OT: Coach's Sports Bar coming to downtown Hartford...

[Flipside]

I don’t know how much money the taxpayers lost on that candy and soda shop that they’re taking over. I never saw anybody in that place. I guess there was supposedly a speakeasy in the back.

yes speakeasy (entrance was at the photo booth) ... had a friend's milestone birthday there in Jan '24, the night before the Xavier game at HCC - great times

The 196 Club

An intimate and casually glamorous space for inspired cocktails, decadent bites, and rumored debauchery. Our location and entry instructions can be learned by making a reservation, but please be discreet with our precious hideaway.

www.the196club.com

 

[alexd]

Wasn’t that originally where the 2 discos (one being Boppers?) were located a block from each other in the 80s/ early 90s?

Loriens and Le Jardin on Allyn St. ??

 

[Flipside]

PSA: A lot of this is covered in this 'admin recreated' thread here Old Hartford Nightlife/Entertainment ... the content in that thread was separated & repackaged from sliced, diced and remixed content from the notable XL thread (for reasons still unknown, so may not make much contextual sense in the thread) but may help to provide clarity and answers to some current questions in this thread.

 

[The Viking]

The night of UConn vs Duke 1999 the barkeeps kept the fed open until maybe two or three in the morning? It was an incredible night in many ways – what an interesting place that that was . good Guinness, a jukebox and a pool table.

 

[HCCForever]

Hot Tomatoes was in the train station and Boppers was across the street.

Hot Tomatoes started on Ann and then moved to Asylum and finally to the train station. I really enjoyed their cheese bread which was sold in local stores.

Boppers replaced another favorite of mine, Mad Murphy’s on Union Place.

 

[Flipside]

Hot Tomatoes started on Ann and then moved to Asylum and finally to the train station. I really enjoyed their cheese bread which was sold in local stores ...

source for the italicized above?

also, the spirit of HT's live garlic bread can still be found here

Salute Restaurant

salutehartford.com

 

[HCCForever]

source for the italicized above?

also, the spirit of HT's live garlic bread can still be found here

Salute Restaurant

salutehartford.com

My source is my memory which is not trustworthy at times. I worked downtown for over 20 years.

Thanks for tip on HT bread. I love Sslute although I haven’t been there in over five years. Jimmy, who I remember as the owner, worked at Chucks and then Hot Tomatoes.

 

[3rdbass]

Coffee bar was Zuzu, before that was a shoe store ... after the coffee bar was The Russell, which is now located in the old Coach's space

My brother was a bartender there when I was going to the no name bar to dance to house music. Great days! LOL!

 

[mauconnfan]

Loriens and Le Jardin on Allyn St. ??

Bingo….. hunting grounds on Thursday nights back in the day thanks for the memory alexd!!👍🏻

 

[Flipside]

Loriens and Le Jardin on Allyn St. ??

w/ Gengras Motor Cars (primarily Mercedes back then, if memory serves) dealership right across the street ... been a parking lot for decades now

 

[TheChamps990411]

Corner of Pratt & Trumbull. I remember that location as "the Bar with No Name" back in the 90's.
This would be the third location downtown for a Coach's.
But it looks like this one has no ties to Jim Calhoun.

https://www.courant.com/2026/01/07/new-ct-sports-bar-planned-with-familiar-sounding-name-significant-location-is-targeted-for-renewal/

"The Bar with No Name" Wow! I havent thought of that place in like 25+ years. Lol! Some good times were had in that place. Crazy how ive been by that location a bunch of times and never realized that was where it was. I did a lot of drinking back then.

 

[husky8273]

Hot Tomatoes started on Ann and then moved to Asylum and finally to the train station. I really enjoyed their cheese bread which was sold in local stores.

their garlic cheese bread is now enjoyed at Salute, owned by former Hot Tomato manager

 

[HuskyHawk]

Deepster, I think the location of Challengers was on Ann Street and not far from the Russian Lady.

I used to go to the original Coaches which was near the train station

Yes, it was essentially next door. I went there all the time. I worked for the state and got out at 4:00. I'd go sit in the seats in front of the projector screen before games and hold it until 7:00. Saw "the shot" from the basement at Challengers. Great memories.

 

[alexd]

Yes, it was essentially next door. I went there all the time. I worked for the state and got out at 4:00. I'd go sit in the seats in front of the projector screen before games and hold it until 7:00. Saw "the shot" from the basement at Challengers. Great memories.

Omg.... that basement!! Best thing they did was put in those narrow shelves along the walls to put your beer while standing.

 

[Richmondhsky]

their garlic cheese bread is now enjoyed at Salute, owned by former Hot Tomato manager

Hot Tomatoes was excellent! The Horlick cheese bread was great however, you were on garlic overdose for at least the next Day!

 

[Waquoit]

Hot Tomatoes was excellent! The Horlick cheese bread was great however, you were on garlic overdose for at least the next Day!

We loved it back in the day. It was the only place I'd get Giobatto. But it's day was done. I went on Valentine's Day near the end and it was awful.

 

[DblCrossbar]

The location next to Russian Lady used to be a pretty decent French restaurant. I was sorry to see that close up.

Oui Oui - Pastis.
Was the Tavern for a good run up until recently.
A new kinda chic Italian-Latino fusion place called The White Rabbit recently opened there. Have not tried it yet…

 

[DblCrossbar]

Coffee bar was Zuzu, before that was a shoe store ... after the coffee bar was The Russell, which is now located in the old Coach's space

Was also Xando for awhile. It’s a great cozy spot where I spotted Hartford Whaler players post game a few times. The weird thing is that the doors have a tall clear PVC handle that contains coffee beans, and those beans which are now moldy ARE STILL THERE on the Pratt Street side at last look! 😱.

Looking forward to it’s reincarnation as a place to view all sorts of games.

 

[HCCForever]

We loved it back in the day. It was the only place I'd get Giobatto. But it's day was done. I went on Valentine's Day near the end and it was awful.

Another good place for Giobatto was Angellino’s. There were locations in Vernon and Mansfield and maybe other locations.

 

[ItsNotSo]

"No Name" was on the corner of Asylum and Trumbull, new Coaches space on Pratt was a coffee bar ( name ???) at that time, FWIW.

I think it was Xando’s?

 

[Waquoit]

Another good place for Giobatto was Angellino’s. There were locations in Vernon and Mansfield and maybe other locations.

It’s a lLittle Mark’s now in Vernon.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Does anybody remember the name of the place that was next to the Civic Pub, but on the 2nd floor? It was a neon light/surfboard themed place with a big dance floor, tended to play Depeche Mode type of music.

 

[HCCForever]

Does anybody remember the name of the place that was next to the Civic Pub, but on the 2nd floor? It was a neon light/surfboard themed place with a big dance floor, tended to play Depeche Mode type of music.

Pigs Eye Pub?

 

[Punkbo]

Bingo….. hunting grounds on Thursday nights back in the day thanks for the memory alexd!!👍🏻

Great memories. My favorite place on Thursday nights was Dagny’s.

 

[Deepster]

Does anybody remember the name of the place that was next to the Civic Pub, but on the 2nd floor? It was a neon light/surfboard themed place with a big dance floor, tended to play Depeche Mode type of music.

North Shore