A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses. 

Business Buzz is sponsored by NBT Bank, and we are very thankful for their support!

By Ronni Newton

Welcome to the first Monday of August! This is one of my favorite months and I was pretty sad recently when someone referred to August as the “Sunday of summer” because I really love summer.

I especially love this time of year – which features our annual family vacation to Nantucket – and this year we’ve got a full house! While the weather forecast doesn’t look great for later this week, I am hoping to eke out every moment of beach time I can, read a few novels, do some biking and running, watch Millie chase seagulls and our grandson create his first sandcastles, and enjoy some great food and drink.

While I am not completely disconnecting I’m hoping that West Hartford remains relatively quiet for the next two weeks, and thanks in advance to interns Bridget Bronsdon and Kaily Martinez, sports reporter Paul Palmer, and other collaborators for holding down the fort!

August tends to be a quiet month for business news (this week’s column is shorter than usual), and while there are a number of businesses that are on the cusp of some major announcements, I’m not sure any of them will be ready for next week. Barring anything I am not yet aware of that materializes, next week will one of those rare weeks when Business Buzz does not appear. I’m planning to save the news that would appear next Monday for the Aug. 19 edition.

Before heading out of town, Ted and I met some friends for dinner at Rockledge Grille on Thursday night. Despite the hot weather, we sat on the patio to enjoy the spectacular view of the sunset, and some yummy food and drink!

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If you’re looking for news about West Hartford in print please note that many stories from We-Ha.com, as well as other local news, is published in the twice-monthly issues of the West Hartford Press.

If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

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Here’s this week’s Buzz:

• Every time I drive down New Park Avenue I check on the progress of Sichuan Alley, and last week I managed to stop by at the right time, and got a peek inside the nearly-finished space, which is quite the decór transformation from the previous occupancies of Hartford Baking Company, Citizen Chicken and Donuts, and G-Monkey. Staff is undergoing training, the ventilation is in the final stages of being completed, and owner Michael Jiang told me via email that if all goes well with inspections this week, they will be open by the middle of August! Sichuan Alley currently has two locations in Singapore and the West Hartford location – which is their first restaurant in the U.S. – will feature an extensive selection of Sichuan-style rice noodles, tapas, and drinks. The website for online ordering is available for viewing, and based on the photos I am sure going to have a tough time deciding what to try first. Starters include a variety of dumplings and wings, there are cold dishes like bang bang chicken and cilantro beef, salads, soups, signature dishes such as chili chicken or shrimp, noodle dishes including ramen, rice bowls, desserts, and more. They will also serve beer and wine, sake flights, and the full bar will offer a variety of margaritas, mojitos, and martinis. Non-alcoholic beverages include teas, coffees, and mocktails. Once they open, Sichuan Alley will be open daily, from 11:15 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:15 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sundays. Feature story with lots of food photos to come once they are open.

• One business that has been written about by other media in the past few weeks is Level99. While I did write about the receipt of an application for Special Development District updates in the June 24 Business Buzz, I have been in touch with the founder/CEO on multiple occasions and am honoring his request to hold off on a full feature because they have not yet signed their lease for the space in the Corbin Collection. The Town Council adopted an “experiential retail” ordinance back in 2017, and this is the first business which would make use of the updated regulation, and town staff has expressed excitement about this potential use of this space for a unique business that will attract people of all ages. “There is currently a hole in the West Harford market as it pertains to indoor recreation/experiential retail-type businesses but strong desire from our community to welcome a concept that provides an engaging interactive environment and overall unique experience, which we hope to eventually fill,” Economic Development Coordinator Kristen Gorski said in an email. Level99 has two existing locations, in Natick, MA and Providence, RI. The Town Council will be considering the SDD application on Tuesday night, and we will have a story about that action.

• Tina Kiniry Management, which moved its to 998 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center last fall, will be officially having a ribbon cutting in early September and will then celebrate their arrival by holding an Open House Launch Party on Sunday, Sept. 15, from noon-4 p.m., under a tent in the parking area of 998 Farmington Avenue. Tina Kiniry, an agent for models and actors, said the Open House will be “a fabulous day of fashion shows, prizes, and fun in West Hartford Center” and will feature Bob Maxon from NBC Connecticut as emcee. “Dress to impress and walk the runway so we can officially welcome you to Team Tina and take a tour of our beautiful new agency. Bring a friend who is interested in modeling or acting, and both of you will be entered to win a $100 Visa Gift Card!” the announcements states. Kiniry specializes in working with models and actors of both high fashion and commercial backgrounds. Known for her remarkable ability to scout future talent, she is credited for discovering many notable supermodels and working actors. Championing inclusivity, her roster only continues to grow. Her models and actors can be seen throughout New England and the rest of the world via TV shows, movies, prominent magazines, and brands. To attend the Open House, RSVP by Sept. 1, by clicking here. Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

