BERLIN — A new seafood restaurant is officially opening today in Berlin, bringing new life to a long-vacant space along Farmington Avenue.
Lobster King will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. at Lower Landing Plaza, 1176 Farmington Ave. Town officials and community members are expected to attend the event.
The new restaurant will take over a space that had been empty for some time, according to Chris Edge, director of economic development for the Town of Berlin.
“This is a great spot on Farmington Avenue and brings another locally owned and operated restaurant to Berlin,” Edge said.
The opening is another sign of growth along the Farmington Avenue corridor, which town officials say has seen new activity in recent years. Restaurants have played an important role in that change, helping attract visitors and support other nearby businesses.
“Farmington Avenue has been a resurgence since 2021 and food has been a major factor in that resurgence,” Edge said.
Town officials said attracting small businesses and restaurants has been a priority. Edge said the effort has involved several town departments working together to support new businesses and guide them through the process of opening in Berlin.
“It has been a team effort, including my office, the Planning Office and leadership, including the town manager and Town Council,” Edge said.
Edge added that several years ago, he created a list of food options he hoped would come to Berlin. Since then, he said, the town has seen steady progress, along with growth in other small-business areas.
Town officials also noted the number of women-owned businesses in Berlin has grown significantly in recent years.
Lower Landing Plaza, where Lobster King will open, is one of the more active commercial properties along Farmington Avenue. Officials said the plaza’s location near the Stop & Shop grocery store helps draw steady traffic to the area.
The restaurant is expected to create a small number of jobs once it is fully operating, with about three to four positions in the long term.
Officials said the opening also highlights the town’s ongoing efforts to support local businesses through events and promotions. Those efforts include ribbon-cutting ceremonies, the town’s “#itsallinberlin” initiative and the annual Eat Local Win Local program, which returns for its fifth year beginning March 15.