West Hartford Business Buzz: September 12, 2016
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NBC Connecticut's Brad Drazen (emcee for the event) with Lux Bond & Green President & CEO John Green right before announcing the first winners at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Lux Bond & Green is a Title Sponsor. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.
By Joy Taylor, in for Ronni Newton
I’m co-opting this week’s column while Ronni enjoys some much needed time away. She “escaped” just a few hours after scheduling a few more stories and co-hosting the second annual Best of West Hartford awards show last Thursday with West Hartford Magazine’s Tom Hickey. You can see a full list of winners below and a short video clip above (a Direct Line Media production). Congratulations to all of the finalists and winners! New this year, we have provided the second and third place business names (when applicable). See lots more below.
First, a couple other tidbits:
•Schools are back in session for most local students and the former Saint Brigid School (now St. Brigid-St. Augustine: A Partnership School) welcomed students from St. Mary in Newington. Please read about the changes here.
Master Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio (center) visite West Hartford’s Plus One Defense Systems for a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminar on Saturday, September 10. Photo courtesy of Darin Reisler
•Plus One Defense Systems, a 9000 square foot martial arts facility located at 9 Tolles Road in the Elmwood section of West Hartford, welcomed Master Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio and Heloisa Alves for a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminar on Saturday, September 10. Marcus Aurélio is a Brazilian Mixed Martial Arts fighter who fought for the PRIDE Fighting Championship and for UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship is the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization). Master Marcus is a BJJ/MMA Master. “It was a great day of training for the students of Plus One and a thrill to learn from Master Marcus who came from Florida to be with our students,” commented Sensei Darin Reisler, owner and head instructor at Plus One Defense Systems. Plus One offers martial arts classes for adults and for kids in a myriad of styles. Classes are available six days per week, and more information can be found at their website.
• The second annual Best of West Hartford awards ceremony put the spotlight on winners (announced live from the stage) and finalists while friends and associates cheered them on in a fun-filled evening of networking, eating and celebrating. Every finalist was put into this contest by obtaining enough nominations by “the people” of the community. Congratulations all, and please enjoy the photos below, make sure you visit Facebook for more images from our SnapSeat Photo Booth, and, for the first time ever, here (below the photos) is a list of the winners and, when applicable, the second and third-place holders of this people’s choice contest:
Guests arriving at Town Hall Auditorium for the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild
Guests arriving at Town Hall Auditorium for the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Behind them is the Gengas Volvo car on display for the event. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild
The Charles Schwab gang arriving at Town Hall Auditorium for the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild
Guests arriving at Town Hall Auditorium for the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild
Guests arriving at Town Hall Auditorium for the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild
Guests arriving at Town Hall Auditorium for the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild
Guests arriving at Town Hall Auditorium for the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild
