When most people think of West Hartford, their minds inevitably drift to “The Center”— our town’s most iconic and celebrated hub. With its vibrant dining scene, boutique shopping, and unmistakable charm, The Center is undoubtedly a gem. But what if I told you that some of the most exciting growth, creativity, and small business innovation in West Hartford is happening just a few miles south, along New Park Avenue?
The July issue’s theme for West Hartford Lifestyle - Explore - inspired me to reflect not on distant destinations, but on rediscovery within our own community. Specifically, a neighborhood many overlook: New Park Avenue, nestled in the Elmwood section of West Hartford. This corridor, once heavily industrial and dominated by manufacturing and trade businesses, has been undergoing a quiet renaissance, transforming into a haven for small businesses, makers, foodies, and innovators.
Decades ago, New Park was known for its factories and warehouses, including the still-standing Colt Firearms facility. But as manufacturing declined and larger chains priced small businesses out of The Center, New Park offered an alternative - a blank canvas rich with potential and lower commercial rents.
It started slowly, and by necessity. Early pioneers Blaze & Bloom Vintage, Work In Progress Fitness, Hello Dolly Boutique, and A Little Something Bakery - set up shop in an aging industrial building that had been creatively repurposed into what I’d describe as a rough mini mall. These businesses were more than tenants; they took a chance on the only affordable real estate in town - quirks and all - and saw the opportunity to build something meaningful together. With the building at 485 New Park Ave warmed up and primed for more love, New Park Brewing moved in March of 2017, drawing crowds on release day and regional attention to the neighborhood.
All the while GastroPark - in the early stages of its tango with the town - was percolating at the far end of the street. This incredible culinary and community destination turned a former auto body shop into a food fun haven. Founder Tate Norden’s journey to bring GastroPark to life is one of passion, grit, and perseverance - a story that reflects the very ethos of this corridor and its blue-collar roots.
As small businesses, including Junkpot Studio and Warehouse 635, continued to move in - the neighborhood’s heartbeat grew louder. What once felt like the outskirts now feels like the next frontier.
This is also personal for me. In 2019, West Hartford CoWorking relocated from a cramped second-floor office in The Center to a newly renovated space on New Park Avenue. The move not only gave us room to grow, but placed us - quite literally - on the border of Hartford and West Hartford, allowing us to serve as a bridge between two communities.
Our location stands both symbolically and geographically as a connector between urban revival and suburban ingenuity. And as more and more new members and guests join us, we love introducing them to our incredible neighbors.
This corridor has evolved into a micro-ecosystem of entrepreneurship, one where you can trace the “root system” of growth from one small business to another. And with each new venture, we see the web of possibility extending further - from New Britain Avenue and down around the corner to the Shield Street section, where you’ll now find the celebrated Cora Cora Peruvian restaurant (a James Beard honoree), WeHa Brewing and Roasting, Cha Papi Tea and Sweets, Jazzercise and other vibrant businesses filling in the dots as buildings change hands and opportunity knocks.
As West Hartford continues to grow, it’s vital that we support not just the obvious highlights, but the neighborhoods being built from the ground up by small business owners with big dreams. New Park Avenue is a reminder that exploration doesn’t always mean venturing to far off lands - it often means looking again, more closely, at what’s right around us.
So this summer, take a detour. Grab a Dark Side Cold Brew at Perkatory, pamper yourself at Kiss and Makeup’s Spa, or spend the evening under the twinkle lights at GastroPark. You just might discover something you never expected - in your own backyard.
As small businesses...continued to move in, the neighborhood’s heartbeat grew louder
New Park Avenue...has been undergoing a quiet renaissance