Prominent Restaurateur Charged With Felony Larceny In East Hartford: Police

EAST HARTFORD/WEST HARTFORD, CT — A prominent restaurateur from West Hartford is accused by East Hartford police of writing a bad check to an East Hartford business owner for an equipment purchase.

According to the East Hartford Police Department, Gjinovefa Luari, 33, owner of The Place 2 Be restaurants in Hartford and West Hartford, was charged Wednesday, Sept. 17, with issuing a bad check and second-degree larceny.

Both charges are felonies.

Luari, a resident of West Hartford, wrote a check to the owners of Restaurant Equipment Paradise in East Hartford, a restaurant equipment retailer, for $10,821.66 for the purchase of items there, police said.

But the EHPD said, on July 17, the department received a fraud complaint in the station's lobby. Online court records indicate the transaction happened on June 5.

"Lauri paid for the equipment with a check that was later returned due to a closed account with insufficient funds," wrote the EHPD in a release Thursday afternoon.

According to police, following an investigation, an arrest warrant was submitted and approved.

According to online court records, Luari was released on $10,000 bond and will next appear in Hartford Superior Court on Oct. 22.

"The East Hartford Police Department is committed to thoroughly investigating fraudulent activities and holding those responsible accountable," wrote the EHPD.

This comes more than a month after the state of Connecticut suspended Luari's sales tax license at her restaurants for unspecified issues.

From Aug. 8: ''The Place 2 Be’ Eateries Lose Key Licenses To Operate'