Ronni and Ted Newton arriving at Town Hall Auditorium for the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild
The Best of West Hartford awards show stage was appointed by the Home Design District (including windows by Budget Blinds and furnishings by Raymour & Flanigan) and AV support provided by T&T DJ Sound. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
BodyRoc was a finalist in three categories and they flexed their muscles for guests at the second annual Best of West Hartford Awards Show on September 8, 2016. Photo by Ira Nozik Photographers
Representing finalist Hart Real Estate, Robert and Gayle Levine enjoy goodies from a fellow-finalist Goldberg’s Bagels. Robert is a candidate for State Representative. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Spa Soli, a Title Sponsor along with Sanditz Travel, provided chair massages and facials at The Best of West Hartford Awards Show, September 8, 2016. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Networking at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
West Hartford Chamber of Commerce Director Barbara Lerner, Effies Place owner Johnny Paindiris and The Mercy Communities Director of Community Relations Christine Looby celebrating at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. (The Mercy Community is a title sponsor). Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Debbi Zimbler and Merchant Solutions Andrew Moran register guests at the 2016 Best of West Hartford Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
The Home Design District offering amazing raffle prizes at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
It was magic by Charlie at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Celebrating at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Tom Hickey welcomes the crowd to the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show while Ronni Newton and Brad Drazen prepare for the show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Kat Plourde of Filomeno & Co. hands off the top secret case of winners to NBC Connecticut’s Brad Drazen, the show’s emcee, at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. The “kitchen island” provided by Holland Kitchens. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
NBC Connecticut’s Brad Drazen (emcee for the event) with Lux Bond & Green President & CEO John Green right before announcing the first winners at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Lux Bond & Green is a Title Sponsor. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Mayor Shari Cantor, via video stream, kicks off the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
NBC Connecticut’s Brad Drazen gets the awards portion started at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Cathy Davis celebrates a win for Bartlett Brainard with NBC Connecticut’s Brad Drazen at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
NBC Connecticut’s Brad Drazen with Blue Back Square’s Marketing Director Elizabeth Zigmont celebrating the BBS win at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Ten Thousand Villages accepting the award for best gift shop at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Lux Bond & Green receives the award for best jewelry store for the second year in a row at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Daswani Clothiers receives the award for best local men’s fashion retailer at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
Cafe Sofia took third place in the “Coffee/Tea” category and offered some yummy treats for guests at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Please see more SnapSeat Photo booth photos on West Hartford Magazine’s or We-Ha.com’s Facebook page. Photo credit: SnapSeat Photo Booths
Congratulations winners at the Best of West Hartford 2016 Awards Show. Photo credit: Ira Nozik Photographers
CAMP 2016: 1)CAMP SHALOM 2)Renbrook School Summer Adventure 3)Noah Webster House Colonial Child’s Camp
PARK 2016: 1)Elizabeth Park 2)Fernridge Park 3)Westmoor Park
