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!
Last week was quite eventful in West Hartford. It marked the first full week of non-summer for many, but I still consider summer to be ongoing until early Saturday morning. Despite the change in seasons, I was still wearing my white pants. The week was filled with high humidity, flooding, early morning phone calls, hosting roundtable shows on WHCi, and dealing with plumbing issues. Despite these challenges, I managed to continue with my half marathon training and even ran 11.31 miles last Saturday. Unfortunately, the week was also marred by the untimely deaths of two people I know.
One of the unexpected challenges we faced last week was a problem with our hot water. We discovered that our furnace, which was installed just over a year ago, was not working properly. It turned out that water from a flooded window well had made its way into the furnace’s intake pipe, causing it to malfunction. After multiple calls and visits from a technician, the issue was resolved, and the hot water was restored by Friday evening. We are grateful for the quick response and the delivery of the needed part via FedEx.
In addition to this plumbing issue, I also had the opportunity to attend the Breakfast on the Bridge event at Town Hall and witnessed the torrential rain that followed. While I observed the flooding on West Hartford roadways, I wasn’t particularly worried about my own home as it is located on higher ground. However, we discovered that water had seeped into a corner of our basement, causing some damage. This was a reminder of the importance of maintaining proper drainage systems.
On a lighter note, we had a pleasant evening after dropping off my husband’s car for new tires. We decided to unwind at World of Beer, enjoying a beer, a giant pretzel, and some delicious food. We also ordered take-out Chinese from Black Bamboo, which never disappoints.
I would also like to take a moment to address the issue of comments on the website. It seems that some individuals are trying to post comments without providing their full names. I have already deleted comments from fake email addresses and have informed those who didn’t provide their full names that their comments will be deleted if I don’t hear back within a week. Additionally, a comment containing profanity was not posted, as it did not include a full name.
Moving on to business news, one of the notable upcoming openings in West Hartford is Boqueria. The Spanish restaurant, specializing in paella, tapas, and creative cocktails, is set to open its doors in October. The interior of the restaurant appears to be complete, and hiring has been ongoing for front and back-of-house positions. I am excited to try their food and look forward to writing a feature story about their opening.
In sad news, Marty Kenny, the founder of Lexington Partners, passed away suddenly. Kenny played a significant role in the redevelopment of many properties in West Hartford. His projects will continue with the involvement of his sons, Patrick and Kevin, who have joined the business. Funeral details have yet to be announced.
Lastly, the build-out for Sweetspot, West Hartford’s second cannabis retailer, is currently underway. The store will be located at the corner of Park Road and Prospect Avenue. Despite some delays, progress is being made, and the store is expected to open soon.
That’s it for this week’s business buzz in West Hartford. If you have any information to share about local businesses, please leave a comment or email me at [email protected]