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July 10, 2020 Deal Watch Today

The Russell leases new downtown Hartford restaurant space

HBJ Photo | Joe Cooper The Russell has leased the former Black Bear Saloon and The Press restaurant space on Allyn Street in downtown Hartford.

Caribbean bar-restaurant The Russell, which was recently facing eviction uncertainty at its Pratt Street location, has leased new downtown Hartford space on Allyn Street, landlords say.

The Russell, owned by restaurateur Hugh Russell, in April signed a multi-year lease for the ground-level retail space at 179 Allyn St., according to a spokesperson for Mass.-based Maggiore Co., which manages the commercial part of the six-story building. Massachusetts developer-landlord Dakota Partners Inc. owns what was the former Judd & Root office building, and converted into apartment/retail space in 2015.

The restaurant, near Union Station, was formerly home to Black Bear Saloon and cocktail bar The Press, which quietly opened and closed last year after a year in operation.

It’s not yet clear when The Russell will begin operating on Allyn Street. The restaurant remains temporarily closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russell did not respond to requests seeking comment. 

A job posting on Indeed.com, meanwhile, shows the restaurant is currently hiring staff for "its new location" in Hartford, but does not list an address.

The Russell first debuted in its 2,212-square-foot commercial space at 103-105 Pratt St. in 2005, before launching a neighboring to-go business two years ago.

New York’s Shelbourne Global Solutions LLC, owner of The Russell's Pratt Street location, earlier this year filed a complaint in Hartford Superior Court claiming the restaurant defaulted on its lease by "failing to pay all sums" when due.

Court filings show Shelbourne on Tuesday withdrew its complaint in Hartford court.

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