Central Connecticut Retail Update June 2018 (long)

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BRISTOL

Work continues to widen Route 6 in the heavily trafficked, heavily congested retail strip from Dee's Laundromat (formerly Insane Irvings) to The Farmington Townline.

In the Bristol Farms Plaza (the plaza with Big Lots and Hobby Lobby) The Edge Fitness Club is under development in two side-by-side store fronts. That leaves two side by side spaces left vacant that total around 13,000 Square feet. The former free standing Webster Bank is still vacant.

Construction continues on a medical building on the site of the former Frankie's Hotdog Stand. (Frankie's was built as a Burger Chef in the 60s).

Coliseum Pawn Shop moved from a freestanding building to larger space in the Eblen's Plaza. There old space remains vacant.

Stephen Auto Mall the dealership that sells GMC, Cadillac, Toyota, and used cars has added the Buick franchise previously held by Parsons of Plainville.

Insane Irvings the popular locally owned hip-hop clothing store sold their building and downsized by moving into a small strip mall with Rodd's Diner and a Comic Book/Sports Collectibles store.

The former D'Angelo's Sandwich Shop remains empty.

Dee's Laundromat moved from their longtime location in Bristol Plaza to the former Insane Irving building. (Larger Space).

O'Reilly's Auto finally began converting the former Biker's Edge Bicycle Shop into one of their stores.

The former Walmart Neighborhood Market remains empty a year after closing.

Sials Deane Pawnshop opened a location in the former Amazing Adult Superstore XXX last Fall.

In the Bristol Commons this Price Chopper is probably going to be converted to Market 32 after they convert Middletown.

In the Annex Plaza (part of Bristol Commons) 4,000 +/- Square Feet of the former Blockbuster Video Remains Empty

Downtown on North Main Street The Super Natural Market and Deli moved out of Rite Aid Plaza and into a freestanding building they own last year. They are now struggling to stay alive. Said Plaza is now mainly empty except for Rite Aid, a store front satellite campus of Tunxis Community College, a freestanding Santander Bank (in a former Pizza Hut), a freestanding BK, and on the second floor above Tunxis The Bristol Chamber of Commerce, which just moved there late last year.

Continuing on North Main Street the former CVS in Park Plaza remains vacant since opening a new store on Route 6 last year. Also in Park Plaza supposedly former office space on the second floor has been converted to apartments.

Across North Main across from Park Plaza is the former Mall at Bristol Center Property. A portion has been sold to Bristol Hospital and a 3 story 125,000 square foot building will be constructed. An access road is being built through the property. The new mayor of Bristol says she's looking at other proposals for the rest of the former mall property. Bristol Hospital plans on putting services currently spread throughout Bristol in leased space under one roof. There is no room to expand the main hospital on Brewster Road.

A junk store moved from Waterbury to a store front on Memorial BLVD that has been 4 failed grocery stores since Tinty Furniture closed.

On the West End of Bristol Dollar General Remains the only business in a building on Divinity Street that once housed a small Waldbaum's and a Brook's Pharmacy. They owner of the building is looking to sell.

Also on the West End, the city of Bristol is looking forward to redesigning the intersection of Route 69 and Route 72. The intersection is a mess. The state of Connecticut is broke, so who knows when this will happen.

The Old Jennings School was converted to nice (but very expensive) Senior apartments. Work is underway to convert the former Bingham School and the former O'Connell Schools to Senior apartments as well. The O'Connell project is behind due to an arson fire last year.

City officials are working on plans for the former Memorial BLVD School as well. Last I heard they wanted to make it a magnet school.

In the Forestville section of town everything pretty much remains status quo. Not much happens over there. Still some vacancies need to be filled in the Stop and Shop Plaza on Pine Street. The Valero Station on the corner of Pine and Overlook closed (again), a long time Forestville business Irene's Culinary Corner closed after the longtime owner retired, and the Stop and Shop still needs a major overhaul.

SOUTHINGTON

On Queen Street (Route 10) Kettle Bagles opened in a small strip center in a spot that has been many different things over the 15 years my family has lived in Southington.

Pep Boys took over a local auto repair shop in 2017 next to the strip center where Kettle Bagels is.

A Thai Rolled Ice Cream Shop is opening in the Perry Plaza a small strip center anchored by Bricks and Mini Figs.

Brookside Pawn moved from a freestanding building into a former used furniture store across the street.

