Hartford Business Journal

4 Hartford Business Journal • February 4, 2019 • www.HartfordBusiness.com Week in Review Briefs E. Windsor tribal casino rebranded Tribal leaders of Connecticut's first off-reservation casino in East Windsor have rebranded the proposed $300 million project, which has been delayed over changes to the state's long-standing gaming compacts. The joint gaming venue by the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, formerly known as MMCT Venture, has been renamed Tribal Winds Casino. The tribes are partnering to remain competitive with MGM Springfield, which opened a $960 million casino and entertainment complex in August. The rebranded casino also includes a new logo and hiring goal for construction workers and staff at the proposed one- story facility. Tribal officials said the venue will employ at least 2,000 construction workers and 2,000 permanent staffers upon its opening. UVa's Tom Katsouleas is finalist for UConn president The finalist for the University of Connecticut presidency is Thomas C. Katsouleas, the provost and executive vice president of the University of Virginia. A vote by the university's board of trustees naming Katsouleas as president could come Feb. 5. Katsouleas, 60, is an inventor and researcher who taught at the University of Southern California for 14 years and served as dean of the engineering school at Duke University for seven years before arriving as provost — the chief academic officer — at the University of Virginia in 2015. Katsouleas was one of three academics publicly identified last year as finalists for president of the University of Utah. Mark Pazniokas | CT Mirror HomeTown Buffet flees CT Cash-strapped HomeTown Buffet no longer has a Connecticut presence after closing its Manchester location. A representative from the all-you-can- eat chain, operated by Texas-based Buffets LLC, said its Manchester location at 165 Slater St. closed on Jan. 24. Buffets LLC, formerly operated by Minnesota-based Buffets Inc., has dealt with insolvency for more than a decade. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2007, 2012 and 2016. Since 2007, the chain has closed Connecticut locations in Enfield, West Hartford, Milford and Wethersfield. It abruptly closed more than 80 of its least profitable sites in 2012 after emerging from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Cardio Express sites shutter amid Planet Fitness takeover A Planet Fitness franchisee says it's acquired all Connecticut-based Cardio Express gyms and has plans to convert half of its remaining locations. Cardio Express sites in East Hartford, Manchester, Southington and Vernon will be converted into Planet Fitness locations over the next six months, according to ECP-PF Holdings Group Inc., a Planet Fitness franchisee. The Cardio Express locations in Wethersfield, Tolland and Mansfield have already closed, and members of those locations will be transferred to nearby Planet Fitness sites, they said. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Farmington landlord- entrepreneur Autorino dies Farmington landlord-entrepreneur Anthony D. "Tony" Autorino, once the youngest executive to run one of United Technologies Corp.'s divisions, has died. He was 80. Formerly a Wethersfield resident, Autorino was born in Hartford on June 8, 1938 and was the youngest executive ever when he was tapped to run UTC's Hamilton Standard division in Windsor Locks as president, according to his published obituary. His death on Jan. 25 was sudden, it read, but no cause was given. After leaving Hamilton Standard, Autorino was involved in the family's former bus-transportation company, Double A Transportation. He also founded and led as CEO Shared Technologies Corp., which invested in developing communications and smart- building systems. From March 1990 to March 1992, he was chairman of Colt's Manufacturing TOP STORY Bradley Airport eyes new routes, possible name change in 2019 N ew routes, updated bathrooms and discussion of a possible name-change for Bradley International Airport are on the Connecticut Airport Authority's (CAA) 2019 agenda. At a recent board meeting, CAA Executive Director Kevin Dillon went over the authority's goals for this year, which largely focus on expanding Bradley's appeal on several fronts, he said. Establishing a route between Bradley and Seattle is "by far and away our No. 1 task," Dillon said of prospective route additions. That's partly because the number of nonstop flights to countries in Asia out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport would allow easy access to the continent for customers flying out of Bradley. CAA officials are also seeking routes to Phoenix, which could establish efficient West Coast travel options, and the Caribbean, Dillon said. The Authority will also use 2019 to update all public bathrooms at Bradley, Dillon said, a project estimated to cost up to $6 million. CAA officials are also mulling a possible name change for Bradley, Dillon said. The current name doesn't give an indication of the airport's location, and changing it could help business as CAA tries to expand Bradley's international footprint in coming years, he said. BY THE NUMBERS $424M The approximate tax revenues Con- necticut would generate annually by extending the state's 6.35 percent sales tax to groceries, which Gov. Ned Lamont is considering. $330,000 The median sales price of the 32 small businesses sold in Greater Hartford in 2018, according to online marketplace BizBuySell.com. 2,000 The number of permanent jobs that would be created by the opening of the Tribal Winds Casino in East Wind- sor, which is a joint proposed project of the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes. 16.3% The growth in state tax collections in Connecticut since the 2007-2008 fiscal year, which ranks the state 12th highest in the nation in terms of revenue growth, according to Pew Charitable Trusts. TOP 5 MOST READ On HartfordBusiness.com • 1. Bradley Airport eyes new routes, possible name change in 2019 • 2. Cardio Express sites shutter amid Planet Fitness takeover • 3. E. Windsor tribal casino rebranded • 4. Farmington landlord-entrepreneur Autorino dies • 5. Windsor's Great Pond has apartments underway STAY CONNECTED For breaking and daily Greater Hartford business news go to www.HartfordBusiness.com HBJ on Twitter: @HartfordBiz HBJ on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HartfordBiz HBJ on Linkedln: www.linkedin.com/company/ the-Hartford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend www.HartfordBusiness.com/ subscribe Thomas C. Katsouleas, Provost and Executive Vice President, University of Virginia PHOTO | HBJ FILE

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