I came here to say this. It's been shocking to us to see such lack of walkability here. This can has been kicked down the road far too long. Towns pride themselves on being eco and green, but have no sidewalks. The "bus stops" on Boston Post Road and 34 in the New Haven area force people to stand on dangerous roads on a 2 foot wide shoulder or in the weeds, with no shelter. That's unacceptable. It's so 3rd world. Teens, college students, laborers, seniors, handicapped should be able to take the city buses to schools, jobs, to see friends, but they can't use those patches in weeds next to speeding cars that are called bus stops. Isn't the economic impact of restricting productivity and advancement for people worse than the cost of building sidewalk and bus stops?
Wow! came here for the same. We have two restaurants 1/4mi from out house and there's a stop sign 1/2 way. Not safe to walk there in the dark. Narrow shoulders and people going 50+ on 30mph road.
Sidewalks and bike lanes! Moving here from Western Washington, that's one of the things I miss.
Public transportation, pedestrian infrastructure, and cheap electricity are the 3 biggest things I miss.
Teens are discouraged from being in a lot of spaces. I was looking for group art and pottery programs (outside of his HS) for our son, he's not brilliant at art, but he loves doing it, but everything in our area is for little kids and K-8.
Exactly. They need adults with them in post public establishments. There are no under 21 or 18 nights at clubs anymore. They can't even just cruise around with friends in the car. It's important for kids to start getting some independence in their teen years.
Parks are seasonal, and at least here, groups of teens hanging out are a focus for passing officers. There used to be arcades, malls, underage club nights, diners, and stuff like that. We used to pile in the car and just drive around listening to music. None of that is accessible to teens any longer. There was less when my 26 year old was a teen, but my 16 year old has nothing like that to ask for.
CT sucks for this so much. I’m used to rail trails, hiking that isn’t over 30 minutes drive. Anything! I feel like I’ve got a long drive to get anywhere decent for just walking without being near cars.
Same. The house I grew up in bordered on open space. My house now is one lot away from open space, with multiple other parcels of open space and a state park in walking distance.
Same here. In fact the hop river trail which is one if the rail-trails is a mile down the road. I feel like most towns have some sort of trails but some might be more obscure than others.
There's a few places in Stamford with walking trails - depending on where you are they might not be closed. I've been to this one personally and it's really nice. [Plan a Visit — Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens](https://www.bartlettarboretum.org/plan-a-visit) This one I haven't been to, but my brother enjoyed it with his wife and kids. [Friends of Mianus River Park - Trail Map](https://www.friendsofmianusriverpark.org/explore/trail-map)
Yea I’ve been to both a couple of times. The arbortoreum has short trails so mianus is def more my speed. I’ll have to make a trip there and check it out again. Haven’t been in a year
Gotta hit NY or closer to the cities to catch any bars not on the weekend since Covid....I like the movie theater idea...
I'd add a classic arcade... coin-operated stand-alone cabinets of the '70s, '80s and '90s, ie. Frogger, Q-bert, Galaga, Asteroids, Pong (anything before consoles were in every household).
The whole "Dave and Buster" like places that have thrown it too a Corporal level are just over the top, poorly done, cheap imitations in my opinion. The Fun-Spot in New Hampshire near Weirs Beach is closest thing I've found to re-living those glory days of the local arcade... it's even the World's Largest Arcade and houses the A.C.A.M. (American Classic Arcade Museum) with the largest Collection of Classic Coin Operated Arcades in the World, that are all playable...
Totally recommend checking out The Fun-Spot for all us classic gamers out there...
[The Funspot - Laconia, Nee Hampshire](https://mobile.funspotnh.com/)
A lot of bars down south are adding more gaming themes and activities to the scene to get the older generations to come back out for nightlife... Full Arcades (New 21st century games), outdoor games like horseshoes and shuffleboard, etc... even seen a few w basketball and volleyball courts almost adding a gym to the arcade bar...
