Blue Back Square is a popular spot in West Hartford. It has restaurants, shopping, entertainment, and a residential area. There is a hotel and large name stores such as Whole Foods, The Cheesecake Factory, and various others. It's a beautifully maintained area and very pedestrian friendly. People have the option to live, work, and play right in this area. There's a wide selection to choose from, you don't have to leave the area if you don't want to. Parking can be found on street and two garages, all metered but affordable. There are bright murals throughout. A movie theater and a library are within walking distance. There are events such as live music. There are quite an array of things to do and eat and all in walking distance. The area can be busy but for a good reason. I find myself there quite often and enjoy the amenities. read more

I saw last week on Facebook that Adam River from 95.7 was going to be present and Chaz the Cream Puff man from the Big E Express at the Blue Back Square handing out cream puffs samples from 3:30-5:30 today. I ventured out with my kids to check it out. They thought I was crazy but went with me to see what I was taking about. They both were amazed how big these cream puffs are and the filling is so fresh. I told them the 1st time ever having them was at the Big E back in the day. With today being the opening day for the Big E it was an added touch to the West Hartford community to have a visit from Chaz. Next best thing to driving up to West Springfield tonight. Chaz was so photogenic and super nice and thank you for making my afternoon. I plan to get more cream puffs on Wednesday when I go which is also Connecticut Day at the Big E. read more

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Don't expect huge malls or anything but in such space, you can find good stores/restaurants/libraries/multiplex. It's quite beautiful and scenery one. In the night, it looks got a makeover and so beautiful it is... My pics are from when X'mas was around the corner.Worth a try...and it's is hardly 2-3 miles from downtown... read more

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I was recommended to visit the place by locals. I think this place is just okay! I didnt see anything big or a must see here. They do have few shops here and there. So if your exp read more

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I remember when BBS was in the planning stages, there was a lot of doom and gloom nay-saying about traffic congestion, parking problems and crime and all of that. I think it's safe to say that all of that was fiction. I've enjoyed Blue Back Square for years. Parking is a snap at their garages, a far cry better than playing demolition derby for the Farmington Avenue parking spots in West Hartford Center. We visit Crate and Barrel a lot, shop at REI, and have dined at Rizzuto's, Besito, Cheesecake Factory, World of Beer, and Bar Louis. It's always a very pleasant experience and we have felt very safe here. read more

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I agree with the last poster in that BBS is "essentially West Hartford Center" which to me means, kind of stuck of people shopping at stuck up shops. Yes, I'm a WH native and I've always thought of WH Center and BBS as neat if I was from out of town. Personally, this middle class chick can't really afford to shop there and for the most part, aside from Crate and Barrel, there's nothing I need (fancy jeans? boutique after boutique?). I will say--I do love the restaurants and that it's very walkable and nice. I think it's awesome that there are concert in BBS on Wednesday nights and overall it is a neat area to have in my hometown (but only for hanging out or eating, in my opinion). Also, what's up with the other town residents shopping at the nearby Whole Foods who act like they can't help to bag their groceries. Sure Whole Foods is expensive but COME ON...your arms seem to be able to grab that AmEx card outta your wallet, can't you toss an item or two into the paper bag you're wasting that the kid is bagging up for you? (they rarely say THANKS either). read more

This shopping & dining destination area reminds me of similar spots in SCali. Higher end shops and better restaurants, well manicured city streets, seasonal decorating, planters, and old school street lights create a pleasant area. These types of theme created areas may be viewed by some w irritation as they are wholly corporate contrived set ups that drive out smaller mom & pop boutique shops. Fair enough. Ample parking but make note of the prepaid meter set up. read more

I don't know how BBS gets voted the best shopping center in CT. More than half of the storefronts are empty. The management needs to do a much better job of attracting tenants that will stay for the long haul (i.e., LOCAL VENDORS). Granted, there are some good spots to get a bite (Spot Coffee, Rizzutto's), but if you want to really shop, you're not going to find anything here. Management needs to address the vacancy rate here quickly, or WH is going to be very, very sorry they allowed this to be built. Take the walk up the stairs, cross the street and head to West Hartford Center, where shops are open and things are going. You'll love it. read more

