Connecticut
Just Salad To Open Second CT Restaurant Location In Norwalk
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.”
Connecticut
Hartford Women’s Track & Field Competes at Connecticut College Over the Weekend – University of Hartford Athletics
NEW LONDON, Conn. – On Friday and Saturday, the University of Hartford women’s indoor track & field team competed in the Silfen Invitational hosted by Connecticut College.
Rapid Recap:
- Graduate student Kayla Pelletier (Southington, Conn.) continued to impress finishing in first in the javelin throw at a distance of 43.73 meters.
- Senior Destinee Majett (Brick Township, N.J. ) won the hammer throw hitting 49.15 meters.
- Senior Madison DiPasquale (Wallingford, Conn.) would pick up gold in both the shot put and the discus throw. In shot put she hit 11.86 meters. In discus DiPasquale threw 37.67 meters.
- Sophomore Tamara Greene (Hartford, Conn.) added a silver medal in the 100 meter hurdles at a time of 14.80.
- Junior Jordan Murphy (East Hampton, Conn.) would win the heptathlon event scoring 4593. Freshman Emily Breau (Meriden, Conn.) would come in second with a 3722 score.
- Freshman Caroline McGinnis (Windsor Locks, Conn.) was third in the triple jump at a distance of 10.59 meters.
- Freshman Jaya Pichay (South Windsor, Conn.) would come in 2nd in the 200 meter at a time of 26.00.
Full Results
Up Next:
The Hawks will head to Storrs to compete in the University of Connecticut Multi Meet on April 17th and 18th.
For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.
Connecticut
WNBA Free Agency: Grading Brittney Griner to Connecticut
After the Atlanta Dream made the move to bring Angel Reese in from Chicago, many people wondered what Brittney Griner’s future would look like. The All-Star center moved from Phoenix to Atlanta in 2025 for a new opportunity, and was a big a part of the overhauled team that ended the regular season as the three-seed. Yet, with Brionna Jones and now Reese leading their frontcourt, Griner’s role was about to be significantly reduced.
She’ll now make the move to the Connecticut Sun, joining the franchise for their last season in New England before they make the move to Houston.
Grading Brittney Griner to the Sun: B-
Griner transitioned from a starting role to a reserve for the Dream in 2025, a process that saw her production drop from her usual standard. Still, at 6-foot-9, she will be a commanding presence in the paint no matter where she goes. Presumably, she will resume her place as a starter role on a very young Connecticut team, taking on a veteran leadership position.
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There is no indication of the length of Griner’s deal with the Sun franchise, but this seems to be a bigger move to ultimately get her on the team when they move to Houston. Griner is from Houston, and once the Sun make the move in 2027, Griner could play the final years of her career in her hometown.
So, is this a win-now move? Not really, as Connecticut isn’t in a win-now position — they are tied with the Chicago Sky for the worst title odds in the WNBA at +50,000, per our friends at FanDuel — and Griner alone won’t change that. Yet, she will have a big impact on the younger players, be a good vet for them, and set herself up for a homecoming.
Connecticut
Brittney Griner signs with Connecticut Sun in huge payday
The Connecticut Sun are making a big splash for their final season.
The team has agreed to a seven-figure contract to bring in Britney Griner, according to Sun sideline reporter Terrika Foster-Brasby.
Griner, a nine-time WNBA All-Star and future Hall of Famer, is one of the most decorated players in the history of the league and will be playing in her 13th season since being drafted No. 1 overall in 2013.
The deal also comes after the WNBA introduced its new collective bargaining agreement, which will — among many other advances — raise players’ salaries, making a select group of them millionaires for the first time since the league’s inception.
The move comes one day following Jackie Young’s reported one-year, $1.19 million agreement to return to the Las Vegas Aces.
Griner, who spent last season with the Atlanta Dream, turned 35 this past October, was a standout on what was a surprising run to the league’s No. 3 seed, with the team finishing 30-14.
The 6-foot-9 center started in her first 25 appearances before being moved to an off-the-bench role.
The Baylor alum came off the bench for her final 14 regular-season showings and all three Dream playoff games.
The Dream were eliminated by the Caitlin Clark-less Indiana Fever in the first round after opening with a 17-point win in Game 1.
Griner finished the 2025 season with career lows of 9.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.
Griner spent her first 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, establishing herself as one of the best players in league history, starring on the 2014 WNBA Champion team, also led by Diana Taurasi and DeWanna Bonner.
The six-time All-WNBA honoree is also a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, having played for Team USA in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Games, with two World Cup titles in 2014 and 2018.
She was also named to the W25, a list honoring the WNBA’s top 25 players of all time in celebration of the league’s 25th anniversary in 2021.
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