Demo Work Begins At Vernon Denny's To Make Way For Coffee Business

VERNON, CT — Demolition work began Wednesday on the old Denny's in Vernon to make way for a new drive-in coffee shop that will literally be plopped down on the parcel.

It's been more than four month in the making. A "Now Hiring" sign sits on front of the fenced-off parcel.

In September, Vernon native Sharon Parmar, who said the Tri-City Plaza was "a big part of my weekends" when growing up, announced she is returning to her hometown to open up a coffee place with a unique customer service strategy at the old Denny's location. She secured a lease for the spot about two months before that.

The coffee business is named 7 Brew. Parmar is the co-owner of 7 Brew along with her husband, Manraj Parmar, her sister, Kiran Kapoor, and Kiran's husband, Rohan Kapoor. They also own a 7 Brew in Wallingford.

"For Kiran and me, the Vernon location is particularly special, as we both grew up in the area. I used to live just up the road and attended Lake Street Elementary and Rockville High School," Parmar said. "Opening a business in a plaza I spent so much time in growing up feels like a full-circle moment."

The new business will be housed in a prefabricated 510-square foot building, Parmar said. She said the building will arrive at the plaza and be put in place.

The 7 Brew experience includes customers being greeted by staffers, who take orders over two drive-through lanes (similar to Chick-fil-A). There is no inside seating.

"A staff member is with a customer from order to pick-up," Parmar said.