Although nothing has been announced on its website, Facebook page, or Twitter feed, the Market at Hartford 21 is reported to be closing temporarily. The statement was given to the Courant by the store owners’ lawyer; the owners themselves have not been forthcoming with any information. They are apparently working on revising their business plan. Store employees, however, have reported that a large number of jobs have been lost. Upon opening, the store was praised because over half of its employees were Hartford residents.
This closure is an inconvenience, but it does not mean starvation for Hartford residents. Read about other grocery options here, here, here, and here.
lobonick
i really hope the management of the market can work it out. they are providing the downtown area with a nice service. they, however, are in a very tough spot when it comes to profitability. go smaller for a bit is probably the best move.
BWP
Not to be negative, but I predict that this will be a permanent closure, at least for these operators.
Kerri Provost
I know that as of last week they owed (at least) one of their vendors money. There are quite a few rumors flying around, so those I won’t repeat until anything can be confirmed with reputable sources. That they are speaking through a lawyer instead of just directly to the press seems particularly odd to me.
BWP
That is not surprising, given that they have probably had negative cash flow for the last few months….
Heather B
Even if this iteration of the market “fails,” I’m glad it was attempted, because it’s highly instructive. Perhaps a new set of owners can come in and try something different in the space. I’m disappointed to know the space itself seems designed to force a certain costly way of doing things, however.
Kerri Provost
I’m wondering if the City of Hartford has any ability to intervene in such cases. I’m thinking about building owners that jack up rents that push small businesses out, but also in cases like this where a business is told they must work with already installed refrigeration units, etc. There are a number of reasons why businesses fail in downtown, and I am certain that inflexible property owners contribute to this, at least to some extent.
BWP
Agreed, I bet they were thinking of the whole food model with all of the refrigerated cases, but the issue is that there is really no other square footage in the store… The Trader Joe’s model might work well in the space, but the space is too small for a Trader Joes.
Helder
My understanding is that Trader Joe’s was a contender for that location a while back but dealing with the owner of the property — one of the biggest absentee landlords in Hartford — was a frustrating task that kept them from coming there. That space was perfect for TJ’s but thanks to a stubborn landlord who thinks negotiation is getting what they want instead of working to make things feasible for small businesses to start up, it never happened. And now, should M21 fail, that will just be another black eye that will ‘demonstrate that businesses can’t work downtown’. Blame should fall where it needs: on the head of the property owners who make it difficult for small businesses to operate in the city.
lobonick
well stated helder… these downtown landlords seem to be missing the point.. they are asking for things they aren’t going to get.. the continued vacancies in the area show this… they should go cheap on the 1st set of years.. and then maybe go up if the business is successful.. get somebody in these commercial vacancies… !!!!!! why is front street development still empty (for over a year ??)??
this market owner was a small type business person who was willing to take a chance.. the conditions have become difficult and they are having trouble with their capital resources.. accomodation is needed… i hope the “troubled vendor” can understand this as well.. hopefully the market 21 business people can work it out.. hartford can support business, but it is an unknown and challenging model…