As Wonder expands through CT, opinions vary widely on ‘new kind of food hall’

Launching an outlet last week at The Shops at Farmington Valley in Canton, the speedily expanding food delivery and restaurant chain Wonder added its 12th pocket-sized food hall in Connecticut. Wonder broke into the Nutmeg State only a year ago with just three locations: Fairfield, Milford, Stamford. Fueled by private equity, Wonder earlier this year set up shop in West Hartford, Newington, Darien, New Haven, Trumbull, Westport, Hamden and Danbury, all modeled on its unique — and controversial — tech-driven, AI-infused business model. The Connecticut growth is part of a blazingly fast East Coast expansion in advance of a much-anticipated…