My favorite place for a walk and window shop in West Hartford! This square was my haven as I lived in WH for a period of time. My heart goes out to one place that I will always treasure of Blue Black Square. Here's a clue, it's not a store or restaurant, but the Noah Webster LIBRARY! I am a bookworm at heart. There was also the Barnes and Noble, when I needed to browse new titles. When I wasn't checking out my books, I worked out at NYSC and bought groceries at Whole Foods. As for the restaurants, the mister and I went to the Cheesecake Factory a couple of times. Also, tried the Counter and Moe's Southwest Grill. Shopped my heart out at Ann Taylor and window shopped at Crate and Barrel. I will be back to return to my favorite square of all, Blue Black! read more

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Very difficult to figure out the parking situation when not familiar. Where are the so called kiosks??? No one to guide you. Frustrating!! Is handicapped parking free?? No idea what any of it meant....by your license plate?? Being in pain it was hard enough trying to find the offices... read more

My all time favorite shops! I come here with my family almost everyday! One time I came with my brother his girlfriend and my mom and dad. And let me just say that it was the best Cheesecake Factory EVER!!!!!!! I really love how they have a Barnes and nobels and a Starbucks inside! One thing I'm disappointed about is they closed the green tea house that was my favorite tea shop. But there's always west farms. Anyways I still love this place! Pps: the parking is kinda difficult. read more

Blue Back Square is a shopping / dining area a couple of blocks square, with a Cheesecake Factory at its nucleus, among other stores and Restaurants. Parking is easy and abundant and Farmington Ave. is conveniently located a block away for more dining / shopping opportunities. read more

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Blue Back Square is essentially West Hartford Center.... and what's not to love? EVERYTHING is here! All of your shopping needs can be met. All of your Epicurean needs can surely be met! The wine shops, the bakeries, the coffeehouses, boutiques, the salons. The area is beautiful. The people are friendly. You can walk your dog throughout the area. It's fabulous! What a great way to spend an afternoon walking and shopping in this area. **There is a parking garage. read more

I like the Blue Back Square development. It's basically smart city planning. It's nice to see vibrant shopping still going on at a center of a town. Other town centers have closed up in favor of outlying strip malls and monstrous parking lots, at the expense of destroying valuable forests and farmland. I mean, c'mon, think of the poor fuzzy woodland animals? Smart city planning is about recycling/reuse and not about expanding outwards. Blue Back Square is hardly a new concept. It's the same style of shopping your grandparents and great grandparents were familiar with many decades ago. Back then, they didn't have mega malls on the outskirts of the suburbs to drive to. And they weren't afraid to step outdoors when the temperature dropped below 60 degrees. Yea I understand this is New England. But you can complain and lock yourself indoors for months or you can embrace it and just dress appropriately. I'm fairly sure most people won't melt in the summertime or turn into an icicle in the wintertime. Besides, a little fresh air never hurt anyone. So kudos to the West Hartford planning commission for creating a desirable central destination and preventing shoppers from leaving town. Lastly, these types of outdoor shopping districts are sort of common in California. It's nice to see them start appearing on the East Coast. I just wish more Connecticut towns had more of them. read more

Picture perfect gorgeous. Very clean and manicured. Paid parking lots with security, which is wonderful compared to the cut throat parking atmosphere in West Hartford Center. Some of the bars here are very pretentious, and operate like this is Manhattan. And the stores can be very high end, which isn't in my wheelhouse right now. They have a cute small movie theater. The Cheesecake Factory always has a 2 hour wait (WHY?!?!). But there are some good drinks to be drank, food to eaten, and items to be shopped. There is also a Hartford Hospital outpatient center, and a gym. It is very close to very expensive apartments. The parking garages have a few spots to recharge electric cars, which is great (for tenants only). read more

I love Blue Back Square. It's like a transport to another place where one can happily venture out to and get away from it all for some quality retail therapy and a meal. With so much to see and convenient pedestrian walks, I have spent many an afternoon or evening here. read more

Hate or it love it -- Blue Back Square has grown to be a popular hub of activity for locals and out-of-towners. From its earliest days of conception to today, it has grown to be a fun destination filled with great shopping, delightful dining and entertainment. Centrally located in West Hartford and regionally accessible to all of Central Connecticut, Blue Back Square is where people shop, eat, work, and even live. On any given week I find myself looking for gear at REI, shopping at Whole Foods, or dining in at one of the many eateries. Adjacent to West Hartford Center, Blue Back Square is one of the more trendy, hip, and cute downtown areas in CT. Parking is only free on Sundays, otherwise street or garage parking is $$$. During the warmer months, bike or walk to the square and you'll find live music put on by local artists. read more

Great place to go if you just want to chill, parking is super cheap. They have a Cheesecake Factory plus other great places to eat. Plus a movie theater, Barns & Nobles and etc. Great in the summertime, in the winter time definitely bring a warm jacket if your gonna be walking around but overall great spot to just relax and shop a bit. read more

I love Blue Back Square! It's modern and clean, with cute stores and restaurants, and easy parking for a reasonable price.

