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Some of downtown Hartford's most resilient merchants are housed on Pratt Street.
Nearly a year after an almost endless makeover of the one-way thoroughfare linking Trumbull and Main streets put a damper on theirs and customers' attitudes, Pratt Street merchants have revived a marketing tactic they say has led to a boost in business.
Starting in early May, many of the three dozen or so owners of restaurants and merchandise-services boutiques flanking the brick-paved strip — as part of a city-sponsored pilot — began closing Pratt Street to motor vehicles several midday hours during weekdays to create an open-air marketplace of sorts that is more welcoming to pedestrians.
Specifically, the strip closes Monday through Thursdays, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. On Fridays, when live music is featured, Pratt stays closed to vehicles until 8 p.m.
When weather permits, according to habadasher Jodi Morneault and Jordan Polon, executive director of the Hartford Business Improvement District, the district's blue-black clad staff of “ambassadors,'' sets up 20 tables and 60 chairs for visitors to eat their brown-bagged lunch or meals prepared by downtown eateries.
The goal is to establish a more pedestrian-friendly environment that encourages people to eat and shop in the city.
The city is funding the pilot with metered-parking revenue collected daily, officials said.
“It really has helped everybody's business tremendously,'' said Morneault, who with husband Ron, owns men's/women's clothing boutique Morneault's Stackpole Moore Tryon. Morneault said her sales double on the weekdays Pratt Street closes.
The event, too, is popular with young workers/residents downtown, Morneault said.
“It's like a meeting place for everyone to come to,'' she said.
Eventually, Morneault says, Pratt Street merchants hope to extend their open-air marketplace to Saturdays, and invite area farmers to sell their fresh produce.
– Gregory Seay
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The Hartford Business Journal 2025 Charity Event Guide is the annual resource publication highlighting the top charity events in 2025.
Hartford Business Journal provides the top coverage of news, trends, data, politics and personalities of the area’s business community. Get the news and information you need from the award-winning writers at HBJ. Don’t miss out - subscribe today.
Delivering vital marketplace content and context to senior decision-makers throughout Connecticut ...
All Year Long!
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