Congrats and best wishes for your new shop! I drive through Putnam- what street and name?
It would be fine to visit us at Champlion's General Store- no cafe there- but not far is a very good Chinese restaurant we can recommend! Chang's Garden. On route 195 by UConn. They make fine brown rice [you have to ask for it] and great vegetables- and ask for the Chinese menu and find seaweed salad and more unusual fare- great energy and wait staff too.
I'm usually at the store Fri 9-5, Tue, Wed and Thur 12-5. But sometimes we switch hours or I'm off for a week- so You could email to check.- There's the email link and store directions in a page at the web site for my home business- [making buckwheat hull pillows] -at
http://www.pillowcrafters.com
Happy Spring,
Rebecca