Caffè Nero
By: Ella Garbarsky
New changes have been happening in the West Hartford Center with the closing of some shops and the opening of others. However, one of the most recent additions is a new cafe opening on South Main. The beloved frozen yogurt shop, Sweet Frog closed about two years ago, but the bright spot amongst the closing of Sweet Frog is the innovative Caffè Nero taking its place.
In 1997, a man named Gerry Ford bought five retail venues in London, where Caffè Nero first originated. That same year, there were a total of 50 workers and 5 coffee houses that totaled about £1.3m in revenue. In the year 1999, Gerry Ford continued to expand the company and move beyond London, opening 8 more coffee shops and adding 80 workers. As the years continued, more locations of the cafe opened, more workers were hired, and more revenue was generated. Now, Caffè Nero coffee shops can be found worldwide and are still expanding to this day as there are already 9 locations in the United States.
I was lucky enough to travel to London in April of 2023 which is where I first encountered Caffè Nero. As a tourist, I thought I was stepping into a one-of-a-kind local bakery with coffee, pastries, bread, and more. After traveling around the European area and London in particular, I learned that Caffè Nero is indeed a chain, but still a great breakfast stop nonetheless. Caffè Nero had its grand opening a few weeks ago here in West Hartford and is already swamped with customers.
Caffè Nero hosts a variety of foods and coffees, most- if not all of those items of European origin. The cafe offers tea, hot and cold beverages, all-day breakfast, hot chocolate, and more. There are plenty of baked goods such as crossions, pastries, scones, and other delicious bites. There is something for everyone and it is a great way to bring a taste of London to the West Hartford community.