West Hartford’s Home Design District announced the formation of a new subsidiary neighborhood association at its “Beer, Business, and Banter” event held Wednesday at New Park Brewing.

Home Design District President Cathy Davis. Home Design District Happy Hour at New Park Brewing. Oct. 3, 2018. Photo credit: Sofie Brandt

Submitted by Chelsea O’Donnell, Journey Communications

The Home Design District of West Hartford hosted a neighborhood business happy hour on Wednesday night to welcome new businesses to the area and to discuss ideas for building and transforming this up-and-coming neighborhood in West Hartford.

Held at New Park Brewing on Wednesday, Oct. 3, approximately 50 local business owners attended the “Beer, Business, and Banter” event to mingle, meet, and greet over craft beers and a shared interest in building an exciting small business hub in one of the most rapidly developing areas of West Hartford.

The event host, The Home Design District of West Hartford, is a nonprofit organization that works to attract businesses to the area through collaborations with the West Hartford Town Hall Department of Community Development and through rigorous television, digital, and social media marketing campaigns. The Home Design District has become a hub for improvement and design-based businesses and offers Connecticut residents a destination to find products, services, and expertise for all facets of the home.

“As Home Design District members, we enjoy a vibrant lead referral network that works closely with each other both in proximity and in business,” said Home Design District President Cathy Davis. “We love welcoming new home design-based businesses that are looking to grow alongside others that are working towards the same goals.”

While the crux of the neighborhood has been anchored by home and design-focused companies, the Home Design District has been excited by the emergence of other industries that have chosen to call the District home. 

The Association decided to host “Beer, Business, and Banter” to welcome those businesses and introduce a new subsidiary, the New Park Avenue Neighborhood Association, to the area.

“As we have begun to see gyms, retail outlets, restaurants, and breweries emerge in the neighborhood, we decided it was time to begin expanding the Home Design District to include a new local business community,” said Davis. “Through the development of the New Park Avenue Neighborhood Association, we look forward to electing committee members, developing networking opportunities, enjoying access to economic development decisions before they are made, and sharing resources for area marketing, event, and public relations opportunities. It’s an exciting time for the New Park Avenue area and we are thrilled to be leading the charge for the local business community.”

The Home Design District next meets on Wednesday, Oct. 10th at 8:30 a.m. at Dalene Flooring Carpet One on 586 New Park Ave. in West Hartford to discuss the next phase of the area’s business development and welcomes all Home Design District area businesses to attend.

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Home Design District Happy Hour at New Park Brewing. Oct. 3, 2018. Photo credit: Sofie Brandt

Home Design District Happy Hour at New Park Brewing. Oct. 3, 2018. Photo credit: Sofie Brandt

West Hartford Economic Development Specialist Kristen Gorski speaks about new businesses that have moved to the New Park Avenue corridor. Home Design District Happy Hour at New Park Brewing. Oct. 3, 2018. Photo credit: Sofie Brandt