Omaha Steaks' West Hartford Location To Close

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The West Hartford Omaha Steaks retail location, one of two in Connecticut, will be closing next month.

Corporate officials confirmed the Feb. 14 final day Tuesday.

"The vast majority of Omaha Steaks’ customers order online. For our 50 retail stores throughout the U.S., Omaha Steaks continually reviews financial performance and lease agreements to determine our optimal store footprint for best serving customers," corporate officials said in an e-mail to patch. "Omaha Steaks’ South Windsor location is conveniently located just 14 miles from the West Hartford location and we encourage customers to visit us at this location."

The West Hartford outlet is located at 13 South Main St. Its closing leaves Omaha Steaks at just the Southing Windsor location at the Promenade Shops at Evergreen Walk.

Omaha Steaks' roots go back more than a century, when a father and son, J.J. and B.A. Simon, fled Latvia to escape religious persecution.

According to a company profile, after passing through Ellis Island in New York, the Simons headed west on a train and disembarked when they noticed land that resembled Latvian farm country. That was Omaha, NE.

The Simons began started working at a familiar trade — the meat business — and spent time at several markets around Omaha before founding their own company in 1917.

The company markets and distributes a wide variety of beef and other gourmet foods, including seafood, pork, poultry, side dishes, appetizers, complete meals and desserts.