Vietnamese Eatery That Started During COVID To Leave Hartford For Simsbury

HARTFORD/SIMSBURY, CT — A Vietnamese fast-casual restaurant that has served downtown Hartford for more than six years will close its city location in December and relocate to Simsbury, its owner announced this week.

Banh Meee, located at 126 Ann Uccello St., will leave Hartford as owner Dung "G" Tran shifts his focus toward spending more time with his wife and three young children.

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Tran announced the decision in a social media post, saying balancing the demands of running a restaurant and raising a family had become increasingly difficult.

"It is with a heavy heart that Banh Meee will be leaving Downtown Hartford this December," Tran wrote.

Tran said he opened the business nearly a decade ago, before becoming a father, and his priorities have changed as his family has grown.

"Today, I am blessed with a wonderful wife and three hyperactive young kids who are just starting school and need their dad," he wrote.

He said his wife also needs his support with her own business and their growing family.

"We only have 1 shot to be a parent but many shots to be a small business owner," Tran wrote.

After spending more than a year trying to balance his responsibilities, Tran said he and his wife decided to close the downtown storefront and relocate Banh Meee to Simsbury, alongside her salon, Revise Salon and Cafe, 111 Main St..

From Food Truck To Hartford Restaurant

Banh Meee began as a food truck in the summer of 2017, initially operating at Market Square in Newington.

Tran said the business struggled to attract enough customers in Newington, prompting him to move operations to Hartford.

With assistance from Riverfront Recapture, the food truck began serving customers near the riverfront, where Tran developed relationships with regular customers.

Despite building a following, the food truck struggled financially.

In the winter of 2018, Tran opened Banh Meee's first storefront on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, taking over a former ramen restaurant space.

The restaurant expanded its offerings to include additional banh mi sandwiches, noodle dishes, boba teas, and small plates.

Tran said the Capitol Avenue location gradually attracted customers and helped establish the business.

In March 2020, Banh Meee opened its second restaurant at 126 Ann Uccello St. in downtown Hartford.

The expansion came just as the COVID-19 pandemic began, forcing the business to adjust its operations.

The Capitol Avenue location eventually closed, while the downtown restaurant continued serving customers.

New Chapter In Simsbury

Tran said relocating to Simsbury will let him keep operating Banh Meee while spending more time with his family.

The Simsbury location will feature a smaller menu, although Tran said customers can expect the same Vietnamese flavors that helped establish the business.

"We aren't leaving our Hartford home empty, either!" Tran wrote.

He said another family has been identified to take over the downtown restaurant space, and he is working with them and the landlord to coordinate the transition.

Details about the incoming business were not announced.

Until the December closure, Banh Meee will continue serving lunch Monday through Friday at its downtown Hartford location.

Tran thanked Hartford customers for supporting the restaurant over the years.

"Thank you all for your incredible support over the years," he wrote. "You can still find the soul of Banh Meee in Simsbury with a scaled-down—but even more flavorful—menu. We hope to see you there!"

An exact closing date for the Hartford restaurant, the address of the new Simsbury location, and an opening date have not yet been announced.