Come discover Essex Junction!

Vermont Business Magazine, Mar 01, 2003 by Arango, Jeff

The Village of Essex Junction is truly one of a kind. From the vibrant historic downtown, to the Fairgrounds and the Pearl Street Business District, Essex Junction is a pleasant place to do business. Essex Junction is home to over 250 small businesses, most of them locally owned and operated. Whether it's a recently established business or one that's been around for 100 years, Essex Junction businesses provide quality merchandise and services with a personal touch.

Doing business in Essex Junction is a breeze. The Village contains plenty of free parking and can be reached by public bus. Once in the Village, the pedestrian friendly environment and the mix of uses make it the ideal place to conduct business. The ability to get your car serviced, stop at a hardware store, get a bite to eat, and meander through the pedestrian streetscape is something that has been lost in many communities.

In Essex Junction people can find all the services they desire including banks, travel, agents, real estate agents, lawyers, car repair, florists and insurance agents. Many are conveniently located within walking distance from each other. For example, you can get your oil changed, do your banking, visit the post office, shop, and grab a bite to eat while you wait. In addition, Essex Junction is home to the Brownell Library, recently rated the number one library in Vermont, located in one of the Junction's oldest buildings, has been recently renovated to provide exceptional service while maintaining its historic character.

The village of Essex Junction's historic downtown district provides a unique blend of shops and restaurants for any consumer. These stores are stocked with a wonderful selection of hard to fins items. A perfect example is the recently opened Kaleidoscope Yarns in a quaint house on lower Pearl Street. Kaleidoscope Yarns has an extensive inventory of gorgeous yarns and knitting supplies and is the perfect complement to Yankee Pride, a specialty quilting shop located just around the corner on Main Street. Yankee Pride has been accommodating quilter's special needs for 21 years as well as selling beautifully finished quilts and providing quilting classes for all levels. Across the street on the historic Brownell block is a village mainstay since 1942, Phil's Trading Post. Phil's offers a wide variety of rugged outdoor clothing and gear, casual men and women's clothing, footwear, Vermont products and even antiques.

The village is home to a number of stores that sell antiques and fine collectibles. One of the most notable is located on Maple Street. This worn blue building is home to 5 Corners Antiques and Mason Brothers Salvage. Mason Brothers Salvage has been apart on the Junction for almost 12 years. Their warehouse is a great resource for homeowners who are building, renovating. Another distinctive shop on the corner of Lincoln Street and Lincoln Terrace is Shady Business. This 14year-old business recently made its home in a beautifully restored 1920's Victorian house. The vast selection of unique and antique lamps and lampshades has been called Vermont's finest and will be featured this month in Vermont Magazine.

Essex Junction also contains some exciting new businesses that have resulted from extensive renovation to older structures. Essex Paint and Carpet, Woodstock Kitchens and Baths and Cocoplum Appliances are all located in a previously dilapidated building that has been transformed into a complete shopping experience for your home. These three businesses provide custom products and services for your home.

Now if it's food you like Essex Junction has a number of dining options. The Lincoln Inn, located at the Five Corners intersection, has been in Essex Junction for over 100 years. They offer patrons the experience of dining in one of the Junction's oldest buildings. Travel down Pearl Street to a charming Italian restaurant called Loretta's Fine Italian Cuisine. Loretta's provides a large menu of authentic entrees and wines from Italy. At lunchtime visit Martone's Market located on Main Street for the best sandwiches in the state. Their sandwiches are made with the finest ingredients; hand cut meats and fresh homemade bread. Martone's also carries premium butcher meats, soups and salads.

The above showcase of Essex Junction businesses is only a sampling of what some one will find while strolling the Village's commercial streets. In addition to the aforementioned businesses, people who come to the Junction will find paint and hardware stores, beauty salons and barbershops, health clubs, a sign shop, print shops, a snowboard and stake shop, a motorcycle showroom, garden shop, an Amtrak Station and a variety of fine restaurants.

If you are interested in joining these businesses in the Village of Essex Junction, please contact Village Manager Charles Safford at (802) 878-6944.