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www.HartfordBusiness.com November26,2012•Hartford Business Journal 47 Celebrating 20 Years of Business News City with a river view Hartford's skyline is vastly altered from its days as a Dutch trading settlement, particularly so in the last 20 years. The Connecticut Convention Center and adjoining Hartford Downtown Marriott are visible in the center. But the Connecticut Science Center next door and the 39-story Hartford 21 residential tower in downtown had yet to do their part to further alter the city view. TIMELINE The Past 20 Years Hartford region's two decades of highs, lows 1992 1993 1994 1992 Hartford Business Journal debuts with the Nov. 2 edition. The Hispanic Chamber of Com- merce debuts. Sage-Allen files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November. 1993 G. Fox Closes its doors on Jan. 22, after 146 years. • Downtown Hartford trolley makes its debut. Sage-Allen announces it will close its stores as of May 2. About 500 employees were given 60-day notice. Hartford City Council approves domestic partnerships effective July 1. Officials from the state, the city, and the Hartford Whalers announce agreement on a deal that will keep the hockey team in the city for 20 years. It didn't hold. Builders Square succumbs to competition from Home Depot and closes its Buckland Hills Store. The next month, Grossman's, feeling the same pressures, would close five stores in Connecticut. Travelers Corp and Primerica Corp. merge to form The Travelers Inc. 1994 Despite an offer of $180 million from novelist Tom Clancy and The CT Group, Patriots owner James Orthwein sells the NFL Patriots to Robert Kraft, a Bostonian who owns Foxboro Stadium, for $155 million. The Hollander family, owner of Hartford Distributors of Manches- ter, donates a $45,000 life-size statue of Mark Twain. Gov. Lowell Weicker signs a deal with the Mohegan tribe of Mont- ville to open a casino. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, owners of Foxwoods agree to a special exception to their rights to allow another casino to use slot machines in CT. The Travelers Insurance Cos. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. agreed to merge their health insurance busi- nesses, creating a giant in the managed care business that will have 13 million customers. Banking Commissioner Ralph Shulan- sky shuts the Bank of Hartford, buried in debt assumed from two failing sister banks. Eagle Federal Savings bought its assets. Hartford wins the bid to host the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games. The economic impact is expected to be $50 million to $100 million. The University Club in Hartford announces it will close due to rising debt and decreasing membership. The club opened in 1907. Rentschler Airfield closes. After months of debate, Education Alterna- tives Inc. signs to manage Hartford's school system. The contract gives the firm control of the $171 million budget plus $39 million in grants. Downtown's Clarion Hotel closes 15 months after opening. New Britain's leaders OK a $10.3 million bonding package for a new ballpark as part of a deal with owner Joe Buzas to keep the Red Sox farm team in town. 1995 Heublein closes its Hartford distillery, elimi- nating 250 manufacturing G. Fox closes The venerable department store, a destination for legions of shoppers during its heyday, was the victim of changing consumer tastes and the rise of the suburban shopping center. New York development firm Wonder Works Construction Co. is planning to convert the old Clarion hotel in downtown Hartford into a 199 unit apart- ment complex.