The old Barnes & Noble building at 1599 Southeast Road in Farmington is getting a second life as a multi-tenant plaza, with construction crews now reworking the facade, interior and landscaping to make room for a swim school, a jeweler, a kids' fitness center and an ice cream shop. The property straddles the Farmington-Newington town line, and the redevelopment is splitting the structure into five separate tenant spaces rather than handing it off to a single retailer.
Goldfish Swim School, Hannoush Jewelers, KidStrong and Cold Stone Creamery are the four confirmed tenants moving into the building, according to Hartford Business Journal. The outlet reports the building straddling the municipal line and openings expected between late 2026 and early 2027. Patch reports that another space may become an indoor golf simulator or Pilates studio.
Where Each Business Will Sit on the Property
The town line running through the parcel actually shapes where each business will operate. Patch reports that Goldfish Swim School will take the building's eastern end, a section entirely within Newington, while KidStrong's planned space will straddle the municipal boundary itself. Hannoush Jewelers, meanwhile, is expanding dramatically from its current footprint — the new Farmington store is planned at approximately 6,000 square feet, according to Centurion Jewelry News, compared with its current 1,500-square-foot Westfarms location.
Centurion Jewelry News also reports that the overall redevelopment includes exterior facade improvements, interior renovations and landscaping upgrades, with construction having begun in late May. Reports on the building's total size vary: Centurion Jewelry News describes a 21,000-square-foot former bookstore, while Hartford Business Journal puts the structure at nearly 22,000 square feet. The Courant cites about 7,000 square feet for Goldfish's own space.
A Heated Pool and a Jeweler's Big Move
Goldfish Swim School's planned facility will include a 30-by-60-foot pool, with the water heated to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and the surrounding air kept at 92 degrees, according to the Hartford Courant. The Courant's report frames the overall project as converting a shuttered bookstore into five tenant spaces aimed largely at families.
The property itself changed hands in May 2025, with Hannoush paying $5 million for the Barnes & Noble location, according to CT Insider. Hannoush Jewelers is relocating from Westfarms mall, where it has operated for decades, once its new flagship space opens in Farmington.
Conflicting Timelines for Hannoush's Opening
Exactly when Hannoush Jewelers will open its new showroom remains unsettled across coverage. CT Insider has reported the jewelry store was relocating from Westfarms and would open in its new space in August, while the Courant reported the company was targeting an October or November opening. Neither timeline has been updated with a confirmed opening date.
Barnes & Noble itself has already completed its own move, relocating to the first floor of Westfarms mall in the former Forever 21 space, as the Courant reported. The redevelopment will turn the Southeast Road site from a single-tenant bookstore into a multi-tenant commercial property, according to Patch.
