West Hartford Business Buzz Sept. 1: Openings, Closings and Other News

Wow, big happenings this week in the Center!

The week heated up with the story that co-owners of Kaoud Oriental Rugs - Maurice and Charles Kaoud - have purchased the Masonic Temple building in the Center for $1.3 million. Maurice Kaoud said in a telephone interview that the current tenants at the building - Wyllys Saint John’s Lodge No. 4, the Studio of Dance and Youth Ballet and Van Dance CT - have leases through February 2014. Maurice Kaoud did not disclose what would be done with the building after that.

For the second week in a row, a West Hartford restaurant was reviewed by a prominent entity. Two weeks ago, Daym Drops brought Javier Colon with him to review Max Burger’s veggie burger. This week, the New York Times reviewed Grants Restaurant and Bar, with the final verdict of “very good.” Co-owner William Grant said in a telephone interview that he was “very pleased” with the review, though there are some things he said he’d like to work on. The popular West Hartford Center eatery’s website can be found here. Call 860-236-1930 for reservations.

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream hosted the fifth-annual Gabriella’s Scoop Night on Thursday. The event raised $5,000 for the Children’s Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Division. Ben & Jerry’s co-owner Kristine Hedberg said that it is a pleasure to have the block party-style event at her establishment. “We love it,” she said on Thursday. “It’s such a good cause.” In addition to providing the venue, Ben & Jerry’s donated a portion of its sales to the Children’s Medical Center. Hedberg said that the ice cream shop donated $1,000, and she expected at least as much this year. Ben & Jerry’s is located at 5 ½ S. Main St. in West Hartford Center.

Beadoir owner Linda Goldberg has announced that she is opening a doggy boutique in the bead store located at 968r Farmington Ave. The grand opening of the boutique will take place on Sept. 22 from 12:30 to 3 p.m. and will include a doggy fashion show with handcrafted designs from three artisans.  “The boutique is all about handcrafted work, more like a craft gallery for humans and dogs,” Goldberg said in an e-mail.

West Hartford-based YHB Investment Advisors announced last week that Paul A. Berman of Greenwich is joining the firm as a senior portfolio manager, starting on Sept. 3. “Paul possesses over 25 years of investment, financial analysis and corporate finance experience,” according to an announcement on Patch.

About this column: West Hartford residents love to be "in the know" about happenings in town, especially the openings — and closings — of local businesses. We hear things all the time, and some of them turn into big stories. But sometimes we don't have enough news to write an entire story, even though the information is definitely newsworthy.