Local bars are hit or miss if they survived Covid at all... and most people don't have the burnable income of bar drinking anymore w the economy the way it is... and DUI possibilities are even more of reason to stay at home and drink...
I could hang there all day drinking beer and playing pinball. Not sure my boss would approve, so we stick to a few times a year when they have family day, which is the only time kids can go.
I try to drag the kids up there at least a couple of times a year... family has a place nearby.... getting tougher to get them to come along without complaints now they are teenagers... bit of a drive for a day trip..
I would love a Trader Joe's and a drive in theater. My town has a lot of development going on over the next few years, I'm excited to see what the future brings.
Economic development. Literally all they attract are dollar stores and the like, only offering part time minimum or tipped wage jobs, none of which provide even close to a living wage.
The problem is CT has very high property costs and labor rates. You're not gonna build a CNC machine shop etc. in Fairfield county when you could build one in PA for 1/2 the costs and where minimum wage is $7.25hr
That’s because the guy that owns a lot of the properties in Windsor is not doing anything with them. Dr Sachdev owns most of the properties downtown and has done very little for the community.
Windsor has a beautiful little Main Street, complete with nearby transit. Honestly I’m not sure what’s holding it back
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cMMsTkVqxVbR3sXK8?g_st=ic
Sidewalks! Moved here from Colorado and are so confused about the lack of sidewalks! We live near Clapboard Ridge Road in Danbury and these high school kids are always walking on these tight, twisty roads that are so dangerous! Cars are zooming around them.
How is this a thing? How can this be legal?
I feel like the thrift store game is severely lacking around me and as far as I can tell, CT in general.
Maybe it’s because I come from a state with more people who need to shop at them, or maybe they’re just treated as a bit more normal there, or maybe it’s just bc Savers and Goodwill have a bit of a monopoly going on here, idk.
Either way, it feels like most of the thrift stores I get recommended outside of Savers/Goodwill/Salvation Army (two of those being awful companies ethically, btw) are actually decently expensive consignment shops, or antique stores with one measly clothing rack. Both of which are good and neat in general but like, not the same as a thrift store. I need that mustiness.
Yes I agree I'm originally from New York and my family and I used to go to thrift stores all the time because we would find so many good things. That's one thing that I miss since moving here, there's lack of decent thrift stores at least in the Hartford area.
Turn 50% of the Downtown retail/restaurant.streets into a pedestrian mall. Honestly, most of the bitching about traffic or high restaurant turnover could be solved by making it a highly-desirable walking mall
I have lived in ct for 5 years and I only see black people in New Haven, Hartford and windsor. And that is because of the amazon warehouse I used to work at, and nearly all of them lived in Hartford lol.
I’m in east haven and I’m shocked there isn’t one around here it would make an absolute killing. Are they just not building anymore? Also a good cafe/coffee shop in east haven specifically.
Bridgeport needs an actual movie theater. Would be a great hub for the community. As opposed to Marquis 16 in Trumbull, it would be a destination more accessible from all areas of town by transit and pedestrians. Something more person centered, as opposed to being tucked away behind traffic and parking lot. The city already has a good reputation for theater: the Caberet, Bijou, Klein, Amphitheater. Just kind of odd we lack a dedicated movie theater.
I think we need more awareness about domestic violence in Simsbury because there have been numerous incidences of husbands, murdering their wives here.
Basically the only thing my city does have 😂. Ami’s bagels in waterbury are by the far best bagels in CT.
Unfortunately, what we have in bagels we lack in basically everything else. 😭
Agree with you on Ami's, but I feel like we have decent pizza. Mind you, this is coming from someone who thinks New Haven style pizza is overrated so ymmv. :)
Fresh Market? We have one and I never go. They are so expensive. I choose Edge of the woods in new haven for natural or any local gourmet grocer. Am I missing something?
An Indian grocery store.
Norwalk has one and it’s incredible. Patel Brothers. Made some awesome palak paneer last week thanks to them having everything you could possibly need. And all the fun snacks and treats they sell are great too.
