Five Guys, Wingstop to Anchor New East Hartford, CT Development

A vacant lot in East Hartford, Connecticut, is set for a major upgrade. A new commercial building approved by the town will soon house a Five Guys and a Wingstop, bringing new investment and dining options to the busy Silver Lane business area.

The project, located at 755 Silver Lane, will transform a 0.78-acre property that once hosted a Friendly's restaurant and has since been an underused gravel lot. Developers plan to build a single new structure of about 3,957 square feet. According to architectural plans, Five Guys will take up 2,244 square feet, while Wingstop will operate in a 1,616 square-foot space.

A Plan Focused on Modern Upgrades

Planning documents show the site will get significant improvements that meet all town zoning rules.

• Parking: A new lot will feature 34 parking spaces, well above the 20 required by town regulations. The developer told the town this extra parking was needed to serve both customers and employees, based on experience at similar properties.
• Future-Ready Features: The plan looks ahead by including four parking spaces capable of supporting Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.
• Environmental Design: A modern stormwater system with a rain garden will be built to manage rainwater. This system is designed to reduce the peak flow of water from the property by about 5% during heavy storms. It will also improve the quality of the water runoff. The site's lighting will use LED fixtures that prevent light from spilling over the property line.

Traffic and Market Impact

The new restaurants are expected to serve a combined 500 meals per day. This will add between 108 and 137 car trips to the road daily. An analysis submitted to the town concluded this increase is "insignificant" compared to the high volume of traffic already on Silver Lane, which saw 13,600 vehicles per day in a 2012 count.

The property is located in the Silver Lane Business (B-6) Zone, a major commercial corridor. The project's quick approval signals that it aligns well with the town's development goals for the area.

Green Light from Town Hall

The development moved quickly through the town's approval process over the summer of 2025.

• July 18, 2025: The site plan application was first submitted to the town.
• September 4, 2025: After getting feedback from the Town Engineer, the project's designers submitted revised plans and reports.
• September 10, 2025: The East Hartford Planning & Zoning Commission met and approved the application, following a recommendation from town planning staff.
• September 11, 2025: The town issued its formal Certificate of Action, making the approval official.

With this approval, the project will turn an empty lot into a new retail destination, adding to the commercial activity on Silver Lane.