Foxwoods' Mystic Market an instant hit with casino employees
Mashantucket — Since opening last Thursday, the Mystic Market Kitchen & Eatery at Foxwoods Resort Casino already has carved out a niche.
Among Foxwoods employees, the “grab and go” outlet on the casino's Great Cedar concourse is a winner.
“Most of the people coming by are familiar with the brand,” said Daniel Haggett, who was working behind the Mystic Market counter Wednesday.
Mystic Market's shelves, refrigerators and freezers are stocked with such prepared entrees as Spicy Sesame Noodles, Kale Mango and Quinoa Salad, Citrus Grilled Salmon with Fennel and Crispy Lemon Parmigiana Chicken. The chain says it's "dedicated to serving a gourmet meal for every palate."
“It’s popular with employees,” Haggett's co-worker, Julie Lee, volunteered. “They’ve been more than half our business.”
Jason Guyot, Foxwoods’ president and chief executive officer, figures he, too, will be heading home some nights with dinner — fresh or frozen — from Mystic Market.
“I lived in Mystic for a long time and I got to know both East and West,” Guyot said, referring to two of Mystic Market’s four other locations. “I loved the brand and saw a partnership as an opportunity to do something different here. We don’t have anything like this.”
Foxwoods employees get a discount at the market, Guyot said. Rewards cardholders can redeem points there.
Since Guyot took over leadership of Foxwoods in 2020, the casino has looked to collaborate with local businesses whenever possible. In addition to opening the Mystic Market location at the casino, the outlet’s corporate parent, Coastal Gourmet Group, is leasing kitchen space at Foxwoods for its Mystic-based catering business.
Mystic Market's other locations are at 63 Williams Ave. (Mystic East) in Stonington and 375 Noank Road (Mystic West) in Groton and in Old Saybrook and Westport. Coastal Gourmet Group also runs Aspen restaurant in Old Saybrook and Latitude 41 restaurant and Shipyard Tavern at Mystic Seaport Museum.
“We are thrilled to open our fifth Mystic Market location at Foxwoods — a premier destination in southern Connecticut,” Charles Spathakis, president and founder of Mystic Market Kitchen & Eatery, said in a statement. “Since establishing our brand in 1993, the heart of Mystic Market’s food philosophy has always been fresh, local and seasonal ingredients ...”
Guyot said Mystic Market’s opening at the end of a stretch of covered-up, glass storefronts will be followed by other openings he was not yet at liberty to discuss. That area of the casino once housed a number of retail outlets that closed after Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods, the enclosed mall linking the casino's two towers, opened in 2015.
A pop-up pastry shop called Sprinkletown will open Dec. 1 around the corner from Mystic Market in space formerly occupied by Cake by Franck, Guyot said. Sprinkletown will close Jan. 31.
If you go
What: Mystic Market Kitchen & Eatery
Where: Foxwoods Resort Casino
When: It is open noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday. It's closed Monday and Tuesday.
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