Cheshire restaurateur, other Conn. food businesses earn SBA awards

A Cheshire restaurateur was recently honored as the state’s “Small Business Person of the Year” by the Connecticut District Office of the Small Business Association, and several other Connecticut-based food and beverage businesses were recognized for their work.

Viron Rondos, owner of Viron Rondo Osteria, received the award Monday, presented to him at his Highland Avenue restaurant by Senator Richard Blumenthal and Catherine Marx, Connecticut’s SBA District Director. Rondos first opened the restaurant in 2014 and remodeled it in 2019, adding a patio and veranda to craft what Connecticut Magazine called an “eyepopping Mediterranean island.”

“I owe a huge ‘thank you’ to my staff that is as deserving of this award as I am,” Rondos said in a statement. “And especially these past two years, I am so grateful for the support of the SBA and all the officials in Connecticut that did their best to help restaurants during the COVID crisis.”Others also recognized by the SBA office include Counter Weight Brewing, which recently moved to Cheshire from Hamden. William Pastyrnak’s brewery was named the Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year.

Charlie J. Negaro’s Atticus Book Store in New Haven was named the Family-Owned Small Business of the Year, and its Chapel Street location features a popular cafe with breakfast items, lunch, grab-and-go snacks, breads, baked goods and beverages. Atticus expanded into East Rock last year with a market and bakery on Orange

Street.

Alexandra Lazowski’s Bare Life, a West Hartford-based company that sells allergenfriendly coconut-based hot cocoa, was named Microenterprise of the Year. Lazowski, who lives with several chronic illnesses, created the product after searching for foods that fit her specific dietary needs.

Marx said Monday the businesses were eligible for the awards if they had used an SBA product or resource, including an SBA government-guaranteed loan or mentoring help.

“When our team judges [the nominees], we look for resiliency, whether they’ve had growth in their business...what they’ve done with their community, and stability — how they dealt with the unforeseen things that happen to a small business every day,” she said.

Rondos “really hit the high bar on every one of those [criteria],” she said.

The SBA will be presenting several other awards at a reception to be held during National Small Business Week in May. Other winners include: Financial Champion - Derek Ezovski, ORMS, West Hartford Manufacturer of the Year — Mary Ruth Shields, United Sewing & Design, Hartford

Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year — Lisa Chatman, Kiddie Tech University, West Haven Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year Candace Freedenberg, Untapped Potential, Hartford New England Regional Women’s Business Center of Excellence — Women’s Business Development Council Central CT, New Haven

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Atticus Bookstore Cafe co-manager Brandi Hawkins, second from left, serves customers Alexandra Robison of New Haven, left, Colleen Lynch of New Haven, second from left. Atticus Bookstore Cafe on Chapel Street in New Haven offers heat-and-eat meals, breads, pastries, produce, wine, beer and more.

Winter Caplanson / CT Food & Farm Viron Rondos, owner of Viron Rondo Osteria in Cheshire.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Atticus Bookstore branded bread for sale. Atticus Bookstore Cafe on Chapel Street in New Haven is offering heat-and-eat meals, breads, pastries, produce, wine, beer and more.

Hearst Connecticut Media file photo Counter Weight Brewing Company in Hamden in 2019.