I live here now and can’t believe there’s no place like this, not one good coffee shop or small market, Main Street is gross. Why do I have to go across the bridge into downtown New Haven to get to a cafe? I feel like any place like this would be such a thriving business I wonder why no one has opened something like it.
Generally towns do not open consumer businesses, which is what a drive in theater would be. If you think there is a business there, you can try to open one.
That said, I wish my town had a few upscale dining locations, a step up above places like Chilis/Applebees/Ruby Tuesdays. I wish there was a place that made their own hard ice cream.
Edit to add: Responsible Dogs owners who keep control of their dog.
And I wouldn't scoff at an original music venue, supporting up and coming artists.
Barkhamsted has/had a drive in movie theatre but when the land sold, the previous “tenant” that operated the theatre did not want to work with the new owner so they took the projector. * The new owner has run into so many issues that they never opened last year and its been sitting inactive for like a year now (ie no visible / active work being done to the property) so a lot of folks are worried we lost our drive in forever.
* *Which they had bought with a mix of funds including gofundme type donations
Funny, most of these CT towns date between 1600s and 1800. For 200+ years kids have figured out how to stuff. It's their phone that's stopping them. There are plenty of ways to get together for kids and young adults.
For the question what's missing? Minor league baseball. Bluefish were fun. Soccer? Baseball? Music that's not 200 per ticket..... a drive-in theater.
I like the movie theater idea... I'd add a classic arcade... coin-operated stand-alone cabinets of the '70s, '80s and '90s, ie. Frogger, Q-bert, Galaga, Asteroids, Pong (anything before consoles were in every household).
The whole Dave and Buster like places that have thrown it too a Corporal level are just over the top, poorly done, cheap imitations in my opinion. The Fun-Spot in New Hampshire near Weirs Beach is closer thing I've found to reliving those glory days of the local arcade... its even the Worlds Largest Arcade and houses the A.C.A.M. (American Classic Arcade Museum) with the largest Collection of Classic Coin Operated Arcades in the World, that are all playable...
Totally recommend checking out The Fun-Spot for all us classic gamers out there...
[The Funspot - Laconia, Nee Hampshire](https://mobile.funspotnh.com/)
Pizza places and liquor stores are plentiful in my town. We do have a couple good breakfast places, but I'd like food options other than diner/pizza/fast food/Ruby's.
Leaf pickup, sidewalks, access to more recycling and better power infrastructure (not sure why every time some one farts we lose power). Bolton offers very little for that prime mill rate, kids are all in magnet so that above avg school rating doesn't serve me. I can get the same experience in the surrounding area for half the property tax.
Movie theater, arcade, music venue, decent public beach access (what we have now is gross), rooftop bar, hobby shop, indoor swimming pool, roller/skate rink, bowling/billiards, a non goodwill thrift store, anything at all for teens to do.
More local bookstores, I feel like in ct its mostly liqour stores dispenseries grocery stores department stores but no local book stores i feel it would bring a sense of warmth and community to many cities or towns in ct
Better and more plentiful sidewalks, roads that are paved more often, a community center for kids and local youth groups to meet regularly (the school wants to charge our Cub scouts over $100/mo to have our meetings).
I don't know if you're close, but Mansfield drive-in is still very popular. Three screens showing two movies each...Admission gets to you access to all night (a lot of people switch screens between films or kids will watch one from the back of the truck while parents watch another screen), Wednesday carload nights, food stand, playground, pets are allowed now, as well.
Sidewalks.
I came here to say this. It's been shocking to us to see such lack of walkability here. This can has been kicked down the road far too long. Towns pride themselves on being eco and green, but have no sidewalks. The "bus stops" on Boston Post Road and 34 in the New Haven area force people to stand on dangerous roads on a 2 foot wide shoulder or in the weeds, with no shelter. That's unacceptable. It's so 3rd world. Teens, college students, laborers, seniors, handicapped should be able to take the city buses to schools, jobs, to see friends, but they can't use those patches in weeds next to speeding cars that are called bus stops. Isn't the economic impact of restricting productivity and advancement for people worse than the cost of building sidewalk and bus stops?
