Print

Market at Hartford 21 Owes Vendors Cash

...and that includes the city.

By Jeff Cohen

January 27, 2012

The Market at Hartford 21 was open for just six months in downtown Hartford. And as WNPR's Jeff Cohen reports, the failed grocery store still owes money to vendors -- and the city.

Stuart Woronecki owns Stonewall Apiary in Hanover. Last year, he delivered honey, creamed honey, and honey butter to the market. And he's still looking to get paid.

"I think the order came to less than $150, and I delivered it on April 1, 2011, and I left the invoice, and I never heard anything from them ever again."

The market was supposed to be a big downtown draw -- or at least one of those amenities that made living in the center of Hartford more attractive. But it tanked not long after it opened. The city now says it's working to figure out a new business model for the space.

Woronecki took his effort to get paid public on Facebook this week. But he isn't the only one left without cash by the market's former operators -- husband and wife Ryan and Kelleanne Jones. The folks at Smyth's Trinity Farm in Enfield say they're out over $500 in milk and yogurt. And the city's owed about $400,000 for early operating costs. Here's David Panagore, the city's chief operating officer.

"They tried their hardest, they worked their hearts out to put this market in place and they've been very honorable to us throughout the whole process. So we fully expect them to be able to over the course of time make good on their debts."

The Jones's attorney did not respond to requests for comment.