Southington, CT continues to grow and thrive

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Southington, Connecticut continues to grow and thrive. In addition to the Michaels, Home Goods, Pet Value stores opening this summer (along with Chip's Restaurant) on West Street (Executive BLVD) and the Aldi's, Chick Fil-A, and Chipotle planned for Queen Street another new development under construction on West Street. It will be home to a Courtyard by Marriott, Popeye's Chicken, Mellow Mushroom Pizza, Nutmeg Credit Union, and Cheshire Coffee Company.

From MYRECORDJOURNAL.COM

Pizza restaurant, coffee shop, credit union latest additions announced for new Southington plaza
By Jesse Buchanan Record-Journal Staff

SOUTHINGTON â€" A Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant, Nutmeg State credit union and Cheshire Coffee are the latest additions announced for a plaza under construction on West Street.

Developer Mark Lovley said he’s in negotiations with other potential tenants as well. He’s got room for eight or nine at the center that’ll accompany a hotel just south of Corporate Drive.

Last month the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen for the plaza.

Lovley said he expects restaurants, coffee shops and other businesses to do well in the area. Nearby are the former Hartford Insurance office buildings which have been mostly filled with other businesses. A HomeGoods, Chip’s Family Restaurant and other stores are under construction near the Lowes and Target on West Street as well.

“It should be good with those two hotels,” Lovley said.

Lovley is building a 125-room Courtyard by Marriott at the 1095 West Street site. The hotel focuses on short-stay family and business travel.

West Street will be the third location for Cheshire Coffee which started in Cheshire and expanded to Waterbury.

Jason Wagoner, an owner, said the Southington location is perfect for their market of specialty coffee. It also has ample parking and is located near a highway exit. The Southington location will also have a drive-through.

“It’s set off enough to get away from the world,” Wagoner said.

The company started as Greenwich Coffee in Cheshire and five years later became Cheshire Coffee. Wagoner said they are very particular about keeping their coffee tasting good at all their locations.

“We’d never do a franchise,” he said.

The company hopes to open 10 locations eventually.

“We’re slowly expanding, day by day,” Wagoner said.

Mellow Mushroom is a pizza chain primarily located in the South with the closest location in New Jersey. Lovley said the company’s expansion to Southington is part of a two-store foray into Connecticut with the other planned location in Rocky Hill.

The restaurant’s theme is 1970s hippie: the menu includes munchies, the logo is a throwback cartoon mushroom and their specials include a personal pizza for $4.20. It also offers craft beers at its locations.

Nutmeg State credit union has locations in New Britain, Glastonbury, Cromwell and Bristol.

jbuchanan@recordjournal.com 203-317-2230 Twitter: @JBuchananRJ