The Market at Hartford 21 is joined by at least one other Asylum Street business, maybe two, in the failed food adventure club.
The Asylum Cafe (formerly The Red Plate) recently closed, citing the economy as one of the reasons. This closure takes away one of the few places in Downtown to get a decent slice of pizza.
The Facebook and Twitter rumor mills claim that Tapas is also closed, though its website states it is closed only for “renovations.”
Erik
Front Street will save the day! (tongue in cheek)
Kerri Provost
It reminds me of this: http://iwishthiswas.cc/
All of these empty storefronts could be better used as stores selling: chocolate, shoes, office supplies, art supplies, gardening tools for small yards, non-pretentious/non-cheesy markets, casual clothing, toys, etc.
Erik
The “irishthiswas” is a good idea.
I know this is a little off topic from Asylum Street but, I always picture a military front when I hear “Front Street.” It’s the only place people staying at the hotel or going to the convention center will engage Hartford—never breaking through. If Front Street was actually open for business that is.
Chris
“Irishthiswas” would be a series of beautiful, if melancholy laments at locations that used to be Irish.
For instance: the now vacant lot at the New Park Ave corner where the Shamrock bar once stood before closure and demolition: “Things were brighter back them me lad– Irish this was”
Kerri Provost
I think we should consult with your Aunt Peggy if we want to pull this off the right way. It doesn’t even matter that she’s never lived in Hartford.
Brendan
The red plate was the only place open for lunch on the weekend.
🙁
Rich
“Because of The Economy” is such an easy cop-out these days, and I’m not sure I’m buying it. The renovations that occurred in switching from The Red Plate to The Asylum Cafe fundamentally changed the vibe of the place away from a cozy restaurant w/ a small bar. The bar extended, the color scheme became really dark, and then the DJ. Oh, the really loud weekend DJ.
It looked like a good business move, as the crowds often spilled out onto the street on weekend nights. It became more of a club/lounge scene than somewhere I could grab a pint and a conversation. It got scratched off my list of “where can we go that’s not crazy?” on weekends. I have no idea if the food quality changed, because I stopped going there.
I walked by this weekend. The blinds are gone, so you can see that most of the fixtures & furniture have been stripped out. I’m sure I’ll have some thoughts on Tapas if that fails to reopen.