New England Coffee Guy Brings Fresh, Local Taste to Southington

Jason Ostrout at New England Coffee Guy café, September 18. AVERY MARTIN PHOTOS

Jason Ostrout is the New England Coffee Guy – or at least, that is his professional title these days.

Ostrout recently moved his first permanent coffee shop, New England Coffee Guy, from West Hartford to Southington. The location in Factory Square at 168 Center Street soft-launched last week and will have a grand opening on October 26.

It is a café-version of Ostrout’s coffee cart business, which can be hired to serve coffee at events such as weddings, and is the newest addition to Factory Square, filling a void left by the closure of Perkatory Coffee Roasters at this location.

“It is an opportunity for me to come and open my own space. I use this space as my base of operations for my mobile business, so I can do public events and private events. We do a lot of cold brew prep and all of the syrups in-house, and it allows us to have a safe place to prepare that stuff,” said Ostrout.

The cart, which goes by the same name as the café, began operating in 2022. Ostrout spent two decades in the insurance business before that, and initially began his coffee company as a hobby. But after the cart gained popularity, he soon found his true calling was, as the name implies, being the “New England Coffee Guy”.

Now, four years later, Ostrout prides himself on providing fresh coffee with unique flavors for visitors. All the syrups are made on location, and Ostrout partners with local businesses to bring seasonal flavors to the table.

“I know a lot of places do make their own syrups, but what we try to target is supporting the local businesses and the local farms. So we're ordering local honey and local maple syrup. I'm hoping to work with Rogers Orchards on fruit. As much as I can get plums, I'm getting plums from Rogers,” said Ostrout. “Just whatever's in season; pears would be a great addition to coffee. So, really, working closely with those organizations.”

A vanilla plum latte made at the café.

That local approach extends to the actual coffee itself. Ostrout has created a custom blend, and it is roasted locally. He often revisits blends with staff, so that new ideas are always being explored.

“I love doing collaborations with local regional roasters. I have my own blend, but when we travel around the region, we get beans from other roasters and feature them on a pour-over,” said Ostrout. “We're really elevating the experience of supporting local businesses.”

Supporting the community goes beyond finding the best produce. New England Coffee Guy aims to be a part of the Southington culture, said Ostrout. Work by local artists will soon grace the walls, and local musicians may also stop by to perform for customers.

Southington High School athletes may even find special promotions in the shop.

“We'll be doing some local community things where, if Southington has a game on a Saturday, if they wear their Southington High School stuff, they can get a discount on a coffee. We want to bring the community together that way and show the pride of Southington,” said Ostrout.

Just as important as the product itself is the environment it is served in. Ostrout and members of his staff are passionate about music, and that can be seen throughout the café. A guitar leans against a vinyl record player, and customers are welcome to play their own records or create their own music in the space.

“I wanted to bring that same feel of my personality and my brand. We have vinyl, and we have a tape player and we have a CD player. Really, I want to center it around music and audio here,” said Ostrout.

The environment is more welcoming and warm than the old factory’s exterior may initially suggest. New England Coffee Guy is a space for customers to relax, said Ostrout, and enjoy their fresh and local coffee in a cozy and home-like place.

“We serve coffee in ceramic and glass mugs for people that want to sit in the space and hang out and stay as long as they want. We have Wi-Fi,” said Ostrout. “We want you to experience the place. I want people to put their feet up on a table.”

The café entrance is off the first-floor public area in Factory Square.

Two Fast Food Restaurants Proposed for Property near Queen St Exit

Rendering of the proposed structure at 20 Spring St. SOLLI ENGINEERING SLIDE

One of the first buildings visitors to Southington see if they take the westbound ramp off I-84 onto Queen Street has lain vacant since May, after the previous occupant, restaurant Plan B, shut down.

Now that may change, if a developer’s proposal for the property at 20 Spring Street receives town approval.

According to the plan, which was reviewed by Planning and Zoning Tuesday night, the 5,020 square foot property would be partitioned into two spaces of roughly equal size.

The space on the north side of the building would be occupied by a CAVA. CAVA – not to be confused with Cava Italian Restaurant on West Street – is relatively new, nationwide fast-food chain that specializes in Mediterranean-themed food.

The space on the south side of the structure would be occupied by a Panda Express. Panda Express, a more established fast-food chain, features what it calls ‘American Chinese cuisine.’

The two restaurants, which are described in the application as “high-turnover,” are clearly designed to appeal to travelers coming off the interstate for a quick pit stop.

To keep that turnover going, the Panda Express would also have a drive-thru window.

Comments made by members of Planning and Zoning at Tuesday night’s meeting focused on two areas: aesthetics and traffic burden.

Commissioner Mike Goodrich asked the presenter, Paul Rodrigues from Solli Engineering, to develop a fuller plan for landscaping the edges of the property, given its visibility and the presence of two dumpster pads on the site.

