The Market at Hartford 21, the long-awaited grocery store in downtown Hartford, opened its doors Wednesday, five weeks after its founder’s declared they wanted a foothold in the central business district.
Despite the rain, the much heralded grand opening attracted hundreds of onlookers on the Asylum Street side of Hartford 21, including the store’s owners, Simsbury restaurateurs Ryan and Kelleanne Jones.
The Market opened for business immediately following the ceremony, which was attended by Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra and Northland Investment Corp. senior executive Peter M. Standish Jr.
And the Joneses are hoping Wednesday will be just the start of their new business venture adding to the vibrancy of downtown Hartford.
“We want to fill a much needed void for downtown,” said Kelleanne Jones. “The city needs a grocery store and a place where you can buy prepared foods.”
The Joneses said they have hired about 90-partime workers for the store, which will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
Besides offering regular, everyday grocery store items like ketchup, mustard, pasta sauce and cereal, prepared foods will be a major selling point. That will include things like a full service deli, salad and sushi bar, and rotisserie with a butcher serving fresh meats like short ribs, steak, and chicken.
Kelleanne Jones said the store aims to serve the needs of downtown residents, but the goal is to reach people living outside the central business district as well. That includes people from neighboring cities and towns.
“We are hoping this store increases foot traffic for downtown,” Kelleanne Jones said. Part of the effort to attract people to the store will include establishing a social connection with customers, Jones said. So the store will host farmer’s markets and will include art by local artists.
The store will be the first foray into the grocery business for the Joneses, but they are not unfamiliar with the food service industry. The duo previously owned Pintore Catering out of Hartford and still run the Mill at 2T restaurant in the Tariffville section of Simsbury.
Ryan Jones said the biggest difference will be managing and cross branding the grocery store side of the business with the prepared foods segment.
But he said he’s confident they will be able to pull it off and that the grocery store will become part of the fabric of downtown.
