Update on Simon Pearce Inc and The Mill in Quechee following Hurricane Irene

The Simon Pearce flagship location, The Mill in Quechee, braved the storm brought by Hurricane Irene this past weekend. All employees are safe, and no injuries were sustained onsite during the storm or in its wake.
Presently, The Mill is closed as the company executives and state officials assess the damage caused by the flooding of the adjacent Ottaquechee River. When the river peaked, the lower levels of The Mill building ‘ including the glassblowing, hydro turbine, and some kitchen operations areas ‘ received significant water damage. These areas will be the focus of renovation efforts in the coming weeks.
The retail store, upper floor offices, and iconic destination restaurant received only minor water damage, which can be easily addressed with clean-up and cosmetic attention. When the official assessment is complete, Simon Pearce will share a timeline for reopening The Mill on its website, www.simonpearce.com, as well as its social media channels, Facebook - www.facebook.com/Simon.Pearce.Glass and Twitter - @SimonPearceInc.
Production of Simon Pearce’s hand-crafted glass and pottery items will remain strong during this time. More than 80% of the company’s glass and 95% of its pottery is created in its other U.S. locations. Customers can still purchase Simon Pearce products in its seven other signature retail stores ‘ including Windsor, VT and Hanover, NH, both within 20 minutes from Quechee ‘ as well as a network of more than 500 independent retailers who carry Simon Pearce products. Additionally, the web store remains open at www.simonpearce.com and a dedicated Customer Care team is available at 800-774-5277.
Says Rob Adams, President, ‘We feel fortunate that the damages to our business are only physical and can be repaired in time. Our thoughts are with so many others who suffered far greater personally as a result of this devastating storm, and we are touched by the outpouring of well wishes and support we’ve received through our Facebook community.’ Updates will be shared daily as new information becomes available.
Simon Pearce. 9.2.2011