Haven Beer Company has named Connecticut hospitality veteran Chris Leonard as General Manager of its Hamden brewery, restaurant and entertainment destination. He will oversee day-to-day operations as Haven continues to expand its live entertainment, seasonal brewery offerings and private events business.
HAMDEN, Conn., Aug. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Haven Beer Company today announced that Connecticut hospitality veteran Chris Leonard will serve as General Manager of its Hamden brewery, scratch kitchen, taproom, rooftop and biergarten at 2323 Whitney Avenue.
The appointment adds a seasoned operator to a business that has realized tremendous success and popularity, and has grown quickly since opening in 2024 to become Hamden's largest brewery and one of the region's busiest gathering places. The four-bar, multi-room destination serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, with live entertainment nearly every night of the week.
Leonard brings more than 20 years of hospitality leadership across restaurants, breweries and entertainment venues. He most recently served as General Manager of 110 Grill in Manchester. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade at City Steam Brewery in Hartford — first running the bar and comedy club, then leading the entire operation as General Manager of the 500-seat, multi-level brewery and entertainment venue with a comedy club, private event spaces and live entertainment running most nights. He has also held area-level oversight of multiple restaurants with Max Restaurant Group.
Ownership pointed to Leonard's track record in high-volume, multi-format rooms as the deciding factor, along with Leonard's deep familiarity with the Greater New Haven and Hartford hospitality markets, his passion for the hospitality business and his reputation for being customer-focused.
Set on Whitney Avenue in the shadow of Sleeping Giant, Haven Beer Company was built to be a year-round neighborhood destination rather than a taproom alone. The property features rotating craft taps updated weekly, alongside a full bar with craft cocktails and wine, a scratch kitchen turning out elevated comfort food, an outdoor biergarten, and five distinct event spaces — The Lounge, the Penalty Box, the Sky Box, the Rooftop and the Taproom — accommodating private groups from 16 to 200.
Leonard will oversee day-to-day operations across the restaurant, taproom and events business.
With Leonard in place, the ownership group — Bob Chicoine, Tom Cappas and John Torello — is turning toward an ambitious fall, with an expanded live music and event calendar, new seasonal releases from the brewhouse, and continued growth in the private events business heading into the holidays.
Haven Beer Company is open seven days a week at 2323 Whitney Avenue in Hamden. More information, menus and event listings are available at havenbeerco.com.
Media Contact
Thomas Cappas, Haven Beer Company, 1 203-606-2327, [email protected], https://havenbeerco.com/
Ronnie Suraci, Haven Beer Company, [email protected], https://havenbeerco.com/
SOURCE Haven Beer Company
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