Hops Not Hopping Anymore

Local restaurant and brewery closes its doors

By JOE PIRANEO

Updated 8:45 AM EST, Mon, Nov 23, 2009

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Microbeerclub.com

Hops Restaurant and Brewery in Newington has closed its doors after 10 years.

The restaurant and microbrewery that opened its Newington location on the Berlin Turnpike in 1999 closed after business on Sunday. It was the only site in Connecticut.

Employees were notified of the closure last week, but company officials and the local manager have not elaborated on the cause for the closure.

NBC Connecticut's calls to the regional manager have not been returned.

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This is at least the second chain restaurant to close on the Berlin Turnpike. Applebee's previously closed and remains vacant.

Another store closing on the Pike is Blockbuster, the video rental store.

First Published: Nov 23, 2009 8:08 AM EST

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If you can't find a way to make substandard food taste like a true gourmet meal, you suffer. The sad part is, with the de-evolution of restaurants, the prices will probably spike at the supermarkets."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396499_71516837","adminTags":null,"views":652,"createdBy":18333832,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Hops Not Hopping Anymore","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2817179,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"23 Nov 2009 15:01:18 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"Valley_Girl","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1294821","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"They used to have a Hops at the Waterbury Mall & that one closed several years ago. The food wasn't bad but the service was HORRIBLE at the Waterbury Mall location & it didn't surprise me when that restaurant closed. I've been to the Newington location only once & the food was good & the service was better than expected. It's sad to see any restaurant close but with the economy being the way it is, it comes to no surprise as to why many businesses are closing. "},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396499_71516837","adminTags":null,"views":652,"createdBy":18338663,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Hops Not Hopping Anymore","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2817179,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"23 Nov 2009 19:34:14 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"ScottWilson","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1297086","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"This is a sad story to me. Our organization "Connecticut Citizens Defense Leauge held our first meeting there in February of this year. We were hoping to have our 1 year anniversary there in 2010."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396499_71516837","adminTags":null,"views":652,"createdBy":18339990,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Hops Not Hopping Anymore","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2817179,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"23 Nov 2009 20:46:40 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"j45000","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1297731","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"THE PLACE IS SLATED TO BE REOPENED IN DECEMBER! ITS A DONE DEAL!! not to worry It was bought and they intend to continue (just not as Hops) they are local and NOT a chain and have operated restaurants so we are hoping that the tradition of this neighborhood place will survive as it did. I understand they intend to continue the microbrewery! 10 great years for Hops and it was a shame but corporate complications did them in. They promised us better food. Hops was pretty good. I do expect a few price increases in general but that's all over. Most of the staff and managers have been offered to stay on so we expect the same family taking care of us with the SAME GREAT SERVICE. That's what made this Hops so great! At one time Newington Hops was the second best grossing in the whole chain which at one time was over 75 units. So we are out there, and I hope they hear us breathing. KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED! The Tpk needs a good neighborhood place and we hope they will continue for us THANKS HOPS FOR THE MANY GREAT YEARS AND MEMORIES!! so scottwilson and everyone, stay tuned i will post what I find out in the next weeks they are only a few blocks away "},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396499_71516837","adminTags":null,"views":652,"createdBy":18359527,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait160X120.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Hops Not Hopping Anymore","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":2817179,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"24 Nov 2009 20:58:15 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":5,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"pnanfito","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1305175","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"this is blasphemy! The jamaican steak was the BEST I have ever had! We have ongoing bets on who would win the EAST in MLB baseball and HOPS Jamaican Steaks would be the prize. My Yankees won and Nails and Jimmy still owe me Jamaican steaks! So you can't leave now! Come on...frustrated yankee and HOPS fan! "}],"error":"","totPages":1}

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