Owners of acclaimed CT eatery expanding into prepared food, French bakery business

Published

1 year ago

June 28, 2023

Owners of acclaimed CT eatery expanding into prepared food, French bakery business

The owners of an acclaimed restaurant in Wethersfield are expanding in two towns into the prepared meals and French bakery business.

Bryce and Kerri Hardy, owners of The Charles are poised this summer to open Bake Market in both Rocky Hill and Glastonbury.

The couple, married 10 years, are opening in two approximately 25,000-square-foot spaces once occupied by La Piastra, a catering company.

The former owner of the successful La Piastra, Lauren Siegel will work as Bake Market’s corporate catering manager, he said.

Bryce Hardy said the menu of prepared meals is not set yet, but will be influenced by the food at The Charles.

Cuisine at The Charles, pictured here, is considered “elevated comfort food” by owner Bryce Hardy.

He said The Charles, which he describes as “elevated comfort food,” has been so successful they need more kitchen space and they will get some of that at the Rocky Hill site, which has a kitchen.

The Charles’ pastry chef will create sweet and savory breads and pastries to sell as well.

“We’re super excited to be in both towns,” he said. “They’re our biggest markets (for the Charles) outside of Wethersfield.”

He said residents of both towns “will be very excited” to be able to bring dinner home to their families.

He said The Charles isn’t affordable to everyone and Bake Market, a grab and go, has a “better price point than the restaurant.”

“I think restaurants aren’t for every family,” Bryce Hardy said.

Another person excited about the business expansion is Rocky Hill Mayor Lisa Marotta, who has eaten at The Charles and says, “It’s absolutely delicious.”

From left to right, Lauren Siegel, former owner of LaPiastra, Kyle Hardy, who bought the business, his wife, Kerri Hardy and the couple's daughter, Charlotte, 9. The Hardy family, owner of The Charles restaurant will open a prepared foods and French bakery business, Bake Market. — From left to right, Lauren Siegel, former owner of LaPiastra, Kyle Hardy, who bought the business, his wife, Kerri Hardy and the couple’s daughter, Charlotte, 9. The Hardy family, owner of The Charles restaurant will open a prepared foods and French bakery business, Bake Market.

Marotta said she’s “thrilled” they’re coming to Silas Deane Highway near Main Street.

“We’ve been working on bringing business to that area,” Marotta said.

She said the town has added “curb appeal” with landscaping, lighting, decorative sidewalks and lamp posts.

The Charles opened in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic and has not only survived, but flourished.

They opened in a commercial space that was once a 1790 home.

Bryce Hardy said opening the restaurant was the next natural step for him after years working in the hospitality field.

The restaurant is named after two of he and Kerri’s grandfathers, both named Charles.

“Two great men in both mine and my wife’s lives,” he said. “It brings our two families together and we focus on family.

Bryce Hardy oversees it all and talks to customers, Kerri is involved with graphic design and concept development. Daughter Charlotte, 9, has a couch in the office.

Bryce Hardy said he loves Bake Market’s logo of BK because those are he and Kerri’s initials.

He said they like to “joke around” and call the restaurant their “love affair.”

He said at The Charles they have both an “amazing” executive chef in Tom Kaldry and a fabulous pastry chef. Both will oversee the culinary aspects of Bake Market, Hardy said.

He said the prepared food sold at Bake Market will be restaurant quality with fresh ingredients that are locally sourced as much as possible.

The stores will also have the top notch “hospitality” of The Charles, he said.

Bryce Hardy said he likes the hospitality aspect of the restaurant business – meeting new people, putting a smile on their faces, helping them enjoy the day.

“The restaurant business is like no other,” he said, noting it’s “never boring” and “sometimes throws curve balls.”

Source link

Click to comment

Bob’s to close all 10 CT locations

Published

6 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

(WFSB) – A clothing store announced the eventual closure of all of its Connecticut locations.

Bob’s Stores said on Monday that as part of a chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring plan, all of its locations, including the 10 in Connecticut, will close.

Hilco Merchant Resources in a joint venture with Gordon Brothers will manage an inventory liquidation event that will include all Bob’s Stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.

The business said that as part of the liquidation, there has been “unprecedented discounts” on a wide range of workwear, footwear, team wear, and everyday clothing. The “going out of business sale” started on June 28 with discounts that ranged from 30 to 70 percent off.

Select store fixtures, furniture, and equipment were also available for sale.

