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West Hartford Business Buzz: September 30, 2024 – We-Ha | West Hartford News

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September 30, 2024

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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

How the heck did it get to be the last day of September already? I have acquired some mums and pumpkin products (Trader Joe’s has been sold out of their coffee the few times I have checked but I did by muffin mix, pasta sauce, and salsa), but I am still not quite ready to let summer go.

We tailgated before the UConn game on Saturday (what a great win – and c’mom students, show up!) and I was very glad for the summery weather. Duke beat Carolina 21-20 – an incredible comeback win after being behind 20-0 into the third quarter – on the centennial weekend. It was definitely a great college football weekend for my teams.

I was a “celebrity” judge at the Blue Back Burger Bash which was held Friday night after being rained out on Thursday, and Friday’s weather ended up being perfect, there was a great crowd, and the event raised more than $4,000 for CT Foodshare. Coracora, which is currently building out their new space in the former Rosa Mexicano spot, brought their llama to the event, and I *had* to take a selfie.

Coracora brought a friendly face to the Blue Back Burger Bash. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

This is certainly a busy time of year, and because I am still catching up from being out of town for a few days there definitely weren’t enough hours in the days last week to get everything done that was on my calendar – even with giving up quite a few hours of sleep. Among last week’s activities that I was able to do: on Monday I “sauna-ed” (didn’t know that was a verb until last week) and look for the story soon about West Hartford’s new beem Light Sauna spot. I also visited Nero Kitchen on their opening day and enjoyed a breakfast sandwich as a late lunch.

Nero breakfast sandwich. The hot apple cider donuts in the background came home as a treat for Ted. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

I combined work and exercise early on Saturday morning when I ran to Matt Warshauer’s house, stopped to take the photos of his display, and then ran home (just 3.8 miles total). I enjoy our annual conversation about his display (I do speak to him about other topics throughout the year) and interviewed him over the weekend for the story you can find here.

On Saturday night, after watching lots of great college football, Ted and I went to Zephyr’s for dinner and finally lucked into weather where we could sit on the patio. We sampled a few of their street pizzas, which were fantastic – and a few others that I definitely need to try. I didn’t realize until I saw a post on social media on Sunday that it was Zephyr’s third anniversary of their opening in the Brace Road lot (968R Farmington Avenue). Congrats to Dante Cistulli on three years – and of course for the 8.1!

Beers on the patio at Zephyr’s Street Pizza. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Truffle Money Street Pizza at Zephyr’s (very light mozz, goat cheese, shaved red onion, pistachio, truffled honey). Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Papas Bravas Street Pizza at Zephyr’s (crispy house cut russets, lite mozz, sriracha aioli, lime creme frachie, pickled onion, scallion, parsley, cheddar). Photo credit: Ronni Newton

My proudest moment last week was completely unexpected. I was so honored when I was surprised – trulty surprised and shocked – with a proclamation on Tuesday night by the Town Council in honor of We-Ha.com’s 10th anniversary. This can be a thankless job, and acknowledgement and appreciation is so very welcome. I am humbled, and thankful, for the recognition, and for the contributions of our team and all who have made the past 10 years a success.

Posing with the Town Council after receiving a proclamation honoring We-Ha.com’s 10th anniversary. Photo credit: John Lyons

Finally, I just had to share this photo of Millie. She kept staring at me through the window while I was working on Sunday. When I tried to let her inside (several times), she didn’t want to come in, but she came back to stare through the window a few times.

Sometimes, when I am sitting at the computer in my home office, I feel like I am being watched through the window. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

If you are a long term, regular advertiser on We-Ha.com and have a 60 to 75 word submission for a future Business Buzz please send to Bob Carr at [email protected].

If you’re looking for news about West Hartford in print please note that many stories from We-Ha.com, as well as other local news, is published in the twice-monthly issues of the West Hartford Press.