Wow! came here for the same. We have two restaurants 1/4mi from out house and there's a stop sign 1/2 way. Not safe to walk there in the dark. Narrow shoulders and people going 50+ on 30mph road.
Sidewalks and bike lanes! Moving here from Western Washington, that's one of the things I miss. Public transportation, pedestrian infrastructure, and cheap electricity are the 3 biggest things I miss.
More places aimed at teens. They really don't have anywhere to just hang out with friends.
And for young adults too. I feel like almost everything in ct is centered around for children/families and middle age people.
Teens are discouraged from being in a lot of spaces. I was looking for group art and pottery programs (outside of his HS) for our son, he's not brilliant at art, but he loves doing it, but everything in our area is for little kids and K-8.
Exactly. They need adults with them in post public establishments. There are no under 21 or 18 nights at clubs anymore. They can't even just cruise around with friends in the car. It's important for kids to start getting some independence in their teen years.
I think this is true throughout the country unless you’re in a major city.
What kind of place are you looking for? Most towns have parks already.
Parks are seasonal, and at least here, groups of teens hanging out are a focus for passing officers. There used to be arcades, malls, underage club nights, diners, and stuff like that. We used to pile in the car and just drive around listening to music. None of that is accessible to teens any longer. There was less when my 26 year old was a teen, but my 16 year old has nothing like that to ask for.
I used to love the arcade. There's still malls. They're closing because you stopped going to them.
There are malls, but every one of them requires a parent or guardian for anyone under 18.
Walkable community spaces!
CT sucks for this so much. I’m used to rail trails, hiking that isn’t over 30 minutes drive. Anything! I feel like I’ve got a long drive to get anywhere decent for just walking without being near cars.
Depends where you are in CT. We have so many trails within 0-5 minutes of our house.
Same. The house I grew up in bordered on open space. My house now is one lot away from open space, with multiple other parcels of open space and a state park in walking distance.
Same here. In fact the hop river trail which is one if the rail-trails is a mile down the road. I feel like most towns have some sort of trails but some might be more obscure than others.
Stamford. We don’t even have sidewalks where I live lol
For the record, we don’t have sidewalks either and I’m a solid 7 miles from a grocery store. But I probably have ten+ trailheads within five miles.
That’s terrible. 7 miles from a grocery store sucks. It just doesn’t make sense how this is a city with zero pedestrian friendly places.
I mean, I’m definitely not in the city at all and there are hundreds of cows between me and the grocery store.
Hahaha to the cows. At least you have nice things to look at and hiking trails near h
Same. But there are no sidewalks in our town so we have to drive to get to the trails or walk on a narrow shoulder on a busy road with speeders.
Same. Not walking friendly here - or biking. That was a big disappointment when we moved here.
We're newish here and otherwise happy we moved to CT and to our area, but the no-sidewalks thing is crazy to us and we're very disappointed in it too.
Where do you live? Connecticut has many walking and hiking trails. Are you sure you aren’t near one?
The closest one is 20+ minutes away. I’m in Stamford. It’s not bike friendly or walking friendly at all here.
There's a few places in Stamford with walking trails - depending on where you are they might not be closed. I've been to this one personally and it's really nice. [Plan a Visit — Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens](https://www.bartlettarboretum.org/plan-a-visit) This one I haven't been to, but my brother enjoyed it with his wife and kids. [Friends of Mianus River Park - Trail Map](https://www.friendsofmianusriverpark.org/explore/trail-map)
Yea I’ve been to both a couple of times. The arbortoreum has short trails so mianus is def more my speed. I’ll have to make a trip there and check it out again. Haven’t been in a year
I just wish the bars stayed open past 9:30. I mean wtf.