“We regret that our financial position necessitated the liquidation of Bob’s Stores,” said Dave Barton, president of Bob’s Stores. “Bob’s has been a stalwart of our local communities for nearly 70 years, and we know our customers remember us as having been there for major moments in their lives. We remain grateful to our vendors, suppliers, customers and employees for all of their support over the years.”

The business said gift cards and merchandise credits would be honored through close of business on July 14.

It also said all sales are final. No returns will be accepted. Exchanges will be accepted in accordance with the company’s existing policies through the close of business on July 14. No exchanges for purchases made after that date will be accepted.

Here are the 10 Bob’s locations in Connecticut:

Ansonia
Hamden
Manchester
Middletown
Milford
Newington
Simsbury
Southington
Waterbury
Waterford

Source link

Connecticut

Phoenix Mercury, minus Diana Taurasi and Becca Allen, lose to Connecticut Sun

Published

13 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Press Room

Phoenix Mercury, minus Diana Taurasi and Becca Allen, lose to Connecticut Sun

Three games in four days took a toll on the Phoenix Mercury as injuries limited the depth in Monday’s 83-72 loss to the Connecticut Sun at Footprint Center.

Against a dynamic team like the Sun, with the second-best record in the WNBA, the Mercury were a step slow and were decimated by the Sun’s depth. Four of the five starters were in double figures with Brionna Jones leading with 18 points. The Sun also played eight players, but outscored the Mercury’s bench, 20-2.

The Mercury (9-10) had a short bench against the Connecticut Sun (15-4) with starters Diana Taurasi and Becca Allen out for Monday’s contest. Guard Sophie Cunningham and forward Natasha Mack started in their place.

Taurasi dealt with back soreness, while Allen had a lower back issue. The two played the day before in the loss against the Indiana Fever. Taurasi played 32 minutes and logged 19 points and three assists. Allen recorded nine points on 25 minutes.

“When we were kids, we would play three games in one day and we’d be exhausted. I feel the same way right now,” guard Natasha Cloud said. “Moving forward, we need a decision to extend a few weeks of the season, especially with the Olympic year. It just protects players, mentally, emotionally, physically, all those things. We had a game yesterday at noon and we had a little bit of rest and are back at it again today. The toll it takes on your body from playing 30-plus minutes is a lot. You’re not going to hear any complaints from us, we showed up today.”

Brittney Griner and Kahleah Copper led all scorers with 21 points each. Griner sparked a big run in the fourth quarter with a much-needed 3-pointer. Griner, however, couldn’t make an impact on the boards, grabbing just two rebounds.

Copper had trouble seeing shots fall and went 1-for-4 in the first quarter. She managed seven field goals on 16 attempts, including one 3-pointer.

Rebounding was the difference in the game as the Sun dominated the boards with 37 rebounds to the Mercury’s 18. The Mercury were outscored 11-2 in second-chance points.

The Mercury, who average 27.8 3-point attempts, couldn’t find an answer from beyond the arc and shot 3-for-17 (17.6%).

Phoenix cut a 10-point deficit to three during the fourth quarter when Cloud assisted on Mack’s layup to start a 7-0 run. Cloud helped make it a close game with the Sun, getting her fourth double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 assists.

But the Sun edged the Mercury with 10 points on 11 free throw attempts and pulled ahead.

“It was our third game in four nights and we were playing eight people. I was proud of the way we competed, I don’t think you saw the best version of ourselves tonight. Everything was a little bit of a step slow,” head coach Nate Tibbetts said.

Guard Charisma Osborne was out with a left lower leg injury, which made Sug Sutton, Liz Dixon, and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan the only available options off the bench.

The Mercury travel to play the Dallas Wings on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

Source link

Connecticut

Connecticut man convicted in Vermont murder, attempted murder

Published

20 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Press Room

Connecticut man convicted in Vermont murder, attempted murder

CHELSEA, Vt. (WCAX) – A Connecticut man has been found guilty in a double-shooting in Vermont that left one man dead.

The Orange County state’s attorney says Devon Dennis of Hartford, Connecticut, was found guilty on Friday of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault and cocaine trafficking.

Vermont State Police said on May 12, 2023, Dennis shot two men in Brookfield. Juan Sierra, 27, was killed and Miguel Fuentes was injured. Both men are from Springfield, Massachusetts.

Investigators said it was over drugs.

Source link