A new business with new owners is taking over the location of the now-former Electric Blue Cafe in Tolland. Patch StaffTOLLAND, CT — Work is underway for a new establishment that will take the place of the Electric Blue Cafe in Tolland.It's a new business, yes, but it's essentially the same theme.So, "The Blue," as it was known in local circles, is gone and, it its place will be the Lion's Den Cabaret at 62 Merrow Road in Tolland, according to town records and a large sign on the building. A sepa...
A new business with new owners is taking over the location of the now-former Electric Blue Cafe in Tolland.
Patch Staff
TOLLAND, CT — Work is underway for a new establishment that will take the place of the Electric Blue Cafe in Tolland.
It's a new business, yes, but it's essentially the same theme.
So, "The Blue," as it was known in local circles, is gone and, it its place will be the Lion's Den Cabaret at 62 Merrow Road in Tolland, according to town records and a large sign on the building. A separate sign clearly indicates "new ownership."
The club is billed as "Connecticut’s premier gentleman's club and cabaret," on social media channels, and it will include "gourmet" food offerings.
The plaza is situated at the Exit 68, Interstate 84 interchange.
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Tolland Director of Planning and Development David Corcoran told Patch Wednesday that the new business will indeed have a completely new ownership. Building permits have been taken out for the renovations, but not yet secured are endorsements to run as an adult-oriented establishment, or to simply operate, he said.
Town records show that an entity called B&E Capital Investors Holdings Corp. has owned the plaza since Jan. 28.
The change comes in the aftermath of a federal and state raid in March 2023 that left several principles of the establishment with sex- and tax-related charges. The owner, manager and a bouncer at The Blue were charged with several crimes in a 12-count federal indictment, federal authorities said.
Not everyone in town was jumping up and down over the news of its replacement.
One longtime resident who requested anonymity simply shook his head and said, "interesting." When asked to elaborate, the resident just said, "interesting."
Another longtime resident said it's not "fitting" for the area.
"It just doesn't make sense," the resident said. "The area has been full of bad business fits. Think about out this — we have had three national championships at UConn over the past three years and this is the exit many people use to head to UConn to see basketball games. First, we didn't have a drive-through at a Dunkin' there until recently and then we had a strip joint. Now that is being replaced by another strip joint."
The resident paused and then added, "It's just not a good image."