned warehouse space at 453 New Park Avenue as well, but that sold last October and the warehouse has been emptied out. The state permits 90 days for a liquidation sale, and Hall said he hopes to have everything sold by early December, currently offering discounts of up to 65%. The news release also noted that Hall’s commitment to his business “extended into the community, where Connecticut Home Interiors for several decades supported Oak Hill School through its fundraising programs and annual golf tournament. Oak Hill sets the standard, partnering with people with disabilities, to provide services and solutions promoting independence, education, health, and dignity.” Hall also offered the following statement in the news release: “I’m deeply thankful for the support this community has provided over the years and for the many friendships that grew out of the store. As I step into retirement, I carry with me a deep appreciation for everyone who has been part of this journey.” As a side note, the last time that I was in Connecticut Home Interiors to do an interview was when I was editor of a lifestyle magazine in 2006 and Charles Spencer – brother of the late Princess Diana – was there to promote the Althorp Collection, reproductions of the furnishings in the family’s ancestral home. I still have the hardcover books about the collection that they handed out and was able quickly locate the signed book. For more information on the final sale, visit www.cthomeinteriors.com.

• Brand Street Properties, a full-service real estate investment, development, and asset management firm that is the owner of Blue Back Square, announced last week that Connor Nolan has been appointed their new Senior Director of Leasing. Nolan, a Fairfield resident with over 12 years of experience in the commercial real estate industry, will bring his expertise in negotiation, location intelligence, and cross-functional leadership to the Greenwich-based company. He will lead all retail leasing efforts for Brand Street Properties across its portfolio, with emphasis at the company’s flagship property, Blue Back Square in West Hartford. Nolan was most recently director of leasing at WS Development, and has also worked for Seritage, owner of The Corbin Collection in West Hartford. “We are thrilled to welcome Connor to the Brand Street team,” said Paul Brandes, Principal of Brand Street Properties. “His impressive track record of successful leasing and his deep understanding of market dynamics will be invaluable as we continue to grow our portfolio and deliver exceptional results for our partners and tenants. Connor’s ability to thoughtfully merchandise our properties, lead cross-functional teams, and build strong relationships aligns perfectly with our company’s values.” Nolan is a native of Shelton, CT, and has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Western Connecticut State University, where he also competed as a pitcher on the university’s varsity baseball team.

• I’m going to save the update on the Center construction to include with details about the roadway resurfacing, but below are photos (taken Saturday) of the progress of the new Animal Control facility on Brixton Street.

• Click here to listen to the most recent episode of the On The Scene podcast, where hosts Tom Hickey and Bob Carr sit down with Brianna Dunlap, Director of Development and Community Relations at South Park Inn, a Hartford-based homeless shelter making a life-changing impact. Brianna shares her personal journey into nonprofit work, her passion for helping vulnerable communities, and the powerful mission of South Park Inn – to break the cycle of homelessness and provide shelter, dignity, and hope for those in need.

• It’s time to choose the area’s top dog! While Millie is not eligible (she does get to be the poster dog for the contest), I know there are many great dogs in town! Details here.

• ICYMI, best of luck to Commissioner of the Office of Early Childhood Beth Bye, who will be retiring from state service as of Oct. 1. Complete details about the announcement last week can be found here.
• West Hartford’s “Benchmark” event launches at 12:30 p.m. today. Complete details can be found here.

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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