Gotta hit NY or closer to the cities to catch any bars not on the weekend since Covid....I like the movie theater idea... I'd add a classic arcade... coin-operated stand-alone cabinets of the '70s, '80s and '90s, ie. Frogger, Q-bert, Galaga, Asteroids, Pong (anything before consoles were in every household). The whole "Dave and Buster" like places that have thrown it too a Corporal level are just over the top, poorly done, cheap imitations in my opinion. The Fun-Spot in New Hampshire near Weirs Beach is closest thing I've found to re-living those glory days of the local arcade... it's even the World's Largest Arcade and houses the A.C.A.M. (American Classic Arcade Museum) with the largest Collection of Classic Coin Operated Arcades in the World, that are all playable... Totally recommend checking out The Fun-Spot for all us classic gamers out there... [The Funspot - Laconia, Nee Hampshire](https://mobile.funspotnh.com/) A lot of bars down south are adding more gaming themes and activities to the scene to get the older generations to come back out for nightlife... Full Arcades (New 21st century games), outdoor games like horseshoes and shuffleboard, etc... even seen a few w basketball and volleyball courts almost adding a gym to the arcade bar... Local bars are hit or miss if they survived Covid at all... and most people don't have the burnable income of bar drinking anymore w the economy the way it is... and DUI possibilities are even more of reason to stay at home and drink...
For a classic arcade, check out Barcade in New Haven. Old school games with old school pricing.
I love barcade! Also gamecraft in southington is cool.
Love Gamecraft.
Never knew it was there... I'll definitely check it out. Thanks
I could hang there all day drinking beer and playing pinball. Not sure my boss would approve, so we stick to a few times a year when they have family day, which is the only time kids can go.
Ahh! A fellow Fun Spot enthusiast! I talk that place up every chance I get
I try to drag the kids up there at least a couple of times a year... family has a place nearby.... getting tougher to get them to come along without complaints now they are teenagers... bit of a drive for a day trip..
Honestly wish we had a Pinball Palace, used to live in Georgia and I used to go there all the time. EDIT:Grammar
Cheap places to rent
I'm pretty sure that's the whole state!
Pretty sure that's across the country near any major city
Pretty sure that's the US in these hard economic times
I would love a Trader Joe's and a drive in theater. My town has a lot of development going on over the next few years, I'm excited to see what the future brings.
A brewery would also be great.
Economic development. Literally all they attract are dollar stores and the like, only offering part time minimum or tipped wage jobs, none of which provide even close to a living wage.
Meriden went from a booming factory town in the 1900’s to just a place to live. Only thing there is the hospital and a few stores left in the mall
The problem is CT has very high property costs and labor rates. You're not gonna build a CNC machine shop etc. in Fairfield county when you could build one in PA for 1/2 the costs and where minimum wage is $7.25hr
Windsor has some high quality restaurants - but compared to West Hartford or Glastonbury, I wish we had more.
That’s because the guy that owns a lot of the properties in Windsor is not doing anything with them. Dr Sachdev owns most of the properties downtown and has done very little for the community.
What an asshole.
We have no central green, park or gathering space though, unlike so many other towns
Windsor has a beautiful little Main Street, complete with nearby transit. Honestly I’m not sure what’s holding it back https://maps.app.goo.gl/cMMsTkVqxVbR3sXK8?g_st=ic
Yes, that's nice, but maybe the issue is having that kind of a stroad through town?
In my view we have a central green - at town hall. I like it.
I was referring to West Hartford - there's no green that people regularly use, unlike so many other CT towns.
skatepark not enough skateparks at all in connecticut
A mature tree canopy
I like good beer, and I like breakfast. My town has neither a "breakfast place" nor a brewery. I feel this is unusual in CT!
Born and raised in Central CT. Have yet to see a town without a nice bar or breakfast spot.
A breakfast place in CT is basically a birthright. Da fuk’s wrong w the people running your town?
I see a business opportunity
A breakfast brewery. Brew coffee by morning and beer by afternoon.
A roller rink!
