Southington-based Bagel Shop To Expand Into Rocky Hill

ROCKY HILL/SOUTHINGTON, CT — A small Southington-based bagel shop operation plans to expand into Rocky Hill, with that town's zoning board last week approving plans to do just that.

The Rocky Hill Planning and Zoning Commission March 15 unanimously approved a special permit application from Southington resident Joseph Kim, who own's the Southington-based Kettle Bagels & Grill.

The new Rocky Hil Kettle Bagels will be located at 2162 Sileas Deane Highway in a former consignment shop/grocery store site.

Kim is listed as the applicant, but the property owner is listed as Darien-based 2172 Sileas Deane Highway LLC.

The restaurant will be a primarily take-out operation, but it will have 37 seats for guests at the 3,140-square-foot location.

In a letter submitted to the Rocky Hill PZC, Kim compared this operation with other fast-casual chains like Panera Bread and Starbucks.

Kim said many of the customers call in their orders ahead of time or order online in a "grab and go" operation. Some, Kim said, will order when they get inside.

He said customers would go in, pick up their food and beverages and leave quickly, with some opting to eat inside.

"We hope that the consideration for a new location in Rocky Hill will be a positive one and we hope to serve the residents of Rocky Hill with great food and great service," Kim said in his letter.

In 2021, Kim opened two Kettle Bagel sites in his hometown of Southington: one at 1217 Queen St., Southington, and the other at 979 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Plantsville.

According to Kim's special permit application, which was filed Feb. 17, all bagels would be made on the site.

In addition to bagels, the Rocky Hill site would also feature lunch and dinner menu items such as hamburgers, chicken wings, chicken sandwiches, wraps and steak and cheese sandwiches, among other items.

The Rocky Hill PZC did approve the special permit with a couple of conditions: that Kim find an acceptable location for the trash Dumpster and oil waste and pickups at night be made through the front door, not the rear.

For more information on the application and project documents, click on this link and scroll to Page 7.

For more information on Kettle Bagels & Grill, click on this link.