A Medical Marijuana facility was looking at opening in space in a small plaza on the corner of Queen and River, but the proposed owner never showed up for two PZC Meetings, so the space remains empty. The space at one time was a Blimpie's and then Enterprise Rent a Car and for less than a year a consignment shop owned by rude people.

In Pattenbrook Plaza, which is anchored by Enterprise Rent a Car - a local chain called Express Kitchens opened in 2 side by side spaces. They're do kitchen design services and sells cabinets, etc. This is across the street from another kitchen design store called the Kitchen Cabinet Outlet.

O'Reilly's Auto opened in the summer of 2017 in a newly constructed building next to Pattenbrook Plaza.

In the Queen Plaza, Radio Shack remains empty a year after they went toes up.

In a new development at 775-811 Queen Street Aldi opened in October 2017 and Chick Fil A opened in January 2018. Mission BBQ, Wireless Zone, and  Chipotle will be opening later this summer. A Walk-in Clinic and a dental office (The latter opening in May 2018) opened in the old 7-Eleven which is part of the same development. A new State of the Art AAA Office will be opening in late 2018. It's being built next to the old 7-Eleven Building  where two house once stood. It's gonna be one of only a few AAA offices nationwide to feature auto repair on the premises. This will replace a  AAA office in Plainville.

Smile Rite Dental recently opened in the former Fro-Yo World in ShopRite Plaza. Simply Verizon was sold to Russel Cellular.

CT Lighting Center moved into space off Spring Street near Pilgrim Furniture City.

Tap Out Fitness opened in the former CT Lighting Center in the Walmart Plaza.

The Asian Taste is a new restaurant that opened in the 405 Queen Street Plaza in the former Ryan's Jewelers.

Downtown Rite Aid closed in March 2018 as a result of their marriage to Walgreen's.

Moving to West Street

A Kickboxing Studio opened in the new development near Target where Michael's, Home Goods, PetValu, and Chip's Restaurant opened in 2017.

Popeye's opened in January in a new development that also includes a small strip mall (Still under development) and a Marriott Hotel (still under construction).

Moving to the Meriden Waterbury Turnpike.

Dollar General is opening at 1724 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike. It's opening June 30th. It was built from the ground up.

PLAINVILLE

Frankie's Hotdogs opened at 177 East Street (Route 10) replacing the Bristol location. Plainville Community Pharmacy opened in long time vacant space in a medical plaza. Parson's Buick closed after the owner retired. The franchise and inventory was sold to Stephen Automall in Bristol.

On New Britain Avenue (Route 372) a long time Asian Restaurant Closed, Lessard Lanes (the former Laurel Lanes) is doing well with their new attractions, Yummy Sushi replaced Param Pizza in the Big Y Plaza, and ground was broken on a Goodwill Store on the former long vacant Chung Property across from the Lowes/AC Moore Plaza.

Wolcott

The former Illusion's Night Club property remains for sale. Asking price for the 6+ acres of land (Which also includes 2 buildings) is $1,150,000. (My dream is to win the lotto and reopen it with a new name an concept)

WATERBURY

Blasius Chevrolet bought the former Devino's Brass City Hyundai for a used car lot (after the latter moved to Watertown)

A gym is being constructed in the former TJ MAXX in ShopRite Plaza.

Construction on I-84 near the Brass Mill Mall should wrap up sometime in 2019. Don't know how the construction has impacted the mall the last 3 years. And if that wasn't enough, construction on I-84 near the Mix Master is supposed to begin sometime in 2020 or 2021.

EAST HARTFORD

School Street Square a shopping center on Ellington Road is for sale. Asking price is $8 million.

An ambitious plans to redevelop the former Showcase Cinemas Property and adjacent area on Silver Lane was revealed last week. The project will take 20 years to complete..

BLOOMFIELD
WDRC-FM/AM and two other AM stations that simulcast WDRC (AM) were purchased by Full Power Radio in January 2018. After the sale closed Full Power Radio moved sister stations WMRQ Radio 104.1 and BOMBA-FM from leased space in an office building on New London Turnpike in Glastonbury into the WDRC building on Blue Hills Avenue.

[giantsfan2016]

Downtown on North Main Street The Super Natural Market and Deli moved out of Rite Aid Plaza and into a freestanding building they own last year. They are now struggling to stay alive.

After 37 years in business The Super Natural Market and Deli closed for good on Thursday 6/14.

http://www.bristolpress.com/BP-Bristol+News/329303/super-sorrow-super-natural-deli-closes-with-customers-upset-by-loss