In addition, several members of the commission expressed concern about effects the proposed businesses would have on the traffic flow at one of Southington’s busiest intersections. The drive-thru and the proposed 62 parking spaces point to a large number of vehicles coming in and out.

Commissioner Susan Locks noted that the exit queu from the Chili’s across the street is often backed up. “So,” she said, “if we have a backup across the street, it’s going to become a nightmare.”

Commissioner Caleb Cowles told Rodrigues that when the traffic study comes out, they are going to be looking carefully at the impact on the queue on Spring Street.

Commission Chair Steve Walowski wrapped up the commission’s comments by alluding to restrictions that had been placed on the previous owners by the town to enhance traffic flow, and noted that the same restrictions may be on the table. He observed that the previous establishment “was a little more passive,” and that “adding a drive-thru… is a whole other animal.”

Planning and Zoning tabled any final decision on the application until its next meeting.

 

181 Main Street Proposal

 

In other Planning and Zoning news, the former site of Thai Spice at 181 Main Street will also be undergoing a major change if the town approves a plan presented by Kratzert, Jones & Associates on behalf of the property owner, Dong Qi Kai.

Under the plan, the existing structure would be demolished and a new, two-story building constructed in its place.

The first floor of the building would be designated for retail, while the second floor would have two studio apartments.

Comments from the commission on the plan were generally positive.

Proposed building at 181 Main St. KRATZERT, JONES & ASSOCIATES SLIDE

Town Council Opens New Park, Honors Achievements, and Ponders Barnes Renovations

Local officials cut the ribbon for the recently completed Plantsville pocket park at the intersection of Rt. 10 and West Main AVERY MARTIN PHOTOS

It was a busy night for the Southington Town Council, which started its meeting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new pocket park in Plantsville.

Complete with a mural of historic downtown Plantsville, the small green area features benches, flowers and picnic tables.

The council was joined by State Representatives Gale Mastrofrancesco, Chris Poulos, and Donna Veach, and State Senator Rob Sampson for the ribbon-cutting.

Council member Chris Palmieri signs document proclaiming September 14, 2026 'Edward S. Pocock Jr Day.'

The meeting then continued at the Weichsel Center. There the council and members of the local delegation proclaimed September 14, 2026, 'Edward S. Pocock Jr Day.'

Several council members shared fond memories of Pocock, who served in various community roles. The proclamation of Edward S. Pocock Jr Day was presented to Erica Pocock, Pocock’s granddaughter.

“Regardless of what role Ed played in the community, it was always clear that he put the best interests of this entire town first. I think that's a great quality to come by. Regardless of what the issue was, he was very thoughtful and deliberate. He made sure to do what was right for all of our residents. It's truly an honor to be able to second the motion to name the room after him,” said council member Palmieri.

The community room at the Calendar House was also renamed in Pocock’s honor.

The town council applauds the 11U All-Star Baseball Team.

Another proclamation honored Southington’s 11U All-Star Baseball Team, who won the district, section and state championships this year. Council members praised the team’s motto, ‘We Believe,’ and their persevering attitude.

“That belief became more than a slogan; it became their identity,” said council Vice-Chair Jennifer Clock. “‘We Believe’ wasn't just something they said; it was something they lived every day. And because of that unwavering belief, determination, and resilience, this team accomplished something extraordinary. They turned heartbreak into history. They transformed last year's disappointment into this year's triumph; they earned the title of state champions and brought home a championship that this community will celebrate for years to come.”

Representative Chris Poulos congratulates the 11U All-Star Baseball Team.

Christina Volpe, curator of the Barnes Museum, was also on hand at Monday’s meeting to update the council on recent developments at the museum.

“We brought over 100 people to downtown Southington this past summer alone, either by signing up for one of our walking tours or by signing up to do a private one,” said Volpe.

To realize the museum’s full potential, Volpe said, more funds will be needed to cover the cost of repairs. Renovations to the building’s aging exterior would allow it to survive for years longer and improve the look of the property. While some grants and donations have already been obtained, Volpe said the town council should help to fund the renovations.

Christina Volpe, curator of the Barnes Museum, speaks before the council.

Chris Iverson, president of the Friends of the Barnes Museum, urged council members to support the museum, explaining that renovations would allow it to continue to serve the public in the years to come.

“The museum, in my view, can be and should be the center of the history we have in our downtown,” said Iverson.

Volpe pointed out that the museum would be able to host more weddings and private events if restorations were made to the structure. “We had one private event last year, and that is because the Barnes Museum is in need of some repairs,” she said.

She also noted that even in its current state, the property has provided educational experiences to many Southington students. “We’ve reached 150 students across three schools, and we saw over 2,000 hours from volunteers and interns.”