'Evergreen Walk 2.0' celebrated at groundbreaking

Joseph Villanova, Journal Inquirer, Manchester, Conn.
·3 min read

Jun. 22—SOUTH WINDSOR — Developers and town officials broke ground Tuesday on Evergreen Walk's upcoming Whole Foods Market, and to celebrate the recent groundbreaking on Shake Shack.

AT A GLANCE

NEW TENANTS: Officials say the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk will see a number of new tenants in the near future, both announced and unannounced. Tenants confirmed for the shopping center include Whole Foods, Shake Shack, Lovesac, and The Goddard School.

APARTMENTS: Developers of the Tempo apartments, located within Evergreen Walk, have filed applications for a 165-unit expansion. The Planning and Zoning Commission rejected a required zoning regulation change for the apartments in a 4-3 vote in January, but developers have filed a new application, currently scheduled for a public hearing on June 28.

Rick Bonin, regional president of Whole Foods, could not provide a hard completion date for the grocery store, but said that it will be the company's fifth location in the Greater Hartford area, and gave his thanks to those who made it possible.

"Thank you for the desire to have Whole Foods Market in this development, and thank you to the South Windsor community for welcoming us aboard," Bonin said.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved a site plan for the grocery store, to be located on the current site of Old Navy and Sakura Garden, in August.

The new building will be 50,000 feet with two units: a 40,000-square-foot unit for Whole Foods and a 10,000-square-foot retail space that will be made available for lease.

To facilitate the construction, Old Navy will move into an expanded 21,000-square-foot unit directly across from Burton's Grill, and Sakura Garden will move to a 6,750-square-foot storefront near Connecticut Mattress and Emerald City Smoothie.

Dave Yearwood, area director for Shake Shack, said officials hope to open the fast-casual restaurant by the end of the year, but supply chain issues present a challenge to development.

"We're excited to grow the brand here, just outside of New York where we started," Yearwood said, adding that Evergreen Walk's Shake Shack, which will be located on a site at the north end of the shopping area, will be the sixth in Connecticut.

Paul Brandes, principal of Charter Realty, said modular furniture brand Lovesac and early childhood education center The Goddard School will be coming to the Promenade Shops, but did not provide dates for their openings.

Brandes added that a number of new Evergreen Walk tenants will be announced "during the summer months," all of which will contribute towards efforts to "reimagine" the shopping center.

"I like to call it 'Evergreen Walk 2.0,'" Brandes said.

Karen Spada, director of sales with Cambria Hotels, said the Choice Hotels brand will open its new Evergreen Walk location on Aug. 15.

The upcoming Whole Foods has at least one resident excited.

Daria Plummer, longtime resident of South Windsor, said she hoped to thank a Whole Foods representative who brought the project to fruition, and that Whole Foods will be one of a number of great grocery stores in the region.

"There's something for everyone in South Windsor ... Whole Foods brings another dimension to Evergreen Walk and to the surrounding areas that will only help the economy," Plummer said.

Bonin gave Plummer a hug during the event, after a presentation where Mayor Elizabeth Pendleton said Plummer is the "No. 1 fan of Whole Foods."

Joseph covers East Hartford and South Windsor. He joined the JI in July 2021. Joseph graduated from the University of Connecticut and he is an avid guitarist and coffee enthusiast.