Seafood Restaurant Slated To Take Over Manchester Vacancy

MANCHESTER, CT — A seafood restaurant with a Cajun flair is set to open in Manchester at the Buckland Hills location once occupied by Hometown Buffet. The same chain is also eyeing a West Hartford location too.

Manchester Economic Development officials were touting a banner advertising the Crab Du Jour chain that appeared on the 165 Slater Street building Monday afternoon.

The Pennsylvania-based Crab Du Jour chain was already including the Manchester location on its list of "coming soon" restaurants, which also includes an eatery at 1500 New Britain Ave. in West Hartford.

A representative answering the phone at Crab du Jour's corporate office Tuesday said it typically takes "three to four months" for a new franchise location to open.

The Crab Du Jour menu features crab, crawfish, calamari, and lobster Cajun dishes and fried seafood baskets. Cajun rice and chicken tenders are also featured offerings.

The most touted item on the menu is the signature "Cajun Styleow country boil," dubbed as "a feast for seafood lovers and perfect for casual dinner."

See related: Seafood Restaurant Chain Mysteriously Eyeing West Hartford

The Slater Street Hometown Buffet was the last one left in Connecticut. It was shuttered on Jan. 24 and a note posted to three different locations outside the building simply said the all-you-can eat restaurant was closed.

The parent company of HomeTown Buffet — Buffets LLC — once owned by a Minnesota entity called Buffets Inc., filed for bankruptcy protection three time in the past dozen years — in 2007, 2012 and 2016.

Subsequently, locations were closed in Enfield, West Hartford, Milford and Wethersfield.