The economy has been tough, but that hasn’t stopped the Gugliotti family from undertaking a major expansion – opening a second location for its International Institute of Cosmetology in Plainville.
“We weren’t exactly looking to expand,” said Martin Gugliotti, 32, one of three brothers who, along with their father, run two hair salons and the school in Wethersfield, “but this building, in this town, with this kind of parking – we really couldn’t afford to pass it up.”
The Gugliottis spent over a year transforming the former two-story banquet facility into the school, with room for a couple hundred students.
The state of the art school features a student salon floor that is open to the public for discounted services. All services are performed by students under instructor’s supervision. The institute is a Wella Signature school and Pivot Point Member School.
The new Savers Thrift Store in Waterbury celebrated its grand opening with an exclusive fashion show benefiting the store’s signature nonprofit partner, Big Brothers Big Sisters. Admission to the event was a donation of clothing to benefit the charity.
Four Savers stores have opened since last June — in Manchester, Orange, Newington and now Waterbury.
At 28,376 square feet, the Waterbury location will also house a drive-thru Community Donation Center, providing a convenient place for residents to drop off their quality reusable clothing and household goods free of charge. For every donated item, Savers pays Big Brothers Big Sisters, turning otherwise unused goods into pure sustainable funding that supports BBBS programs and services in the local community.
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Anytime Fitness opened its doors in Bishops Corner in West Hartford after what it described in a press release as “an arduous multi-year zoning and rehab process.” The workout facility, co-owned by Andrew Breton and Scott Regina, touts its schedule — 5 a.m. to midnight hours, 365 days a year. The site, behind Whole Foods, features spinning bikes with virtual instructors providing professional, private instruction.
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Spa Time for You has opened its doors at 475 Buckland Road in South Windsor. It is a family-owned business operated by Paula Lindsay, who opened it after a 24-year career in the corporate world. Before opening her spa, she offered in-home spa services for three years. The spa is open by appointment only.
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The South Windsor Chamber of Commerce held its annual business and expansion awards ceremony and dinner at Maneeley’s Banquet Facility in South Windsor.
Among the business honorees were Beautification Award — The Mill on the River Restaurant; Small Business of the Year — Strong’s AutoCare LLC; Family Owned Business of the Year — Splash Pool Supply Inc., and Business of the Year — Nu Way Tobacco Company.
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Three Belles Marina of Niantic announced the grand opening of its new Marine Outfitters Store in East Lyme. It carries a wide range of marine and outdoor apparel including RailRiders Adventure Gear, Guy Harvey, as well as the full line of Hobie Kayaks, Mercury Marine Outboards, Thule Racks, and marine parts and accessories. Marine Outfitters will be providing service and technical support to boaters and kayak enthusiasts seven days a week.
Today, the Hartford Business Journal launches Keith Griffin’s Retail Notebook. If you have news and notes for this periodic feature, please e-mail kgriffin@HartfordBusiness.com
