O' Porto, a new restaurant financed by CEDF in the Parkville section of Hartford, is becoming a highly sought after dining experience. The rustic restaurant featuring gourmet dishes of grilled meats, Portuguese appetizers, and specialty seafoods, was fashioned from the inside of an old mill building. The atmosphere features exposed brick, soft fabrics, leather seating, and hand hewn beams. The restaurant opened earlier this year with help from CEDF, which provided a portion of the financing. Two of the owners, Adelino and Sergio De Sousa formerly owned Café Lisboa, a well known but small eatery on Park Street. When their lease was up, they wanted a larger, more up-scale setting for their new venue. Carlos Mouta, a local patron and Parkville property owner, suggested the historic mill up the street and offered to manage the renovation needed to house the restaurant. He also agreed to be a partner in the new enterprise. On any given evening the O' Porto is filled with patrons from the Hartford and West Hartford area seeking continental cuisine in a hip urban setting.

Parkville is becoming a popular destination for entertainment, culture, and dining. Real Art Ways, a well established regional draw, a multi-plex cinema and other eating establishments have brought new vitality to the streets. According to Abigail Amorin of the Parkville Business Association, "The international flavor of Parkville is making the neighborhood a popular spot for dining and shopping. We have more than a dozen ethnic eateries in the commercial district and businesses are expanding."

CEDF has supported Parkville’s redevelopment in numerous ways over the last five years. We have funded projects that have helped the neighborhood reposition its economic future, including the recent sponsorship of a Municipal Development Plan. The leadership of the Parkville Neighborhood Revitalization Association and the Parkville Business Associations work cooperatively together and are a dynamic and dedicated team moving the neighborhood forward. Their strides have been very impressive.