This May, the beloved Simon Pearce Mill at Quechee ‘which is the among the top three attractions in Vermont and entertains more than 300,000 visitors each year ‘will be ready to welcome guests again after a multi-million dollar rebuilding effort in the wake of Tropical Storm Ireneâ s significant damage last August. Visitors will enjoy a more transparent, intimate view into the glassblowing craft in the dramatically expanded production facility.
Additionally, several other enhancements have been made to the interiors, layout, and experiential touchpoints to offer guests more unrestricted access to discover the process behind Simon Pearce craftsmanship. The completed Mill will reopen in mid-May, with an official grand reopening celebration set for Saturday, June 2, including all-day events and festivities.
While the flagship locationâ s iconic restaurant and retail store have gradually resumed operations room-by-room over the past few months as restoration allowed, the famed glassblowing workshop on the lower level has remained closed until now. Ireneâ s flooding of the adjacent Ottaquechee River completely destroyed the lower level glassblowing facility, which annually shoulders responsibility for 25% of the brandâ s hand crafted glass production and formerly had a small viewing platform that enabled visitors to watch the pieces being made.
The restoration and rebuilding of this facility has been an intense nine-month effort led by Andrew Pearce, Director of Special Projects, and James Murray, Executive Director of Product Development and Design. Renovations have completely redefined the guest experience at Simon Pearce, where spellbound visitors once packed tight into a small, dark, retro-fitted viewing area to watch the artisans at work. Says James Murray, â With challenge and hardship, there always comes opportunity. Irene may have dealt Simon Pearce and our Vermont neighbors a bitter blow last year, but the restoration process has enabled us to redesign some facets of our iconic Mill in ways that more graciously engage visitors in the Simon Pearce experience.â
WHATâ S NEW
· Expansive, unrestricted viewing area in the glassblowing workshop that puts visitors right into the production facility for one-on-one, intimate access to the artisan glassblowers
· Thoughtful, rustic-meets-modern design in the glassblowing gallery that employs reclaimed timbers, locally-recovered barn boards, raw steel, and glass
· Dramatically designed staircase and highly visible access point to the lower level glassblowing experience relocated to the center of the retail store, immediately inviting guests to visit with the artisans and be captivated by glassblowing firsthand
· Wheelchair-accessible elevator lift installed to allow ALL guests access to watch glassblowing
· Curated historic and educational exhibits displayed throughout the glassblowing gallery that share the process and techniques for this remarkable craft
· Redesigned showroom and retail space on the main level, adjacent to the restaurant
While the new facility plans to open its doors on Motherâ s Day weekend (May 12-13), an official â Ribbon Cutting’celebration will take place on Saturday, June 2. Simon Pearce will be on hand to sign pieces (with a diamond-tipped pen) for guests, entertainment and special treats will be available throughout the day, and several Vermont state VIPs will participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony. A complete schedule of events and activities will be posted on www.simonpearce.com in May, as well as shared through the brandâ s highly active social media channels, www.facebook.com/Simon.Pearce.Glass and @SimonPearceInc on Twitter.
About Simon Pearce:
Simon Pearce designs, manufactures and markets original products in hand blown glass and handmade pottery and operates a fine dining establishment. Simon Pearce has maintained a dedication to creating products that are beautifully designed, produced with premium quality materials and time-honored techniques and intended for a lifetime of everyday use. Founded in 1971, Simon Pearce originated as a small glassblowing workshop in Kilkenny, Ireland. In 1981, the company moved to a historic woolen mill on the banks of the Ottauquechee River in Quechee, Vermont. Today, Quechee remains the flagship for Simon Pearceâ s retail, restaurant and production activities. The full range of glass and pottery designs embodies traditional and contemporary stylesâ all with classic simplicity, elegance and everyday functionality. The line is available at 8 Simon Pearce retail stores, through a nationwide network of over 500 wholesale partners, via mail-order catalogue and online at SimonPearce.com.
Windsor, VT (April 2012) â