Hello. I'm the ghost of Noah Webster past, here to remind you about spelling, punctuation and subject-verb agreement... or am I maybe, just maybe, an encephalitic alien come to snatch you in the night for close observation and cruel laboratory experimentation back on my home planet? Mwaa-ha-ha-haaaa! read more

Blue Back Square - Come, come to the grammar side... - Shopping Centers Near Me - West Hartford, Connecticut

I am giving this place 4 stars, because this is a place I like to show off to people. It is new, it is trendy, and it is in a very rich spot of West Hartford. There are a lot of cool businesses in this district. You got fine dining restaurants, elegant clothing and flashy chain stores, so you can catch all types of people here. Blue Back Square has a huge bookstore, fresh frozen yogurt shop, a trendy and technically savvy Japanese restaurant, a sports and fitness club, a hiking store, Whole Foods, an sophisticated and pricier version of Ikea, a library, a movie theater, condominiums/apartments and much much more! This place is great to go if you're bored and just want to walk around, or as a rendezvous to meet up with friends and/or family. I tell you though some businesses here are pretty expensive, so it all depends on how much money you normally carry in your pocket. I mean those clothing stores are pretty expensive, but Barnes and Noble and the other little chains are pretty common with prices. There are two indoor parking lots, if you can't find anywhere to park on the street. Oh, by the way, you have to pay for both those types of parking. read more

Pretty hard to avoid Blue Back Square if you're in West Hartford. It has a lot of different shops, ranging from restaurants to a movie theater. It's definitely a good place to "entertain" yourself. It has a nice outdoor space, which people will leverage during the summer time for just hanging out. I know that Blue Back is described as a "shopping center", however, I think "dining center" would be a lot more accurate. There's by far more restaurant/bar/specialty food shops in Blue Back than shops. The highlight of this place (for me) is that it has one of the three Cheesecake Factories in the state. Street parking is available, as is garage parking. On weekends, valet parking is also available for free, if you show your receipt of a certain purchase amount. There's been a lot of changes of shops and restaurants in the area. It's been really cool to see new things pop up. read more

BBS is a great place to wander around and window shop. My husband and I like to go on a $10 date with chocolate at Munson's and a coffee at one of the hot spots. I ALWAYS stop at the library to get the free two hour parking stamp (with item checkout). We almost never actually buy anything here or in the Center because of the high prices, and we rarely ever eat at the restaurants. Overall, I enjoy the experience and it's a lovely area to walk around at any time of day or any season. read more

Its okay. I think this was mentioned in Newsweek as a shopping destination, but its more of a dining destination. For the Cheesecake Factory, because only people with no souls hate the Cheesecake Factory. The movie theater is also great, very nice inside and the lineup is always on point. $6 Tuesdays make this a great destination. Unfortunately I feel like there are not enough shops to draw me to the Square directly. There are a lot of empty storefronts, and a smattering of shopping spots. Most of them are very specific, like the Green Tea House or the gift stores, so its only something I'd go to if I was looking for that. The clothing stores are all for females. Crate and Barrel is great, but incredibly expensive. West Elm is coming, but is also expensive. I like how theres live music in front of Posh Tomato. Parking is only $.75 for a half hour, which is doable as long as you don't stay too long. Dont forget to cross Main Street to check out the rest of West Hartford Center. read more

My wife love to come here and shop. Our favorite is to go to the stores then head to Rizzutos for a glass of wine.

