Newtown Hospitality Group Launches Blu Pointe Mercato in Cheshire

This blog post takes a look at Market Hospitality Group’s latest moves: opening Blu Pointe in Cheshire this fall, expanding Mercato Italian Kitchen & Bar in the same shopping center, and growing their Connecticut footprint with new concepts and jobs. These changes are already shifting the dining scene from shoreline towns to the western suburbs, and now Cheshire joins a string of Market Hospitality locations across the state.

Cheshire poised to welcome Blu Pointe and Mercato this fall

Blu Pointe plans to open at The Shops at Stone Bridge in Cheshire, aiming for a September debut that’ll shake up the center’s steak-and-seafood lineup. This will be the second Blu Pointe for Market Hospitality Group, after their original spot on the Hudson River in Newburgh, New York, which opened back in 2015.

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In the same shopping center, Mercato Italian Kitchen & Bar expects to launch by the end of June. Diners and shoppers will get a fresh Italian option right alongside Blu Pointe.

Market Hospitality Group already runs Mercato locations in Canton, Shelton, and Southbury, stretching its reach well beyond its Newtown beginnings. The company first thought about launching its Marketplace Kitchen and Bar concept with Mercato, but they decided to go with two more specialized ideas instead. They wanted to offer both breadth and depth in Connecticut’s dining scene.

Marketplace Kitchen and Bar has six Connecticut spots: Avon, Danbury, Newington, Newtown, Shelton, and Woodbury.

Executives say Cheshire stands out as an attractive, underserved market for steaks and seafood. Regency Centers, which operates The Shops at Stone Bridge, has pulled together a solid mix of retail and restaurants.

The plan shows how towns like Cheshire, Newtown, Canton, Shelton, and Southbury fit into a bigger push to raise the bar for dining in the Greater Hartford area—and honestly, maybe even beyond.

Economic impact and workforce growth

Site leaders expect the Cheshire project to create around 200 new jobs across Blu Pointe and Mercato. The timing lines up with a wave of retail openings at The Shops at Stone Bridge that started last fall.

Most spaces should be up and running by this fall, though the on-site hotel is still in the works. Folks in nearby towns and counties are watching closely, as developers and operators try to figure out if there’s real demand for upscale steak and seafood in Connecticut towns like Danbury, Newington, and Woodbury.

Market Hospitality Group also plans to bring its Cavernous Culinary footprint to Glastonbury and West Hartford. That signals a statewide push to make Blu Pointe and Mercato anchors in both retail centers and town centers.

The company’s Connecticut portfolio is starting to look like a map of opportunity, connecting the dots from the Newtown corridor to the Farmington Valley and the Capitol Region.

What this means for Connecticut diners

Cheshire gets Blu Pointe and Mercato. That means more choices for steak, seafood, and Italian food in a retail area that’s really starting to buzz.
Newtown keeps rolling out new Market Hospitality Group spots. It’s kind of become the go-to place for launching fresh dining concepts.
Canton, Shelton, and Southbury already have Mercato. The brand’s definitely making its mark in Connecticut.
Avon, Danbury, Newington, and Woodbury feature Marketplace Kitchen and Bar. Each spot offers a menu that’s a little different, which is honestly pretty refreshing.
Glastonbury and West Hartford are next up for Market Hospitality Group. Sounds like Blu Pointe and Mercato could pop up in even more Connecticut towns soon.

If you’re in Waterbury or New Haven, Blu Pointe might not open up right away. Still, the group’s statewide plans hint at a broader impact—think more jobs, new places to eat, and a livelier scene for both shopping and dining.

Market Hospitality Group keeps building its Connecticut roots with several concepts under one roof. Honestly, it feels like the state’s ready for bigger crowds, bolder flavors, and who knows—maybe a few surprises in the years ahead.

Here is the source article for this story: Newtown hospitality group to open new restaurant in Cheshire

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