Hamden residents will soon be treated to new eateries in town including Genki Sushi, KPot and Panera Bread according to a post from mayor Lauren Garrett’s Facebook page on Nov. 7.
The announcement was met with mixed reviews online, with some Hamden residents praising the town for bringing in more businesses to stimulate Hamden’s economy.
“Awesome to see another business coming to Hamden,” one Facebook commenter wrote. “Excited to try this out!”
Opposing residents felt the town was only covering its tracks, working to replace revenue lost from businesses on their way out, such as Bed Bath & Beyond, which closed its doors in January amid a company-wide declaration of bankruptcy.
“We are not adding businesses, we are only replacing some of them,” another user responded.
At the end of the day, business is business, and potential patrons realize that. While they like the direction the town is heading in, some feel the new stores may not exactly hit the mark.
“Hamden could use Trader Joe’s, a Stew Leonard’s and a Whole Foods. A Target on Dixwell would be nice too,” said a third resident under Garrett’s post.
Rather than opt for a new eatery, this will be the second Panera location to settle into Hamden – the first of which is located at 2100 Dixwell Avenue. In the proposed plan from the leasing group, Wilder Company, the new location will replace Pier One Imports, which resided formerly at the Marketplace in Hamden before it closed.
If plans for the new location are passed – as it does not yet have local approval, according to the Facebook post – it would move into the Marketplace in Hamden at 2335 Dixwell Avenue, just a half-mile walking distance and five-minute drive from Panera’s alternate site, according to Google Maps.
The announcement also states the new location will contain a drive-thru, although there is no foreseeable timeline available for the restaurant’s opening.
Genki Sushi offers customers a unique dining experience, specializing in a conveyor belt method of serving, in which a long, winding belt spanning the perimeter of the entire restaurant carries the patron’s food directly to their tableside.
Replacing what was formerly Zzaam!, a Korean barbeque restaurant in the Hamden Mart, Genki Sushi will set up shop on Dixwell Avenue and is slated to open soon.
The third restaurant included in the announcement, KPot, offers Korean barbeque-style hot pot dishes. While there is no timeline currently available for when the restaurant is scheduled to open, it would be just the second KPot location to call Connecticut home – the first opening in early June in Orange. KPot will reside at 2165 Dixwell Avenue.
It is unknown when these restaurants will start welcoming customers, let alone be approved by the town and its residents, but with some stores on their way out, Garrett is making sure the town’s economy doesn’t skip a beat. And for those living in the greater New Haven area, they will soon be able to enjoy the food that each of the three chains has to offer.
2 replies on “Flurry of restaurant chains eyeing openings in Hamden”
We in Hamden would really welcome a trade Joe’s and a whole foods and a much bigger and better Walmart
There are people that will always see negativity in everything ! Who cares what’s being replaced what difference does it make ! We need businesses we need revenue wether it’s replaced or a new Beginning. Money is money people will have Jobs appreciate that !