I had no idea that you could pack this much dining and retail into what seemed like a tight space. Tucked in West Hartford center, this development sits just off of Main Street. There are a variety of unique businesses sprinkled in with the likes of Ann Taylor, REI, and Black and White Market. Some of the boutiques that line the streets of Blue Back Square I have never heard of. Parking in the garage has never proven to be a huge challenge for me, though I do prefer to find metered parking if I can on the streets. I've done some shopping here, though generally my visits have been to use the NY Sports Club, which is in the middle of Blue Back Square. If you get there early enough in the morning, the meters are not in effect and perhaps you can score some free parking. For me personally, I'd rather drive a little farther to the Westfarms mall for my retail therapy, though I can see why this development has been successful. They have been able to mix eclectic options with some tried and true brands, which prove to be a worthy retail competitor to the likes of Westfarms. read more

I used to come to Blue Back all the time with friends, it is home to the Bow-Tie Cinema, Pinkberry, Cheesecake Factory, clothing retailers, wine bars, and high-end restaurants (Vinted, formerly Uncorked, Rizuttos) as well as fancy barber shops, a spa, and hair styling joint. Prime location to bring a date. Romantic and inviting! Not even for dining, but just the experience of walking around because there is routine live music and performances in the center. Parking garages charge about $.75/half hour if I'm not mistaken, and street parking is limited. If you don't fill the meter you WILL get a ticket for about $20. And don't even think about parking at Whole Foods across the street! I cut back on coming here and now spend more time in West Hartford Center, on the Farminton Ave. and Lasalle strips. There is more variety, and room to hop from one venue to another for drinks, apps, dinner and dessert - and is within walking distance from Blue Back. read more

BBS has many options for restaurants and bars. Very little options for clothing shopping. Seems like the retail stores don't last. Black and White, Bose etc are gone. Fortunately, West Farms is just a few miles away. I was born and raised in West Hartford. I remember when the center had 2 restaurants. Edelweiss and Mapletree. Great to see how much it has changed through the years. read more

A great shopping center. I very much prefer stores that are intermixed with boutiques as well as the ability to walk around in the fresh air. I wish more mall type stores would go this route! I highly recommend the experience (plus make sure to stop at World of Beer for a drink after your long day of shopping). read more

BBS is a shique central shopping area in West Hartford. There are some nice shops, restaurants, bars, and a movie theater. Unfortunately, it is not very big and can be pricey. The crowd can, at times, be dominated by teenyboppers or pretentious locals. read more

One of my favorite places to shop and hang out EVER. Right now it is so beautifully decorated for the holidays.....it has such a quaint feel to it too. Just to walk around or sit outside and chill (they sometimes have live bands in the warmer months) is just a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. Some of my top favorite places in Blue Back: Muse Paint Bar, Flemings, Besito, Giftology, Janie and Jack, White House Black Market, The Bow Tie Cinema, Vinted and of course Whole Foods is right across the street. So much do to, so much to see, Parking is convenient as well. Love you Blue Back!! read more

Just ordered a sandwich at whole foods in blueback Square in West Hartford. The person making my sandwich changed her gloves and then touched other food that was still dirty on her counter from the previous customer. She then proceeded to use the same knife from a tuna sandwich from her last customer and would have unless I brought it to her attention. She then cleaned the knife with the same gloves that she was making my sandwich with. To get the mustards out she banged the tips of the condiment bottles against the dirty side of the counter. Gross in every way. The people working there don't look happy and definitely have not been trained in customer service and proper food handling. Next I approached the salad bar. There were visible flies in the lettuce and other ingredients looked as if they had been there for a week. read more

A great place to hang out and eat, window shop or read a good book. Family friendly with lots to do!

Cheesecake Factory, W Hartford (blue back sq) We tried to arrange a lunch here (party of 5) including two people in wheelchairs over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. CF doesn't take reservations but we had called the day before to see if they could seat us in mid-afternoon and were told it would be no problem. Upon putting our names in, we were told that the wait would be 15-20 min. After 25 minutes, we inquired, and were told that staff was waiting for a couple of tables to clear out so that they could seat us in a combined table. Meanwhile, parties that had come in after us were being seated. The manager apologized profusely but said there was nothing she could do. When we finally were seated, about 40 minutes after we'd arrived, service was slow, and we ultimately had to order only appetizers in order to meet our transportation schedule. The manager swooped by and comp'ed the sole dessert without any discussion or explanation (about $8 on a $60 bill). We appreciated this, but really feel that this particular CF locale is the opposite of mobility-friendly. If you need accommodations for handicapped persons, this restaurant isn't your best option. Although the location across the street from a movie theater is appealing, we won't be back; they are just not that interested in accommodating diverse populations. We felt pretty marginalized. The food? Yeah, it's fine - overpriced as is the norm for these chain restaurants. read more