New Biz, Co-Working and Wine
What’s the buzz? We love to hear about new biz on the Shoreline. Here are a few openings we’re looking forward to this Spring: River Tavern is launching Wright’s, a farm-to-table steak house in the old Gabrielle’s space. If you’re a carnivore and have feasted on their locally-sourced New York Strip, you’ll be running to Centerbrook regularly. Pearls and Plaid, the mother/daughter shopping destination in East Haddam, always stocked with sweet tops, tunics (pictured) and cheap and cheerful accessories, is opening an outpost next to Tova in Old Saybrook. Sift, a new bakery in Mystic helmed by an ex-Ocean House pastry chef will soon be whipping up fresh croissants and French delicacies daily. Next door, look for an expanded bar at Oyster Club (my sister and I stopped in last week for what is arguably one of the best lobster rolls on the Shoreline). The folks behind The Ocean House are expanding their offerings west, with The Spicer Mansion, a posh new inn featuring eight over-the-top guest rooms and a private, fine dining restaurant offering a six-course tasting menu, headed up by the uber-talented Jen Backman of The Weekapaug Inn. We can’t wait for Denali/Trailblazer to move into the new building in the old North Cove space; it will be handy to have an outdoor outfitter back in Old Saybrook. Also in Old Saybrook, James Farmacy will soon be selling fresh juices, smoothies and healthy bowls. The owners of Simon’s and The Blue Oar are taking over Bliss Gourmet at Pilot’s Point Marina and bringing their fantastic mashup of cafe, lunch and takeout to Westbrook. And we hear D’Vine, a French-American bistro, is about to throw open its doors in the old Whitfield’s in Guilford, just in time for lunch in the Sculpture Garden.