• West Hartford Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at 41 North Main Street (Suite 211) in West Hartford has now completed its roster of physicians. Dr. Dan Sunderland is the final physician to join Drs. Yanet Ravelo and Shannon Beausoleil at this primary care office. Dr. Sunderland completed his family medicine residency at Eastern Connecticut Health Network in Manchester, CT, in May of this year and said he is excited to start seeing patients in West Hartford. Drs. Sunderland and Ravelo are actively accepting new patients of all ages.

• Congratulations to West Hartford resident Dr. Garrison Leykam, who has been appointed Senior Vice President, Education Innovation, North America for Assessfy, an international trailblazer in AI-Powered educational technology. According to a news release, Leykam is a Certified ChatGPT Prompt Engineer, Certified Business Coach (Expert Level), and Certified Professional Career Coach. He is author of the Amazon #1 New Release (2023) book, AI Powered Job Hunting and is celebrated among Thinkers360’s Top Generative AI Global Thought Leaders and ranks in the Top 50 Global Thought Leaders & Influencers on Generative AI, Top 50 Leaders on the Future of Work, and Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Careers. Assessfy has revolutionized the educational landscape with the world’s first AI-powered auto-grading system for coding assignments. This innovative solution enhances employability success in campus recruiting by automatically evaluating and scoring each coding problem. The platform dramatically provides personalized feedback and highlights areas for improvement, mirroring the human learning process through feedback-driven coaching and development. Users can engage in unlimited mock coding challenges and tests covering C, C++, Java, Python, DSA, database, React, JS, ML, AI, and more. “Assessfy understands the intricate needs of academic institutions. From admission tests to final examinations, continuous assessments, and career development, our platform is equipped with state-of-the-art features to innovatively transform institutions’ evaluation procedures and contribute to student academic and career success. We ensure that students are well-prepared and confident to face the corporate world and make informed career choices using data analytics for deeper insights into performance that aid in personalized learning and improvement strategies. We minimize the administrative burden, reduce costs, and save time through digitization and automation. We are literally taking college and university-based career services departments to unprecedented levels of student engagement and career success,” Leykam commented in the release.

• Ashley Rigby, a native and current resident of West Hartford, has proudly earned the designation of Certified Professional Retirement Coach (CPRC). According to a news release, with this achievement, Rigby becomes one of only two CPRCs in the state of Connecticut, underscoring her dedication to excellence in retirement coaching. Rigby is the founder and owner of Goldinage, LLC, a company dedicated to inspiring, coaching, and guiding individuals who are on the cusp of, or in, retirement. Goldinage’s innovative programs and services are tailored to help those in this significant life transition to navigate it with confidence and courage. In addition to her CPRC designation, Rigby is also recognized by the International Coaching Federation as an Associate Certified Coach (ACC). This dual accreditation highlights her commitment to maintaining the highest standards in the coaching profession and providing exceptional support to her clients. “I am thrilled to bring this level of expertise to my community and beyond,” said Rigby. “At Goldinage, we are passionate about empowering individuals to reimagine their retirement and create fulfilling and relevant next chapters.” Goldinage offers a range of services designed to meet the unique needs of those preparing for retirement. From personalized coaching sessions to engaging workshops, Ashley and her team of coaches are dedicated to helping clients explore all lifestyle options, create meaningful self-directed work, leverage existing experience, uncover and reclaim non-working identity, and strengthen social networks. For more information about Goldinage, LLC and its offerings, please visit www.goldinage.com.

• JFS Hartford’s Money Coach program leader, James Goldman, received an Honorable Mention for the Volunteer of the Year Award in the 2024 Invest in Others Awards. The Invest in Others Awards recognizes the charitable work of financial advisors in communities across the country and around the world. Invest in Others received hundreds of nominations this year and honorable mentions were selected based on their leadership, dedication, contribution, inspiration, and impact on a nonprofit and the community it serves. Nominations were blindly reviewed by a diverse panel of leaders in the financial services industry. Jim Goldman leads JFS’s Money Coach program, which helps people of all income levels to improve their financial wellbeing. To find out more and schedule a free session, click here.

• ICYMI, here’s an update on the status of development in West Hartford’s Transit-Oriented Development District Zone.

Remember, if you have any business news to share, add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

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