PRESCHOOL/DAYCARE 2016: 1)Mandell JCC 2)Lollipop Tree Nursery School 3)Montessori School of Greater Hartford
RECREATION 2016: 1)Elizabeth Park 2)Reservoir 3)Town of WH Parks and Leisure Services
BAKERY 2016: 1)Hartford Baking Company 2)Elmwood Pastry Shop 3)NoRA Cupcake Company
BREAKFAST RESTAURANT 2016: 1)Effie’s Place 2)Quaker Diner 3)Blue Plate Kitchen
BURGER RESTAURANT 2016: 1)Max Burger 2)Plan B 3)Five Guys Burgers and Fries
COFFEE/TEA 2016: 1)J. René Coffee Roasters 2)Hartford Baking Co. 3)Café Sofia
ETHNIC RESTAURANT 2016: 1)Arugula 2)Black Bamboo 3)East West Grille
FAMILY RESTAURANT 2016: 1)A.C. Petersen Farms 2)The Cheesecake Factory 3)Blue Plate Kitchen
FINE DINING 2016: 1)Restaurant Bricco 2)Treva 3)Max Oyster Bar
GROCERY STORE 2016: 1)Whole Foods, Raymond Road 2)Trader Joes 3)Halls Market
DESSERT 2016: 1)The Cheesecake Factory 2)Halls Bake Shop 3)Ritas Ice
ICE CREAM SHOP 2016: 1)A.C. Petersen Farms 2)Sweet Frog West Hartford 3)Ben & Jerrys
PIZZA PLACE 2016: 1)Harrys Bishops Corner 2)Frank Pepe Pizza of West Hartford 3)Luna Pizza
BUSINESS LUNCH 2016: 1)Restaurant Bricco 2)Max Oyster Bar 3)bartaco
WINE SHOP 2016: 1)The Wise Old Dog 2)West Side Wines & Spirits 3)Harvest Wine & Spirits
LIQUOR STORE 2016: 1)Maximum Beverage 2)Crazy Bruce’s Liquors 3)Parkview Wine & Spirits
EXCERCISE/FITNESS 2016: 1)Mandell JCC Greater Hartford 2)Work In Progress Fitness (WIP) 3)BodyRoc Fit Lab
PERSONAL TRAINER 2016: 1)D’Mario Sowa from Akua Ba Fitness 2)Shaun Chambers from BodyRoc 3)Jon Camacho New York Sports Club
HAIR SALON 2016: 1)Salon Medusa 2)BLO blow dry bar 3)Matthew Phillips Salon
BARBER SHOP 2016: 1)Degras Barber Shop 2)Bristle & Blade 3)Kennedys Barber Club
MANICURE/PEDICURE2016: 1)Silk Nails 2)Thu Lan Nail Retreat 3)Grace Nails
SPA 2016: 1)Massage Envy 2)Blue Mercury West Hartford 3)Victorian Day Spa
SATELLITE MEDICAL FACILITY 2016: 1)AFC URGENT CARE West Hartford 2)Hartford Medical Group Walk-In 3)New England Urgent Care
HOME HEALTH CARE 2016: 1)Jewish Family Services 2)Companions for Living
BANK/FINANCIAL INSTITUTION 2016: 1)Bank of America 2)Webster Bank 3)TD Bank
GARDEN/FLORIST 2016: 1)Moscarillo’s Garden Shoppe 2)Gledhill Nursery 3)Lane & Lenge Florist
HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTOR 2016: 1)Bartlett Brainard 2)JP Carroll Construction 3)McNally\’s Modern Maintenance
LAWN/LANDSCAPING CONTRACTOR 2016: 1)EcoTurf 2)Trout Brook Landscaping 3)Zysk Brothers Landscaping
LAW FIRM/LAWYER 2016: 1)Owen Eagan/Eagan,Donohue, Van Dyke & Falsey 2)Steier & McCormick 3)Bruce Stanger/Stanger & Associate
PET SERVICES 2016: 1)Veterinary Specialists of CT 2)Petals & Paws 3)Petcare Veterinary Services
REAL ESTATE COMPANY/REALTOR 2016: 1)William Raveis Real Estate 2)Berkshire Hathaway 3)RE/MAX Premier, Realtors
WEALTH MANAGEMENT/FINANCIAL PLANNING 2016: 1)Fidelity Investments 2)Charles Schwab 3)Northstar Wealth Partners
ENTERTAINMENT 2016: 1)Blue Back Square 2)Playhouse on Park 3)Bow Tie Cinema
HAPPY HOUR 2016: 1)Barcelona West Hartford 2)Treva 3)Max Oyster Bar
TAVERN 2016: 1)Corner Pug 2)Beachland Tavern 3)McLaddens West Hartford
LATE NIGHT SPOT 2016: 1)bartaco 2)Barcelona West Hartford 3)McLaddens West Hartford
MEN’S NATIONAL FASHION 2016: 1)JoS A. Banks 2)Brooks Brothers Westfarms 3)Macy’s
WOMEN’S NATIONAL 2016: 1)Nordstroms 2)Marshalls 3)Lord & Taylor
EYE WEAR 2016: 1)Central Optica 2)Harvey and Lewis 3)Solinsky
WOMEN’S ACCESSORIES 2016: 1)Charming Charlies 2)Silver Dahilia 3)Lux Bond & Green
GIFT SHOP 2016: 1)Ten Thousand Villages 2)Silver Dahlia 3)Gift-o-logy
SPECIALTY RETAIL 2016: 1)Toy Chest 2)Penzeys Spices 3)Cookshop Plus
HOME IMPROVEMENT RETAIL 2016: 1)Larsen’s ACE Hardware 2)Home Depot 3)Budget Blinds of West Hartford
JEWELRY STORE 2016: 1)Lux Bond & Green 2)Becker\’s Fine Jewelry 3)Charming Charlie
SPORTS RETAIL 2016: 1)Fleet Feet 2)REI 3)Play It Again Sports
MEN’S LOCAL FASHION 2016: 1)Daswani Clothiers 2)Oscars Tux 3)Bob DeGemmis Dressed to the Nines
WOMEN’S LOCAL FASHION 2016: 1) BK & Co 2)Kimberly Boutique 3)Ooh La La Boutique
