Downtown Hartford getting grocer-deli

Businessman Al Jahmee plans in several weeks to open a grocery-delicatessen at 241 Asylum Street, catering to downtown Hartford's workers and residents.

Al's Market will occupy about 1,700 square feet of the ground floor of what was formerly Niro's clothing boutique.

The grocer-deli is directly across the street from the Hartford 21 high-rise residential tower and within walking distance of a half-dozen other apartment and condominium buildings, among them Trumbull On The Park, 55 On The Park and The Hollander.

"They needed a market downtown,'' Jahmee said of his decision to open his store.

Several attempts to bring a grocery store downtown have stalled in recent years, thwarted by high rents or merchants' concerns about catering to a splintered customer base.

Jahmee said his store will carry fresh meats, dairy, produce and baked goods, as well a canned foods and other grocery items.

The market will open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m. and weekends until 3 a.m.

Jahmee said he previously ran a food store, the New York Grocery, at Broad and Russ Streets for a decade before selling it.