Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

September 15, 2022

Hartford's The Place 2 Be restaurant to open Dallas location

The Place 2 Be Maurice “Mo” Major, assistant culinary director for The Statement Group, CEO Gina Luari and Culinary Director Xavier Santiago.
By Michael Puffer

Six years after Gina Luari opened her The Place 2 Be restaurant in the South End of Hartford, the 30-year-old budding restaurant magnate has four locations, with more on the way — including a newly announced venue in a bustling part of Dallas.

The nearly 7,000-square-foot Dallas venue will be across from American Airlines Arena, home to the Dallas Mavericks, amid a thriving mix of shopping, offices and housing.

“Post-Covid, so many people moved to Dallas, every restaurant, no matter where you went, was packed,” Luari said.

Luari said she believes the Place 2 Be can ultimately expand to dozens of locations. Dallas, a busy metro area with lots of competition, will be a good proving ground, she said.

Luari was only 24 when she opened her first Place 2 Be, a breakfast-all-day spot known for its fun, social media-friendly, décor and atmosphere, overflowing drinks and stylish food presentation. She subsequently opened a downtown Hartford location, one in West Hartford’s Blue Back Square and a fourth at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Luari expects to open a fifth location near Yale University in New Haven this fall. She has a sixth Place 2 Be location in Connecticut in the works but doesn’t want to reveal the location until negotiations are finalized. If it pans out, this location, along with Dallas, will make seven Place 2 Be locations for Luari.

Luari is also advancing plans for a restaurant featuring South and Central American cuisine, a pizza restaurant and a raw seafood bar in Hartford under different brands.

The entire venture falls under the umbrella of Luari’s recently formed company, “The Statement Group.”

Luari has a talented bench of supporters and top staff. Culinary Director Xavier Santiago and Assistant Culinary Director Maurice “Mo” Major were both featured on the Food Network’s “Chopped” show. 

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF