The owners of a successful indoor children's play/party area in Stamford are expanding to West Hartford following recent PZC approval.
WEST HARTFORD, CT — The old location of a now-shuttered children's furniture/accessories retailer will now become a place for parents to take their children to have fun.
The West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission voted 5-0 earlier this month in favor of a special use permit for a developer to open a new indoor children's playground/amusement facility there.
It will be located at 1445 New Britain Ave., across the street from the busy Westfarms Mall in the Corbin's Corner section of town.
The specific address is 1433 New Britain Ave., which was a "buybuy Baby" children's furniture/toy/accessories store whose on-again, off-again saga of existence ended with its final closure in October 2024.
Specifically, the PZC approved a permit allowing for the operation of an indoor amusement facility at the location, which is owned by SF WH Property Owner LLC out of Bethesda, MD.
The applicant is Angel Land WeHa LLC out of Hamden, which operates the successful "Angel Land" indoor playground/amusement center in Stamford.
With West Hartford adding myriad new apartment buildings to its housing stock, with an eye toward keeping young families in town, the project's developers told the PZC they're looking to expand and benefit from the anticipated population shift.
This will be the company's second playground/amusement center.
According to the project narrative submitted to the town, the facility will be geared toward children 10 and under.
"Our goal is to create a wholesome and engaging environment where children can enjoy physical activity, social interaction, and developmental play, regardless of weather conditions," wrote Angel Land WeHa LLC.
The West Hartford "Angel Land" will occupy more than 19,000 square feet of space, with the change-in-use special permit needed since it was only cleared to be a retail operation previously.
According to the developers, the new location will feature:
• Soft play climbing structures.
• Slides and obstacle courses.
• Ball pits and "foam zones."
• Sensory-friendly areas for toddlers.
• Imagination play zones (such as mini-markets, kitchens, construction areas).
"The space will be designed with age-appropriate play structures, party rooms, and interactive play areas, adhering to the highest standards of safety, accessibility, and cleanliness," wrote the developers.
Citing "strong customer demand and positive community feedback," the developers said West Hartford was the right place to build its second "Angel Land."
"We anticipate serving local residents, daycares, and elementary school groups, drawing foot traffic that supports the surrounding businesses in the area," wrote Angel Land.
According to the company's website, admission to the Stamford facility starts at $17.99 per child on weekdays and $19.99 on weekends and holidays, with additional fees for additional adults (two are allowed with admission) and bounce house fees.
Monthly passes are available for $59.99 per child, with discounts for multiple-child families.
Birthday party packages range from $450 to $600, according to the company's website.
This approval comes nearly a year after the PZC said "yes" to another indoor recreation/amusement facility on that property — "Level99," which is geared more toward adults, specifically younger adults with disposable incomes.
Level99 is "a first-of-its-kind social gaming playground featuring over 50 real-world physical and mental challenges and games, craft drinks, and elevated dining."
Level99 is going into the former Sears space in the same area as "Angel Land," and it is expected to open later this year.
For the minutes of the Aug. 4 West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.
For all documents submitted to the PZC regarding the 'Angel Land' development, click on this link.