Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | August 29, 2022 3 BIZ BRIEFS Subscriptions Annual subscriptions are $110.00. To subscribe, visit HartfordBusiness.com, email hartfordbusiness@cambey- west.com, or call (845) 267-3008. Advertising For advertising information, please call (860) 236-9998. Please address all correspondence to: Hartford Business Journal, 100 Allyn Street, Suite 3, Hartford, CT 06103 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-Hart- ford-Business-Journal Daily e-newsletters: HBJ Today, CT Morning Blend: www.hartfordbusiness.com/enewsletters Hartford Business Journal (ISSN 1083-5245) is published bi-weekly, 27x per year — including two special issues in November and December — by New England Business Media, LLC, 100 Allyn Street, Suite 3, Hartford, CT 06103. Periodicals postage paid at Hartford, CT and at additional entry points. Tel: (860) 236-9998 | Fax: (860) 570-2493 Copyright 2020. All rights reserved. Postmaster: Please send address changes to: Hartford Business Journal P.O Box 330 Congers, NY 10920-9894 Peter Stanton | CEO, pstanton@nebusinessmedia.com Tom Curtin | President, ext. 124, tcurtin@hartfordbusiness.com Mary Rogers | COO/CFO, mrogers@nebusinessmedia.com Editorial Greg Bordonaro | Editor, ext. 139 gbordonaro@hartfordbusiness.com Drew Larson | Web Editor, ext. 121 alarson@hartfordbusiness.com Michael Puffer | Staff Writer, ext. 145 mpuffer@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Real Estate, Economic Development, Banking & Finance Hanna Snyder Gambini | Staff Writer hgambini@hartfordbusiness.com Beat: Economic Development Robert Storace | Staff Writer, ext. 127 rstorace@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Health Care, Higher Education, Arts & Culture Skyler Frazer | Staff Writer, ext. 145 sfrazer@hartfordbusiness.com Beats: Manufacturing, Cannabis, Technology, Transportation Stephanie R. Meagher | Lead Researcher Heide Martin | Research Assistant Steve Laschever | Photographer Business Tom Curtin | Publisher, ext. 124, tcurtin@hartfordbusiness.com David Hartley | Senior Accounts Manager, ext. 130, dhartley@HartfordBusiness.com Daniel Schilke | Senior Accounts Manager, ext. 135, dschilke@HartfordBusiness.com Emily Paskind | Senior Accounts Manager, ext. 133, epaskind@hartfordbusiness.com Valerie Clark | Director of Audience Development, ext. 332 vclark@nebusinessmedia.com Production Bartosz Zinowko | Production Director, ext. 147 bzinowko@hartfordbusiness.com in Hartford, fueled by social media and a fun, progressive atmosphere. Its location at 5 Constitution Plaza was forced to close after a fire caused by a carelessly disposed cigarette engulfed a garbage area and spread to the restaurant, setting off sprinklers that destroyed equip- ment and furnishings. "We are just happy to be back," said Gina Luari, founder of The Place 2 Be. BLS: CT employers have 105,000 job openings The state's worker shortage eased a bit in June, but employers are still struggling to find employees in a tight labor market, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Connecticut employers reported 105,000 job openings at the end of June, down from 119,000 open positions at the end of May. The June number was flat with April's job openings and better than the 115,000 available positions in March, according to BLS data. Nationally, there were 10.7 million jobs open in the United States at the end of June, as the state and country grapple with labor shortages impacting a wide range of industries. In June, job opening rates decreased in 17 states, increased in two states, and were little changed in 31 states and the District of Columbia, BLS data shows. In addition, an estimated 39,000 Connecticut workers quit their jobs in June, BLS data shows. In June 2021, 36,000 Connecticut workers quit their jobs. Mystic Aquarium CEO Stephen Coan retires after 20 years Stephen M. Coan, president and CEO of Sea Research Foundation Inc., the nonprofit that operates Mystic Aquarium, announced his retirement earlier this month after 20 years with the organization. Coan will serve as CEO emer- itus and assist with the transition, including fundraising and strategic counsel, the organization said. Coan led upgrades to the aquar- ium's campus, including construc- tion of the Immersion, Wiederhold Animal Care, and Milne Conserva- tion and Ocean Science buildings; the renovation of the Ocean Conser- vation Center; and installation of new exhibits. Coan became president and CEO of Sea Research Foundation in 2006. He joined the organization in 2001. 'District Social' aims to bring ax-throwing, arcade, live music, new bar to Hartford An entertainment facility offering an arcade, ax-throwing, live music and bar could soon join Apple Cinemas in a large building at 330 New Park Ave., in Hartford. The venture – "District Social Hartford" – is proposed by William and James Diamond, brothers and partners in a broad business enter- prise spanning electronics manu- facturing, entertainment venues and real estate in 12 states and China. They operate out of offices in Mount Kisco, New York. The brothers are currently seeking a liquor permit for the Hartford venture. They have already begun construction and expect to open the arcade portion of the new business within weeks. Bow Tie Cinemas opted not to renew its lease in 2020 and was replaced by an Apple Cinema Xtreme. But Apple only uses 12 of 17 theaters. The Diamond brothers plan to activate the vacant five theater spaces with District Social Hartford. Diamond said he and his brother plan to invest more than $1 million creating District Social and reno- vating the building façade. The new venue would also have dedicated spaces for food trucks, offering dining options to patrons. Wheeler Health set to break ground on new Bristol HQ, health center this fall Wheeler Health – which has several family health and wellness centers in central Connecticut – announced it has hired New Brit- ain-based Downes Construction Co. to oversee development of a new 46,000-square-foot community health center and administrative headquar- ters on Hope Street in Bristol. Construction on the project is expected to start this fall. Wheeler said it has already reached 80% of its $500,000 project fundraising goal. Wheeler Health said the new flag- ship facility at Bristol Centre Square downtown is anticipated to open late next year and will employ more than 200 full- and part-time workers. Stifel to open sixth CT location in Stamford Global wealth management and investment banking company Stifel will open a Stamford office, creating 50 new jobs, Gov. Ned Lamont's office announced. Stifel currently has offices in Hamden, Hartford, Madison, Mystic and Southbury. The company's roughly 24,000-square-foot Stamford office will be at 677 Washington Blvd., a tower that previously housed the UBS international banking headquarters. The Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Devel- opment is providing a grant in arrears up to $1.75 million, contin- gent on the company creating and retaining 50 new full-time jobs. Stifel, with more than 8,500 employees worldwide, serves individuals, entrepreneurs, fami- ly-owned businesses, private equity groups and public and private corporations in North America, Europe, Asia, Israel and Latin America. Cannabis grow operation proposed for former Hartford Courant warehouse A cannabis cultivation business has been proposed in the former Hartford Courant distribution warehouse on Wawarme Avenue, according to town records. Arlanda Brantley, a principal of River Growers CT, is proposing to open a marijuana grow oper- ation at 121 Wawarme Ave. Brantley, and her attorney, Evan Seeman from Robinson+Cole, are requesting a special permit from the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) to open the facility, pending licensing. Brantley's River Growers CT was one of 16 companies to be granted social equity status by the Social Equity Council. The state Depart- ment of Consumer Protection is now doing final background checks on the business before potentially issuing a provisional license. The Place 2 Be owner Gina Luari outside the downtown Hartford location. HBJ FILE PHOTO 121 Wawarme Ave., Hartford. PHOTO | COSTAR Brothers William and James Diamond are seeking a liquor license for an entertainment venue in a building at 330 Park Ave., in Hartford. HBJ PHOTO | MICHAEL PUFFER

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