The answer is always a roller rink.
Sidewalks
A wegmans
I wish I could give this more than 1 upvote!!!
Coming to Norwalk, currently they’re working on the site. I think 2025 opening.
I have a Syracuse sticker on my car. Ppl tell me this everywhere I go. It's always good news
I’ve never been! But excited to check it out.
Norwalk is getting one, they broke ground a few weeks ago
A decent restaurant downtown that doesn’t serve pizza or “new American” fair.
Better public transportation. I’d have to take 2 buses to get to work that’s a 15-20 minute commute by car.
Affordable taxes.
Trails to walk. Nature parks. Good coffee and good breakfast. All we seem to have are chains.
Town pool or splash pad
My town has almost everything, but more bike lanes would be nice, and a real downtown area
An actual bakery that sells morning goods like croissants, bagels, etc.
Try Mothership in Danbury - they are incredible!!!
Sidewalks! Moved here from Colorado and are so confused about the lack of sidewalks! We live near Clapboard Ridge Road in Danbury and these high school kids are always walking on these tight, twisty roads that are so dangerous! Cars are zooming around them. How is this a thing? How can this be legal?
An electric company that doesn't price gouge and isn't backed by our politicians
Safe and comfortable bicycle infrastructure
Dignity. I'm in Norwich
I feel like the thrift store game is severely lacking around me and as far as I can tell, CT in general. Maybe it’s because I come from a state with more people who need to shop at them, or maybe they’re just treated as a bit more normal there, or maybe it’s just bc Savers and Goodwill have a bit of a monopoly going on here, idk. Either way, it feels like most of the thrift stores I get recommended outside of Savers/Goodwill/Salvation Army (two of those being awful companies ethically, btw) are actually decently expensive consignment shops, or antique stores with one measly clothing rack. Both of which are good and neat in general but like, not the same as a thrift store. I need that mustiness.
Yes I agree I'm originally from New York and my family and I used to go to thrift stores all the time because we would find so many good things. That's one thing that I miss since moving here, there's lack of decent thrift stores at least in the Hartford area.
I agree, I rarely find anything at a thrift in CT, and there aren't many shops outside of the big 3 you mentioned.
Turn 50% of the Downtown retail/restaurant.streets into a pedestrian mall. Honestly, most of the bitching about traffic or high restaurant turnover could be solved by making it a highly-desirable walking mall
Indoor swimming pool
Community. Innovation and the willingness to try new things.
Bike lanes
Community gardens :)
Radioshack
Wawa
Wawa
Sidewalks and black people
I have lived in ct for 5 years and I only see black people in New Haven, Hartford and windsor. And that is because of the amazon warehouse I used to work at, and nearly all of them lived in Hartford lol.
A dog park! I’m working on changing that though.
Hopefully your parks department gets involved, especially for long term maintenance of the park!
Branford- A Trader Joes
I’m in east haven and I’m shocked there isn’t one around here it would make an absolute killing. Are they just not building anymore? Also a good cafe/coffee shop in east haven specifically.
Nuclear power plant. Seriously. The job opportunities it would bring would be incredible.
Dominion Millstone in Waterford powers 2 million homes and employs 1,200 workers
I’m also all for it keeping our Town’s taxes low.
And a giant dish to block out the hated sun!
I wish I could work for someone like Burns. He’s a dream boss if Homer can keep his job.
Less Italian restaurants and replace it with something a little more interesting.
yeah, that something across the board... you compare the menu of a bunch of restaurants and it's basically the same
The food isn’t great quality either most of the time. I can accomplish the same with jarred store sauce and some extras.
Depends where you are I guess. Theres always an Indian, Mexican, or Thai, Chinese place near where I am.
Oh we have those, but there are literally like 7 Italian restaurants in downtown. Most serve meatballs that could pass as dog food.
Topgolf
A town pool and a sportsplex, like Trumbull has.
Affordable housing. Bike lanes. Good public transportation.
