Greater Hartford Real Estate Blog

Yesterday I had the opportunity to participate in a waitstaff training exercise at the new Cheesecake Factory restaurant located in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square shopping area. The restaurant will officially open for dinner on Thursday, November 1 at 5:00pm.

I’ve eaten at Cheesecake Factories in the Boston, DC, and Denver areas before (the last time being about a year and a half ago) and the West Hartford establishment carries along the traditional decor and menu options. For the training exercise, we were only able to try certain appetizer and meal selections, which was fine because lunch was free and it was a learning experience for the staff. The food was the same quality that I’d experienced at other locations. The waitstaff is still learning and has a few more days of training to tweak things before they officially open on Thursday.

If you’ve never been to a Cheesecake Factory, here are my suggestions…

1. You should go, at least once, just to experience it. The menu is quite extensive and you will be able to find something you’ll enjoy. You may even be overwhelmed by the number of selections available.

2. The amount of food they give you is tremendous, but it’s also not cheap. Appetizers are priced from $8 and up. Dinners start around $10 a plate, most average around $15-$20. Desserts start at $7 (most of the cheesecake is $7 a slice).

3. The food is good, but if you’re not careful you will end up with a big belly ache when you leave. My husband and I typically split an appetizer, main dinner, and piece of cheesecake and that seems to work. It also helps the wallet.

4. The cheesecake really is fantastic and they have a seemingly endless number of options. If you like fruity cheesecake, they have it. If you like chocolate cheesecake, they have it. If you like candy cheesecake, they have it. So, just have a piece of cheesecake!

The warm weather is SO over. It’s about time to turn the heat on. Some of you may use your fireplace for ambiance, some of you may use it for warmth. Whatever its purpose, please make sure your chimney is inspected on a yearly basis if you plan on using your fireplace. The chimney professional will tell you if it needs to be cleaned or if more extensive corrective work needs to be done. The last thing you want is a chimney fire that can spread to the rest of your home. Additionally, keep a fire extinguisher in the room if you choose to use your fireplace.

If you’re looking for a local source of firewood, I have a recommendation for you that also supports a good cause. The Open Hearth is an organization that conducts a comprehensive continuum of care service model in a traditional emergency shelter that accommodates 25 adult men and an 84-bed Transitional Living Program. The Open Hearth Wood Products facility offers firewood for your needs, while providing an opportunity for men-in-transition to get some experience and give back. Sales revenue from the program offsets other costs for The Open Hearth. You can order half and full cords of seasoned hardwood for burning. Delivery is free to Hartford, Bloomfield, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Newington, West Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor, and for a small fee is deliverable within a 20-mile radius of the the city of Hartford.

We have ordered wood from The Open Hearth the past two years and have had nothing but a good experience. You can order online or over the phone and arrange a delivery time. The drop off at our house was quick and easy. The quality of the wood was superb compared to what we ordered in previous years from other sources. Thank you Open Hearth!

This is my friend Grant. He is a West Hartford resident and likes the whole Blue Back Square concept. A lot. So, when Grant approached me about being a guest writer and reviewing the new Crate & Barrel at Blue Back Square, I said “Sweet! I can take a day off!” And without further ado, here are Grant’s ramblings…

The newest addition to West Hartford Center has arrived…say hello to Crate & Barrel. As one of the anchor tenants of the highly anticipated Blue Back Square, Crate & Barrel opened last week amidst much fan-fair and excitement. For those of you expecting a small retail shop similar to Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware, perhaps typical for a smaller metropolitan area, be prepared to be pleasantly disappointed. Crate & Barrel’s West Hartford store is every bit as impressive as their New York and Boston locations. The West Hartford store has approximately 22 thousand square feet of show space and another 10 thousand square feet of warehouse space. The store has a Madison Avenue feel complete with multiple levels, escalators, and elevators.

If you like high quality, stylized furniture with both a contemporary and traditional feel you will be in heaven at Crate & Barrel’s West Hartford store. The upper level is dedicated to fine furniture and fabrics, while the lower level contains housewares and some less expensive ready-to-assemble furniture.

From a pricing standpoint, Crate & Barrel is in line with Restoration Hardware and perhaps slightly more expensive than Pottery Barn. I was really impressed by the store’s layout with high ceilings and great lighting. Architecturally it is very impressive and bodes of great things to come for the rest of Blue Back Square. So, if you’re ready to update the living room, Crate & Barrel’s West Hartford store is well worth a look.
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Thanks Grant! And what Grant doesn’t know is that next Monday I get to go to a sneak preview lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. I’m helping to test out the wait staff with a group of other agents from my office. Be on the lookout for my inside report before it officially opens…