West Hartford Business Buzz for Jan. 26: Openings, Closings and Other News

Welcome to this week’s Business Buzz.

West Hartford Center is getting a new store. Gilley Kitchen & Bath is opening at 16 LaSalle Road, in the former location of La Via Del Gusto. According to a sign on the window, the store will open on Feb. 1. Gilley K&B has one location in Winsted and features kitchen and bath cabinetry, as well as plumbing fixtures, flooring and counters. Gilley offers “in-home design services and uses the industry standard 20-20 design software that allows 3-dimensional rendering of your new kitchen or bath,” according to its website.

After a bit of a delay, the owners of Blue Plate Kitchen are putting on the finishing touches to open for lunch and dinner on Tuesday. The restaurant in the Marshall’s Plaza at Bishops Corner has been open for breakfast for a week. Co-owner Anthony Sousa said that the restaurant has been working out the kinks, but that things have been going well. “In about two weeks, things will be running a lot smoother,” he said in a telephone interview. “People love the fact we’re open and we’re excited about it.”

Speaking of restaurants, West Hartford Patch dropped in on the Hearty Kitchen at 280 Park Road (next door to Edible Arrangements and across the street from Wings Over West Hartford). Though the restaurant is not yet open, a sign is up and work is being done. The 500-square-foot eatery will feature Southern fried chicken (hormone free, free range, pasture-raised chickens), country stews, soups, gluten-free items, fresh juices, and a “long list” of traditional comfort food.

The Elmwood Business Association and West Hartford Magazine is hosting the first Taste of Elmwood - a tasting event and fundraiser for the Elmwood Business Association and Saint Brigid School - on Feb. 6. The event, which will be held at Saint Brigid School from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets, which cost $25, can be purchased here.

Join Whole Foods for its annual Chocolate Fest on Feb. 8 from 12 to 2 p.m. There will be be storewide chocolate themed samples, plus Valentine gift ideas.