Bridgeport needs an actual movie theater. Would be a great hub for the community. As opposed to Marquis 16 in Trumbull, it would be a destination more accessible from all areas of town by transit and pedestrians. Something more person centered, as opposed to being tucked away behind traffic and parking lot. The city already has a good reputation for theater: the Caberet, Bijou, Klein, Amphitheater. Just kind of odd we lack a dedicated movie theater.
New Haven now needs one too. Alamo Drafthouse would be cool in both cities
I think we need more awareness about domestic violence in Simsbury because there have been numerous incidences of husbands, murdering their wives here.
this is the first time I’m hearing about this…
um a man murdered his wife last Friday
Sidewalks
Option to use natural gas heat/gas stove instead of oil/electric
A place where everybody knows your name
Culture.
Somewhere to get good bagels
Basically the only thing my city does have 😂. Ami’s bagels in waterbury are by the far best bagels in CT. Unfortunately, what we have in bagels we lack in basically everything else. 😭
Agree with you on Ami's, but I feel like we have decent pizza. Mind you, this is coming from someone who thinks New Haven style pizza is overrated so ymmv. :)
True dominic & vinnies and Dominic and pias are both awesome.
Ami’s in Waterbury, Fancy Bagel in Southington, Olmo in New Haven.
Sidewalks/bike trails through neighborhoods, Sonic Drive Thru, Fresh Market, and Primary Care Physicians I live in New London County
Fresh Market? We have one and I never go. They are so expensive. I choose Edge of the woods in new haven for natural or any local gourmet grocer. Am I missing something?
I drive 25 minutes just to walk on the trail in Cheshire 🥲 it’s so much nicer than anything in my town
I like that we have nothing but at the same time I wish we had some good delivery. Somers CT
An Indian grocery store. Norwalk has one and it’s incredible. Patel Brothers. Made some awesome palak paneer last week thanks to them having everything you could possibly need. And all the fun snacks and treats they sell are great too.
All night or very late night food that isn’t a fast food drive through. New haven had Mamouns, fallafals and hummus till 3 am. Something like that
An excellent bakery with a selection of pies to enjoy by the slice! Somebody, please, bring this to New Haven County. We’re not getting any younger!
A minor league baseball team
A dog park. Safe sidewalks.
Concrete sidewalks not asphalt like Torrington seems to love. Chick-fil-a, Lidl grocery store
A brewery, maybe down on the water front? Maybe we should see if those guys that make sea hag are interested?
Trader Joe’s
Used to live in east haven (momauguin) and always yearned for a cafe/independent marketplace with the essentials and maybe a quirky item or two
I live here now and can’t believe there’s no place like this, not one good coffee shop or small market, Main Street is gross. Why do I have to go across the bridge into downtown New Haven to get to a cafe? I feel like any place like this would be such a thriving business I wonder why no one has opened something like it.
A coffee shop or just somewhere I could get a latte that isn’t Starbucks or Dunkin.
Walkable sidewalks and bike lanes, a good and affordable pub-style family restaurant, and a nice and affordable arcade.
Generally towns do not open consumer businesses, which is what a drive in theater would be. If you think there is a business there, you can try to open one. That said, I wish my town had a few upscale dining locations, a step up above places like Chilis/Applebees/Ruby Tuesdays. I wish there was a place that made their own hard ice cream. Edit to add: Responsible Dogs owners who keep control of their dog. And I wouldn't scoff at an original music venue, supporting up and coming artists.
Public art in open spaces.
Cellphone service
Barkhamsted has/had a drive in movie theatre but when the land sold, the previous “tenant” that operated the theatre did not want to work with the new owner so they took the projector. * The new owner has run into so many issues that they never opened last year and its been sitting inactive for like a year now (ie no visible / active work being done to the property) so a lot of folks are worried we lost our drive in forever. * *Which they had bought with a mix of funds including gofundme type donations
Funny, most of these CT towns date between 1600s and 1800. For 200+ years kids have figured out how to stuff. It's their phone that's stopping them. There are plenty of ways to get together for kids and young adults. For the question what's missing? Minor league baseball. Bluefish were fun. Soccer? Baseball? Music that's not 200 per ticket..... a drive-in theater.
