West Hartford Business Buzz: February 23, 2015

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

By Ronni Newton

Ankit Harpaldas is the owner of Porter21.com, which provides “Alcohol at your door in 60 minutes or less.” Courtesy photo

Happy Monday!

Although you may be shivering once again, Sunday was a wonderful respite from the arctic conditions we have been experiencing for the past month – and that was with temperatures at what they should be this time of year. At least it provided some hope that spring may one day soon win the battle with this winter. I took advantage of above-freezing temperatures to use my one good hand to chop away the last bit of ice that was the cause of my fall on the driveway last weekend!

It seems as if we’ve all gotten used to winter by now, and in true New England spirit we won’t let a half foot of snow or subzero temperatures keep us from going about our business. And if you don’t want to leave your house, you may want to check out the first business we feature in today’s Buzz.

If you have tips about businesses opening or closing, or doing something worth sharing, please provide that information in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

Here’s this week’s Buzz:

There’s a new business in the West Hartford area that is bringing e-commerce to an industry in a way that is also supporting smaller local shops. Porter21.com promises “Alcohol at your door in 60 minutes or less.” Owner Ankit Harpaldas has a Wall Street background and his father has worked in the liquor industry for many years, and he said he was looking for an entrepreneurial opportunity that was “fun and interesting.” He said that the industry has been slow to adapt to the electronic age because alcohol is more of an impulse buy, and not something you think to order for delivery days in advance. “Porter21.com gives you options, with a digital inventory so you can still browse and see what’s available,” Harpaldas said. The digital inventory is what is in stock at their partner stores. He said that although many liquor stores may deliver, Porter21.com offers the ability to pay for your order online through a safe portal – eliminating the need to pay the delivery person or give out your credit card over the phone. There’s a $25 minimum order, but pricing is what you would find in the store, and the purchase is actually made and delivered from Porter21.com’s partner liquor stores. We’ll provide more information in a future article, but in the meantime you can check out the website for additional details. One other important note: they follow all of the liquor industry laws including verification of age both on the site and by the delivery person, and also follow the state-mandated selling hours.

We love to celebrate West Hartford businesses that give back to the community, and there are many of them. This Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 4-8 p.m., is Morley night at Effie’s Place, 91 Park Rd. Effie’s owner Johnny Paindiris said that 20 percent of the proceeds from all purchases – including takeout – will be donated to the Morley PTO.
Salon Medusa is also holding a benefit this week. The following information was received in a press release: “Salon Medusa of West Hartford will host a Healthy Heart benefit for The American Heart Association on Sunday March 1, 2015. Stylists Lena, Nicole, and Dom will be providing haircuts and blow-outs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Salon Medusa, located at 13 South Main St., West Hartford Center. The services will be offered at a special price of $20 for haircuts, $10 for blow-outs, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the American Heart Association. To participate in the benefit, appointments may be scheduled through the salon at 860 236-3344. Walk in appointments will be available as well on a first come first serve basis.
Image from Crown Supermarket’s website and Facebook page

Now that Crown Supermarket has been “saved,” the iconic West Hartford kosher supermarket will be getting a modernizing facelift that includes a seating area (see schematic) – although the owners say they promise to retain the “retro vibe.” The following message was recently posted on Crown’s website: “To Our Valued Customers of The Crown, As a community, we celebrated when The Crown was saved from closing its doors. Since that time, we have been working towards a new and improved store. After listening to your comments and suggestions, we are excited to reveal the plans for a completely remodeled Crown. A renovation of this magnitude takes time to plan and coordinate. Construction is expected to begin, subject to all approvals in place, after Passover. We appreciate your patience as we navigate the complications and hurdles involved in a project of this scale. We are all excited for the new store, and the next chapter at The Crown, and we are doing everything we can to expedite that process.
We appreciate your continued support and loyalty, The Crown Market Team,” We can’t wait to see the newly-remodeled space, and will bring you more details as soon as they are available.
United Technologies is partnering with the Greater Hartford YMCA to establish a Youth Citizenship Award for Community Service in memory of Wesley A. Kuhrt, former president of Sikorsky Aircraft and United Technologies Corporation senior vice president. West Hartford residents between the ages of 15-20 are invited to apply for the award, which includeds a $1,000 scholarship. Click here for more details.