BUSINESS BRIEFS

The new Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Midtown & Element by Westin Atlanta Midtown – the first-ever combination of the Courtyard and Element brands under one roof – is now open at Ponce de Leon and North Avenues across from the Fox Theatre. The hotels bring a combined 282 new rooms and suites, plus the Ponce Room Bar & Kitchen, to Midtown. Visit marriott.com for more information.

Atlanta-based Keep Technologies was founded by serial entrepreneur David Moeller after his personal vehicle was broken into several times. After unsuccessfully finding a product on the market that would prevent future theft, Moeller decided to create one himself. Focus groups and research led to the development of a suite of smart devices dedicated to safety and security in vehicles along with an accompanying cloud service and a mobile app. The company’s flagship product is the Knight, an intrusion and motion detector that locks into the cup holder of a vehicle. Keep was one of 20 startups selected to participate the recent Startup Battlefield at Tech Crunch Disrupt.

◄Home furnishing brand Lovesac will soon open at The Interlock in West Midtown. Best known for its “Sactionals,” Lovesac will occupy a 1,215-square-foot space and will offer shoppers the opportunity to experience and demo its customizable and reconfigurable seating solutions.

Colony Square in Midtown has announced four new retailers and restaurants, including the fast casual, health eatery Sweetgreen; innovative popsicle concept King of Pops; highend designer and lifestyle sunglass retailer Sunnies; and luxurious nail salon Lush Nail Bar. Inclusivv, the company that organizes “civic dinners” around challenging and important topics, was chosen from a record-breaking 400-plus applicants to present at Venture Atlanta 2021 last month. For 14 years, the annual conference has been selecting the most promising tech companies and bringing in top investment firms from across the nation to hear them pitch. Venture Atlanta has helped launch more than 500 companies and raise $6.5 billion in funding to date, serving the needs of the region’s vibrant tech community.

Tech-forward dental care company Tend will expand into the Atlanta market with new locations at Ponce City Market this winter and at Buckhead Village next spring. Tend’s state-of-the-art technology includes the Soothsonic electric toothbrush, the Tidy Tongue cleaner, and even Breath Biscuits for your pets. In addition to routine dental care and procedures, Tend offers cosmetic services, including teeth whitening and veneers. Visit hellotend.com for more information.

Formerly a mechanic shop, a welding studio, a church, and a yoga studio, the space at 511 Edgewood Ave in Old 4th Ward is Atlanta’s newest creative studio and gathering space – The Be Nice House. The space is also headquarters of LOCAL, a change communications agency that has been named one of Inc. 5000’s fastest growing private companies. With an abundance of indoor workspace, an expansive courtyard, and a roof deck, the house is available for event, production, and meeting rental.

◄Atlanta-based Living Playgrounds has completed its newest playground at Woodson Park Academy YMCA Early Learning Center in Grove Park. The addition marks Living Playground’s second build for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. The first is located at the organization’s headquarters on Atlanta’s Westside at the former site of the E.A. Ware School, one of the City’s first schools serving the African American community. Both playgrounds were created for the YMCA’s Early Learning Centers, the largest provider of early learning in Georgia.