Business Districts & Associations

Bishop’s Corner is located in the northern section of Town, at the intersection of Albany Avenue (Route 44) and North Main Street. This district serves as both a neighborhood and community retail center that attracts patrons from West Hartford and the Farmington Valley. Bishop’s Corner is comprised of a mixture of general retail stores, supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, medical offices, and dining establishments. Bishop’s Corner also has municipal and government services, including a post office, library, and senior center. 

Corbin’s Corner is located in the southwest corner of Town, along New Britain Avenue (Route 71). The district functions as a regional center with a mix of national chain retailers and locally owned establishments as the predominant tenants. Across the street is Westfarms Mall, a third of which is located in West Hartford. The mall opened in 1975 and was expanded in the late 1990s to over 1.6 million square feet of retail space. 

Elmwood is located in the southeast corner of Town, with Elmwood Center being found along New Britain Avenue between Mayflower Street and New Park Avenue. The district functions as a neighborhood shopping center, primarily attracting patrons within a three-mile radius. Commercial structures in Elmwood date from the 1930s to the 1950s. The area is now home to a mix of local and franchise retailers, restaurants, and services. Also located in Elmwood are the Elmwood Community Center and the Faxon Branch Library.

The New Park Avenue district is located on the eastern border of the Town extending from Flatbush Avenue to New Britain Avenue. The area has its origins in industrial land uses, which it continues to maintain while welcoming new retail, restaurants, and entertainment. The predominant type of retailer attracted to New Park Avenue is those that require large spaces and are destination-based, rather than convenience-based. The commercial district is also known as the Town’s Transit-Oriented Development District as it is home to the Flatbush Avenue CTfastrak station and is proximate to the Elmwood CTfastrak Station and planned CT Rail station. This places the district within a several-minute ride of Downtown Hartford. The State’s significant investment in the CTfastrak service, along with its planned CT Rail station, has changed the development environment, providing a transformative opportunity in the proximity of the stations. 

The Town of West Hartford conducted a planning study to evaluate the New Park Avenue Transit Area corridor for potential complete-street improvements and possible amendments to the zoning ordinances. The primary goal of the New Park Avenue Complete Streets Study is to enhance transit-supportive standards for Transit Oriented Development land uses and improve inter- and intra-town pedestrian and bicycle access and connectivity to the Flatbush and Elmwood CT Fastrak Stations. The construction is projected to begin in Spring of 2027. The approximate construction cost is $3.8 million, grant funding ($3.7 million), and matching Town funds ($100k). 

The Park Road district is located in the east central section of Town between South Quaker Lane and Prospect Avenue. Most buildings along Park Road date to the 1930s and are comprised of a mix of commercial and former residential structures. Park Road’s origins are as a streetcar corridor connected to Downtown Hartford. Park Road emerged as a thriving retail district in the 1990s following a major public works project that reconstructed the streetscape, providing brick sidewalks, street trees, pedestrian lamps, and improved roadway crossings. This district is an eclectic mix of local businesses including grocers, retail stores, health and beauty spas, restaurants, and a community theater.

West Hartford Center is at the geographic center of the Town, at the intersection of Main Street and Farmington Avenue. The Center has its origins as a traditional town center with commercial development located mostly to the west of Main Street. Commercial buildings were primarily constructed in the 1930s and 1940s. The Center has long since evolved from its origins as a town center to a regional center that attracts patrons from other towns in the Region. West Hartford Center is a traditional New England town center with over 140 businesses, including specialty shops, boutiques, service providers, and restaurants, many of which offer outdoor dining.