A long-awaited $5.1-million food and shopping hall in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood debuted on Wednesday for takeout and outdoor dining service.
As first reported by HBJ in March, the so-called Parkville Market opened during the COVID-19 outbreak only to support its small-business vendors hit hard by global health pandemic.
The market, located at the redeveloped former Bishop Ladder Co. site at 1400 Park St., was originally expected to launch in the spring of 2019 when construction started on-site in Sept. 2018. But the development, backed by $1.1 million in private equity, a $300,000 loan from the state Department of Economic and Community Development, and a $3.5 million construction loan from the Capital Region Development Authority, encountered construction snags, mostly tied to the need for extra site-infrastructure upgrades that cost extra time and money.
On a temporary basis, the two-story, 20,000-square-foot foodservice-merchandising-entertainment hall, owned by prominent Parkville developer Carlos Mouta, is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively.
Thanks to outdoor service windows, the market says online and in-person orders can be placed with six restaurant vendors, including Disco Forno, Bombay Express, Chompers, Gula Grill, Mofongo and Portly Pig. Other vendors are expected to debut later this summer, officials say.
Parkville Market will eventually ramp up to host between 40 to 45 food and retail vendors when the building is fully operational.
The market says it will ensure that all state guidelines and recommendations on social distancing are followed at limited outdoor seating and restrooms.
“Our team is as committed to the safety of our vendors and customers as we are passionate about the quality of food found at Parkville Market,” said General Manager Adam Pierce. “We’re excited to give our vendors this opportunity to do business while we await the day that we can safely open our doors for everyone to enjoy the full market experience.”
[Read more: Incoming Hartford food hall only a piece of Mouta’s Parkville vision]
Mayor Luke Bronin, who is scheduled to tour the market Friday afternoon, in a statement said the venue will complement other recent investments in the Parkville neighborhood, including a new library branch, affordable housing near Park Terrace and other business activity at nearby Bartholomew Avenue.
“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Parkville Market to the vibrant, diverse, and growing Parkville neighborhood — and thrilled also to celebrate the small businesses that are opening there,” Bronin said. “The Parkville Market project has been a labor of love for the development team, and I want to thank Carlos, Chelsea [Mouta], and their entire team for their dedication to our community, and for their belief in our city.”
