After 32 years, Timothy's Restaurant in Hartford, on Zion Street near Trinity College, is closing. Timothy's is one of those legendary places - I am sure I ate there back in the mid/late 80's when I was a young suburbanite dating a Hartfordite. Now I live in Hartford, and Timothy's has been in the rotation of regular haunts when we eat out.
It's sad to see places like this close. The logic is irrefutable - its hard to run a restaurant, and in neighborhood that has seen better days, with not a lot of other nearby draws, and without parking - its not really a saleable property. But still, sad.
Timothy's will join other places in my personal mythology. Reader's Feast. The Comet. The old Hot Tomato, 2 or 3 locations ago, with maybe 10 tables and 2 hour waits for the food of the god's - Shrimp and Broccoli. And the closed for now O'Rourke's in Middletown. I'm sure I'll think of others.
It also makes me think of places like that, still open. The Quaker Diner (Zippy had breakfast there this morning). Mo's Midtown. East-West Grille. Tapa's, always elbow to elbow on the weekends. Coyote Flaco. So many others. Little delights in the city, making it work, making the city unique in a world full of franchises and sprawl.
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Timothy's closed? That is a sad end to a very special era, when Hartford was expanding and vibrant, and had a neighborhood feel to every corner. And you brought back memories with the Comet, and Hot Tomatoes. Oh, that was a fine time back then. But particularly Timothy's was so very special and remarkable, because it was so humble, and welcomed everyone from all walks and stripes, all over satisfying, nourishing and healthy food. Thanks for writing about it and reminding me of a different and quite lovely time. Tom and I got box dinners from Timothy's for our second date - listening to the carillion music at Trinity.
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