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Also slated to open in town are an Irish pub on LaSalle Road, a sushi bar in Blue Back Square, an Italian grinder shop where the Ambassador of India was located, a French bakery on Farmington Avenue and a pasta store next to Penzeys Spices.
Rowlson said that, "given the fact that we are in a relatively significant downturn," the openings are noteworthy.
"We continue to perform at a very high level," he said about the town's ability to attract new business, noting that businesses have been opening in all different areas of town.
Town Manager Ronald F. Van Winkle said that while the town still draws new business, West Hartford Center, traditionally the town's retail stronghold, has suffered in the downturn. Once, retail shops would be banging down landlords' doors once there was a vacancy there. Now, he said, landlords have to seek out tenants.
Although the vacancy rate in West Hartford Center is low - Rowlson estimated it at about 6 percent, which he said was "extremely good given the conditions" - it was once unusual to see vacancies there at all.
"It's been a volatile period, obviously, with businesses coming and going," said Van Winkle, an economist by training. "The recession has been very hard on retailers."
Van Winkle predicted that once the economy turns around, West Hartford Center will be one of the first places to recover.
Despite the downturn, West Hartford Chamber of Commerce President Marjorie Luke said, the chamber, which offers grand opening packages to members, has averaged about two grand openings a month since the summer.
For businesses that can find the hard-to-come by financing, or that don't need to borrow, now is a good time to open, she suggested.
"There is a lot of opportunity. If you are looking for space, or looking for promotional opportunities, there is a lot to chose from," she said. "To be starting a business now, and to be getting ready for a growth period, that is a smart thing to do."
