Blue Back Square, located east of West Hartford Center, and South of Bishops Corner, is a new commercial development. Talk of the new square started in 2003. Construction lasted from late 2006 to early 2008. Blue Back Square was named after the Blueback Speller, by Noah Webster

Noah Webster

Noah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...

, who was once a West Hartford Resident. Blueback, as it is commonly referred to, is the latest of the seven shopping plazas in West Hartford, Connecticut

West Hartford, Connecticut

West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....

.

Controversy

In 2003 when the project was first introduced, some people thought the Town of West Hartford announced they would be assisting the builder financially, that meant millions of tax dollars going toward another shopping center (there are currently seven shopping centers). The town decided to have a referendum

Referendum

A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...

 to settle the argument. Citizens made yard signs that said

"No Town Money, No Blueback"

The options on the ballot were Yes/No Blueback, Yes/No Town Money. The results: Yes Blueback, Yes Town Money.

Shops at Blueback

Blueback offers a variety of shops, such as Ann Taylor, Per Se Aveda Lifestyle Salon & Spa

Aveda

Aveda Corporation is a company headquartered in Blaine, Minnesota, that manufactures skin care, cosmetics, perfume, hair care products, and trains students in cosmetology and esthiology at the Aveda Institutes in Minneapolis, New York City, Washington, DC, Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and many other...

 http://perseaveda.com/, Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble, Inc. is the largest book retailer in the United States, operating mainly through its Barnes & Noble Booksellers chain of bookstores headquartered at 122 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District in Manhattan in New York City. Barnes & Noble also operated the chain of small B. Dalton...

, Bose, Brookstone

Brookstone

Brookstone is a chain of retail stores in the United States. Its first store was opened in 1973 in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Its headquarters are currently located in Merrimack, New Hampshire....

, Crate and Barrel

Crate and Barrel

Crate & Barrel is a 170+ store chain of American retail stores, based in Northbrook, Illinois, specializing in housewares, furniture , and home accessories. Its corporate name is Euromarket Designs, Inc. The company is wholly owned by Otto GmbH.-Founding:Gordon and Carole Segal opened the first...

, Criterion Cinemas http://www.bowtiecinemas.com/blue-back.html, The Counter

The Counter

The Counter is a high end fast casual restaurant chain in the United States and Ireland offering custom topped gourmet burgers. Diners receive a clipboard to "Build Your Own Burger"...

, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Fleming's

Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar is a restaurant chain owned by OSI Restaurant Partners headquartered in Tampa, Florida. It is a formal attire restaurant and serves mainly steaks and seafood. Founded in 1998 by Paul Fleming and Bill Allen. Paul Fleming was previously a founder of P. F. Chang's...

, Janie & Jack

Gymboree Corporation

The Gymboree Corporation is a San Francisco-based corporation that operates a chain of around 900 specialty retail stores of children's apparel in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Canada. It has nearly 500 Play and Music centers worldwide...

, It's a Grind Coffee House

It's a Grind Coffee House

It's A Grind Coffee House is a coffee house franchise which sells a variety of coffees, teas, blended drinks, and bakery items. The name "It's a Grind Coffee House" is a registered trademark of Praise International North America, Inc, which is the North America affiliate of Gloria Jean's Coffees...

, LaPerla Fine Jewelers http://www.laperlajewelers.com/, Lucy

Lucy Activewear

lucy Activewear, formerly known as lucy.com, is an American clothing retailer based in Alameda, California. Founded in November 1999 by former Nike executives, it specializes in activewear for women, including clothing intended for use during yoga...

, Moe's Southwest Grill

Moe's Southwest Grill

Moe's Southwest Grill is an American chain of fast casual style Tex-Mex restaurants headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.Moe's was founded in Atlanta, Georgia, in December 2000, by Raving Brands. In August 2007, the brand was purchased by FOCUS Brands...

, Munson’s Chocolates http://www.munsonschocolates.com/, National Jean Company http://www.nationaljeancompany.com/, New York Sports Club, Origins http://www.origins.com/index.tmpl?ngextredir=1, Parfums du Jour, Sovereign Bank

Sovereign Bank

Sovereign Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Spanish Grupo Santander. Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the bank—whose principal market is in the Northeastern United States—has more than $77 billion in assets, operates 723 retail banking offices, over 2,300 ATMs and employs approximately 8,500...

, Stride Rite, The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. is a restaurant company in the United States. The company operates 165 upscale, casual, full-service dining restaurants: 151 under The Cheesecake Factory mark, 13 under the Grand Lux Cafe mark and one under the RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen mark...

, REI

Rei

-People:*Rei, the Biblical term for those who retained their allegiance to King David when Adonijah rebelled, as mentioned in 1 Kings 1:8*Rei Hiroe*Rei Igarashi*Rei Kawakubo*Rei Kikukawa*Rei Mikamoto*Rei Munakata*Rei Okamoto*Rei Omishi...

, Rizzuto’s Wood-Fired Kitchen & Bar http://www.rizzutos.com/, Umi Sushi + Tapas http://www.umisushitapas.com/, Uncorked http://www.uncorkedct.com/, White House Black Market

White House Black Market

White House | Black Market is an American fashion store targeting women 25 years of age and older. White House | Black Market is known for its sleek lines, and its focus on white, black, and other variants of the two colors...

, and Whole Foods

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market is a foods supermarket chain based in Austin, Texas which emphasizes "natural and organic products." The company has been ranked among the most socially responsible businesses and placed third on the U.S...

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New stores include Plate du Jour and Green Teahouse http://www.greenteahouse.us/. Plate du Jour features oven to table ceramics and is located on Memorial Road. The store carries a large and varied selection of ceramic tabletop, serving dishes and bakeware. The ceramic products are primarily stoneware and are suitable for oven, dishwasher, microwave, and table serving. Green Teahouse sells loose teas and tea sets. It is located at 40-42 Isham Road.

Besito Mexican Restaurant http://www.besitomex.com/ is located on the outskirts of Blue Back Square next to Fleming's and Crate and Barrel. "As impressive as the decor and service were, it was the food that walked away with top honors" (New York Times).

Cuvée http://www.cuveewesthartford.com/sellfolio.html, A New Nightspot Near Blue Back Square, Mixes Upscale With Affordable. This chic food, wine and champagne room is located across from Whole Foods on the edge of the designated Blue Back area. The atmosphere is a mix of Manhattan and Miami with a bit of European flair thrown in. You can sit at the round wine bar, or relax in some upholstered love seats and chairs, with privacy drapes and soft lighting.