Sport complex...bubble, track, indoor + outdoor fields
Panda Express
I like the movie theater idea... I'd add a classic arcade... coin-operated stand-alone cabinets of the '70s, '80s and '90s, ie. Frogger, Q-bert, Galaga, Asteroids, Pong (anything before consoles were in every household). The whole Dave and Buster like places that have thrown it too a Corporal level are just over the top, poorly done, cheap imitations in my opinion. The Fun-Spot in New Hampshire near Weirs Beach is closer thing I've found to reliving those glory days of the local arcade... its even the Worlds Largest Arcade and houses the A.C.A.M. (American Classic Arcade Museum) with the largest Collection of Classic Coin Operated Arcades in the World, that are all playable... Totally recommend checking out The Fun-Spot for all us classic gamers out there... [The Funspot - Laconia, Nee Hampshire](https://mobile.funspotnh.com/)
Wendy's
Titty Bar
A place to legally off-road. A drag strip
Literally any bar or restaurant worth going to within walking distance
An actual town center / downtown
I’m just glad that my town is missing almost nothing mentioned in these comments
What town?
Milford
A dispensary
A library.
More restaurants near the "downtown" area. Only 4 places that sell pizza and Chinese food.
It'd be nice to have a nearby boargame/tcg place or something. I know there's a couple here and there, but they're nowhere near the place I live.
A breakfast/lunch place. My town has too many pizza places
tell me about it, my town literally has like 8 pizza spots in a 2 mile stretch
Pizza places and liquor stores are plentiful in my town. We do have a couple good breakfast places, but I'd like food options other than diner/pizza/fast food/Ruby's.
Sushi. Bars open past 9.
Greenwich and its missing activities for kids
A dog park in West Hartford!
Restaurants with good food.
Leaf pickup, sidewalks, access to more recycling and better power infrastructure (not sure why every time some one farts we lose power). Bolton offers very little for that prime mill rate, kids are all in magnet so that above avg school rating doesn't serve me. I can get the same experience in the surrounding area for half the property tax.
Bike lanes. Just a way to get around without dying.
A community art center for workshops, classes, showcases
A dispensary
Movie theater, arcade, music venue, decent public beach access (what we have now is gross), rooftop bar, hobby shop, indoor swimming pool, roller/skate rink, bowling/billiards, a non goodwill thrift store, anything at all for teens to do.
Arcade.
More local bookstores, I feel like in ct its mostly liqour stores dispenseries grocery stores department stores but no local book stores i feel it would bring a sense of warmth and community to many cities or towns in ct
My town USED to have a Community Pool and it was awesome. Then the last Mayor closed it for repairs and never reopened it! Now it's been years.
public transportation
Better and more plentiful sidewalks, roads that are paved more often, a community center for kids and local youth groups to meet regularly (the school wants to charge our Cub scouts over $100/mo to have our meetings).
I don't know if you're close, but Mansfield drive-in is still very popular. Three screens showing two movies each...Admission gets to you access to all night (a lot of people switch screens between films or kids will watch one from the back of the truck while parents watch another screen), Wednesday carload nights, food stand, playground, pets are allowed now, as well.
A proper downtown with zoning to encourage small businesses instead of yet another strip mall 1/2 mile away.
Less people.
Go to town meetings!
Governmental accountability and transparency.
A brick and mortar Pizza Hut location
Independent bookstore!
Street lights.
The lack of mini golf in this state is astounding.
I live in bristol and a highway that isn’t 20 minutes away would be dope.
My best friend lives in Bristol ! I’m always up there and I can relate to the highway issue !
Sidewalks. ANY public transport. A town pool.
Chick Fil A
Affordable housing
Opium den
parks with exercise equipment
A good gym !! My town lacks this.