NORWALK, CT — Just Salad, a popular fast-casual restaurant chain that serves up inventive salads, wraps and warm bowls, has confirmed plans to open a second Connecticut location in Norwalk next year.

Just Salad Spokesperson Nicole Natoli confirmed to Patch the store is planned to open near Walmart at 644 Main Avenue.

While a specific date has not been announced yet, Natoli said the Norwalk location is tentatively scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025.

“After opening our first Connecticut store in Fairfield last year,” Natoli said, “we’re excited about the opportunity to continue expanding our footprint across new local communities.”

Just Salad currently operates locations in nearby states New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, as well as Florida and Illinois.

Last spring, Just Salad officially opened its first Connecticut restaurant at 2267 Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield. A grand opening celebration was held in April 2023.

In a statement sent to Patch, Mayor Harry Rilling said Just Salad’s decision to expand into Norwalk underscores the city’s growing reputation as a hub for diverse dining options.

“The Main Avenue area near Walmart, particularly near the Wilton border, offers several enticing factors for businesses,” Rilling said. “It is not only located on the cusp of two municipalities and directly off of the Route 7 connector, but it is within walking distance from iPark, ASML and Merritt 7, which all offer significant built-in customer pools. Its proximity to a major retailer like Walmart also helps ensure a steady flow of foot traffic, providing businesses with increased visibility and accessibility to potential customers.”

Rilling also noted the area’s demographic profile, which includes a mix of residents and commuters, offers a diverse customer base with varying preferences.

“Norwalk’s overall economic vitality, coupled with its reputation as a walkable community and center of commerce and leisure activities,” Rilling said, “makes it an attractive location for businesses seeking growth opportunities.”

In light of the addition of another major chain to the city’s ever-growing roster of businesses, Rilling emphasized that Norwalk is “one of the fastest-growing cities in the state” that offers something for everyone.

“People are moving to Norwalk and opening up their businesses in Norwalk because of its world-class transit and the cultural institutions that anchor its two downtown areas that are centers of commercial activity: South Norwalk and Wall Street,” Rilling said. “Furthermore, Norwalk’s development as a culinary destination is evident by the number of new businesses and various cuisines opening in Norwalk, including businesses opening their second or third operations in [Connecticut]. This is the case for the upcoming addition of Just Salad’s second Connecticut location coming to Norwalk, and we couldn’t be more excited.”

Customers at Just Salad can choose from a wide menu of inventive salad combinations, including Crispy Chicken Poblano, Thai Chicken Crunch, Chipotle Cowboy and Buffalo Cauliflower, as well as warm bowls such as Peruvian Chicken, Chicken Fajita, Cilantro Lime Chicken and Edamame Crunch.

Wraps, avocado toast and smoothies are also available.

“Overall,” Rilling said, “the decision to open new store locations in Norwalk, particularly in the Main Avenue area, reflects both the city’s appeal as a dining destination and the strategic opportunities it offers for businesses looking to expand their presence in the region.”

Maybe it’s just me, but did you notice throughout the Memorial Day Weekend that nearly every broadcaster on every Connecticut television and radio station called Memorial Day ‘The Unofficial Start of Summer’.

Holiday weekends are when the part timers of Connecticut radio and tv get their moment in the sun to anchor drive time broadcasts, but it sounded like they all used the same cheat sheet to me. Every single news and sports reporter, forecaster, or personality let the phrase “Unofficial start of Summer” fall out of their mouths at some point of their presentation.

NBC Connecticut was littered with “Unofficial Start of Summer” references on Saturday morning, so I switched over to WFSB Channel 3, and within a minute heard “Hope you’re enjoying this Unofficial Start of Summer’. I looked at my wife, and switched over to Fox 61, and heard it again, honest to God, within a minute. This can’t be happening, I thought, but it was. I put it to the test, surely WTNH and News 12 broadcasters didn’t get the memo that was sent to our Hartford stations, right? Wrong, I heard “Unofficial Start of Summer” on both within minutes of flipping. It wasn’t just tv stations either, every radio host said “Unofficial Start of Summer” too.

Broadcasters of Connecticut, have you forgotten how to say Memorial Day Weekend on it’s own? Did every one of you try to start an argument over when “The Official Start of Summer” is with us? I think we’re all in agreement that “The Official Start of Summer” is THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER, right? That’s June 20, 2024.

I’m unofficially done with this observation now, carry on.

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HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB)—Governor Ned Lamont will sign a bill on Tuesday requiring businesses to provide employees with expanded paid sick time.

Under this new legislation, workers in Connecticut will be entitled to five paid sick days.

Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney will join Governor Lamont at 11 a.m. at the Narrative Project on Temple Street to discuss Public Act 24-8.

Previously, only employers with 50 or more employees were required to offer paid sick days, but the new law expands these protections to cover more categories of workers. Some Republicans have expressed concerns that the changes may negatively impact businesses.

The changes do not apply to seasonal employees or those with union benefits.

The bill signing ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the Narrative Project on Temple Street in New Haven.

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