It’s a Connecticut shopping center known for its great views.
And The Shops at Farmington Valley continues to grow with multiple retailers recently opening their doors and more on the way later this year.
Among the new businesses on their way to the Canton shopping center is activewear brand FP Movement. The location is currently under construction and is expected to open early this summer and will be the first location to move into the state.
“FP Movement is a really exciting brand,” said Elizabeth Ackerman, general manager for The Shops at Farmington Valley. “It’s a new launch from Free People and they bring fun and energetic clothing that is just energetic and unique for the active lifestyle whether it’s fitness or picking your kids up from school.”
FP Movement will move into the space previously occupied by CycleBar. Free People spawned its FP Movement activewear brand in 2014 and opened its first standalone FP Movement store in 2020 in California. Although this is the first FP Movement store in the state, there are Free People stores at the Westfarms Mall, Danbury Fair Mall and Westport Row.
FP Movement joins 45 other retailers and restaurants at The Shops at Farmington Valley, located at 110 Albany Turnpike, in Canton.
“We’ve had some amazing momentum over the last year with the arrival of Sweetgreen, Warby Parker and the announcement of FP Movement.” Ackerman said. “Last year, we opened VIO Med Spa and Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe. We feel our community has asked for these businesses and it’s brought a lot of excitement for us.”
VIO Med Spa and Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe both opened last November.
“Everyone loves a local candy shop,” Ackerman said of Nutmeg Sweet Shoppe. “The owner (Kristy Barto) is local and from Torrington and makes a lot of her own candy. People are really enjoying that through the holidays and now through Valentine’s Day. They are doing well.”
Warby Parker opened its Canton location on Jan. 25.
“The opening has been great, and Warby Parker has been excited to connect with the Canton community in person,” a Warby Parker spokesperson said. “Warby Parker brings a unique blend of designer-quality frames, comprehensive eye care offerings, and a mission-driven approach to each new location they open.”
There are seven Warby Parker locations in the state and 275 across the U.S. and Canada.
“The Shops at Farmington Valley store is Warby Parker’s first location in the Canton area, which means the brand can offer holistic eye care to an even greater number of Canton customers. When opening new retail locations, Warby Parker often expands into areas where it already has a customer base online. The focus is on creating a best-in-class customer experience across all channels and making it as easy as possible for customers to access eye care, no matter how they’re shopping,” a Warby Parker spokesperson said.
Sweetgreen, a fast-casual salad chain restaurant, is opening on Feb. 18.
“At Sweetgreen, we get excited about communities that share our passion for real, delicious food and meaningful connections,” said Sweetgreen chief development officer Chris Tarrant. “The Shops of Farmington Valley is the perfect fit as Canton’s go-to spot for shopping and dining, and we can’t wait to open our doors on February 18.”
The company has 245 locations nationwide and The Shops at Farmington Valley marks its fourth location in Connecticut, with plans to open its fifth location in New Haven later this year.
“We’re so grateful for the love we’ve received across Connecticut since opening our first restaurant in the state in 2020. Now, we’re especially excited to join Canton welcoming community and team up with amazing local partners like Flower Lab by Angie and Giv Coffee to celebrate opening day,” Tarrant said.
Tarrant said that for every meal purchased on opening day, Sweetgreen will donate a meal to Food Rescue US to “nourish people experiencing food insecurity in Hartford County.”
Ackerman said many new residents have relocated to the Canton area over the last few years and they have had a desire to see businesses such as Sweetgreen, FP Movement and Warby Parker.
“They’ve seen these brands across the country, and they now want to see them here in their neighborhood,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman said more retailers and restaurants are in the works for next year but nothing to be announced yet. Some experts have said shopping plazas are becoming more popular as some malls decline in traffic.
“Our guests love our landscaping we are fortunate to be surrounded by the Litchfield Hills and so there are trees on three sides of the property if you look up and we are sort of at the base of the Litchfield Hills and you travel up Route 44, which is a very nice drive,” Ackerman said. “We also have large sidewalks, and a nice neighborhood feel. We hear that from our community.”
Among the other offerings at The Shops at Farmington Valley are Sur La Table, Barnes & Noble, Mercato Italian Kitchen and Bar, 110 Grill, Old Navy, Woofgang Bakery and Grooming, Pure Barre, Sephora, Anastasio Home, The Paper Store, Francesca’s, Dicks Sporting Goods, ShopRite and more.
Originally Published: February 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM EST