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The Place 2 Be Owner Accused of Fraudulent Loan Applications
Gjinovefa “Gina” Luari, the owner of the popular Connecticut restaurant chain “The Place 2 be,” has been accused of submitting fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Federal authorities allege Luari obtained over $600,000 in loans based on false information.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut on September 18, 2025, Luari, 43, of West Hartford, is charged with wire fraud and making false statements to a bank. The charges stem from applications submitted in 2020 and 2021.
Investigators claim Luari misrepresented the number of employees and the amount of payroll expenses for her restaurants – located in west Hartford, Hartford, and New Haven – to qualify for larger loan amounts. Specifically, the indictment alleges she inflated payroll costs and falsely claimed employees were still employed when they weren’t.
The PPP and EIDL programs were established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and economic Security (CARES) Act to provide financial assistance to businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. These loans were intended to help businesses cover payroll, rent, and other essential expenses.
If convicted, Luari faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge and up to 30 years for the false statement charge. the examination was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
“These programs were a lifeline for many businesses during a difficult time,” stated a representative from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “We will continue to aggressively pursue those who exploited these programs for personal gain.”
The Place 2 Be restaurants remain open at this time. Attempts to reach Luari for comment have been unsuccessful. this is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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