Vernon In 2025: The Year In Business

VERNON, CT — The year 2025 was one for flourishing family businesses in Vernon.

The Rockville General Hospital dilemma seems to have been solved and a big (ish) building has gone up on Route 83.

In September, Dr. Deborah Griffin and Chris Griffin, along with office wonder dog Brady, announced they were moving their respective businesses — Griffin Orthodontics and The Mindfulness Studio — to a new building they were constructing at 927 Hartford Turnpike, state Route 30.

The moved in about a month later.

For Chris Griffin, it was a chance to not only work at the same location as his wife, but set up a quieter, more comfortable location "at that blue building."

For Dr. Griffin, it was a refuge from an aging building on Route 83 as well as a chance to put her casual, friendly practice into a warm new home, complete with her own touches.

Speaking of family businesses, there's a saying that members of the Walsh family "have ketchup in their blood." And why not, the family owns seven area McDonald's restaurants.

In June, at the Reservoir Road McDonald's in Vernon, a fourth-generation "McWalsh" hit a milestone. Tyler Walsh, the general manager of the restaurant, formally received a McDonald's Outstanding General Manager Award — a national recognition given to just 1 percent of GMs each year. He's the manager of the year for the Stamford Region, which spans Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. The region boasts more than 500 locations.

In July, Shah's Halal Food staged a celebration that marked its grand opening at Tri-City Plaza celebration with owners Marlon and Pauline Ganesh and Chris and Marissa Hing offering up free meals.

Shah’s Halal started as a food cart in 2005 at 121st Street and Liberty Avenue in the Richmond Hill section of Queens in New York City. The founding family came to America from Afghanistan during the Soviet war and worked at a pizza place before taking the bold initiative of serving up family recipes.

Here are some other business stories that impacted life in Vernon in 2025:

• Conditions On Hartford HealthCare Takeover of Rockville General Hospital Designed For 'Continuity'
• Another Vintage Collectibles Store Leaving Plaza in Vernon
• Old School Record Store Going New School Business Route In Vernon
• Mural On Wall Of Vernon Business Celebrates Life In Town
• Walk-Up Ice Cream Window Now Officially Open In Vernon
• New Pizza/Family Restaurant Open For Business In Vernon
• Big Comeback Of 'Little' Restaurant To Be Official
• Vernon Residents Start Your Engines: Drive-Up Coffee Shop Set To Open
• Jersey Mike's Opens In Vernon With Focus On Food, RHS Fundraiser
• Pizza Hut To Make A Return To Vernon
• Owner Of 'Upscale' Tattoo Parlor In Vernon Happy With His New Home