Hartford 21 Market Has One Eye on the Suburbs

Maybe you don't need a valet when you're low on Cheerios or baking potatoes, but The Market at Hartford 21 wants you to know that you can have one.

The gourmet grocery store, which had its grand opening on Wednesday, is happy to provide fresh produce, meats, groceries and prepared foods for a long-deprived downtown community. But Kelleanne Jones of Wethersfield, who owns the store with her husband Ryan, has lots of ideas about drawing customers from the surrounding suburbs as well.

"These West Hartford moms are used to pulling into the grocery store," said Jones, who operates The Mill at 2T in Tariffville with her husband as well. At The Market at Hartford 21, valet parking will be available during the day and baggers will bring out the groceries, Jones said.

"We also want people to come back into the city on the weekend," she said. The store hopes to coordinate art exhibits, farmers markets and other events to draw customers from the suburbs.

"In the summer, they can go to [Bushnell Park] and have a picnic," Jones said.

The market stocks most of what shoppers would find in a small traditional grocery store, as well as stations that serve coffee, pastries and fresh bread, gelato, soup, sushi, noodles, sandwiches, cheese, flatbread pizza, and prepared foods.

At the grand opening on Wednesday, Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra welcomed the market, which sits on the ground floor of the residential Hartford 21 building on Aslyum Street.

"The store has already proven to be a catalyst for increased economic activity in the Central Business District," Segarra said. "We are confident that the Market will also help sustain a strong downtown neighborhood and elevate the quality of life, which will help draw new business and retail opportunities."

The Choraliers performed at the grand opening, singing "Food, Glorious Food" from the musical "Oliver."

Lorri Cetto, director of the Hall  High Choral Department, said she admired the store's decor and specialty foods.

"I would shop here if I didn't live in Massachusetts," she said.

Next door to the market is Spiritus Wines, which relocated to Hartford about three years ago with the idea that a grocery store would move in next door.

"It's very exciting to see this finally become a reality," said owner Gary Dunn. "This is a significant step forward for the area, and I see plenty of pent-up demand for the market."