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:

Courtesy image

The restaurant space on the second floor of 45 Raymond Road will soon have a new occupant – that sounds like a fabulous use for the location! Xiomara Zamudio, who along with her husband and several other partners owns El Santo on Farmington Avenue, will be opening León Restaurant & Bar in the space recently vacated by Birdie Lounge by Rooster Company. “We are a group with personality, character, and elegance,” she said of León Restaurant & Bar Group, the ownership group for this new business. “León is being creating with the purpose of bringing a Mexican modern concept [to West Hartford]. Our philosophy is to provide the best quality, unique, and unforgettable experience for each customer. Our cuisine will be based in a variety of dishes and flavors, 100% Mexican,” she said. And along with the food, there will also be “an exquisite and elaborate craft bar menu focused mainly on mixology with natural and fresh extracts like cactus, aloe, tamarind, tuna, Mexican herbs, and more. Our goal is to have the best variety of tequilas and mezcals,” she said, but will also introduce Mexican gins and whiskeys. It will be a sophisticated concept, intended to attract those age 30-plus who will embrace the nice dress code, and are interested in listening to DJ music, but played at a volume where you can sit in the bar and talk. “My husband and I were in love with this restaurant as soon as we entered. We spent two weeks in Mexico City back in July. We visited many restaurants and bars –amazing concepts – and this building reminded us of the City a lot,” Zamudio said. The space was renovated before Birdie opened not quite a year ago, and is in good shape and doesn’t require much updating, Zamudio said. Permit applications have been filed, and she hopes to have León Restaurant & Bar open by the second or third week of November. “Every restaurant project is a challenge for us but always having in mind that happiness is a purpose,” she said, and that’s the goal for León Restaurant & Bar.

The former Birdie Lounge at 45 Raymond Road will become León Restaurant & Bar. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

This is one of those items where the photos are really going to tell the story – and it’s a great story about an event that will provide more than 8,000 meals to state residents who are hungry or food insecure. As noted in the intro, I was honored to be one of the “celebrity” judges at the Blue Back Burger Bash for the second year in a row, and the even was a great success – despite, or maybe because of being postponed from Thursday to Friday due to the weather. There were about 850 tickets sold in advance, and more than 1,000 attending, according to CT Foodshare President and CEO Jason Jakubowski, who was also a judge. The burger created by Fleming’s was the peoples’ choice winner and was also chosen by the judges, but they were all quite yummy and I definitely had to pace myself since I was “required” to eat six burgers! The fundraising results were still being finalized, but Jakubowski said every dollar raised translates into two meals, and even before the event ended more than $4,000 had been raised. Photos of some of the burgers are directly below, and some more can be found at the end of the column.

Burger by Coracora. Blue Back Burger Bash. Sept. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Whole Foods burger included crispy shallots, house-made pickle, and burnt onion mayo, and was served with a “Gouda fondue” for dipping. Blue Back Burger Bash. Sept. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

CT Foodshare CEO Jason Jakubowski, one of the judges, holds a plate of burgers that were being passed out to the other judges. Blue Back Burger Bash. Sept. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Boqueria burger with cheese crisp, bacon jam, and garlic aioli. Blue Back Burger Bash. Sept. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Fleming’s burger, with peppered bacon, cheddar, jalapeño aioli, and topped with a house-made butter pickle, was the winning choice of the judges and the public. Blue Back Burger Bash. Sept. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

The Place 2 Be’s burger included eggs, avocado, and a slice of tomato. Blue Back Burger Bash. Sept. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

CT Foodshare was the beneficiary of proceeds from the Blue Back Burger Bash. Pictured are judges 2HungryJenns, Ronni Newton, Alex P. Taylor, and Jason Jakubowski. Sept. 27, 2024.

Cinepolis served popcorn at the Blue Back Burger Bash. Sept. 27, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

While in Blue Back Square on Friday, and while sampling Coracora‘s burger creation (which they said would be on the menu!), I got a peek at the renovations that are well underway at the former Rosa Mexicano space on Isham Road. A representative from Coracora said they hope to open in December. There are new wraps on the windows – and I love the llama image on the main door!

Coracora is working on their new space in Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Ronni Newton