cheshireherald.com – Cheshire Sees Business, Jobs Growth In 2021 – Cheshire Herald
The past year brought a lot of bad news in terms of the pandemic’s impact on the state and nation. However, in Cheshire, when it came to the local economy, things were actually positive.
Cheshire Economic Development Coordinator Andrew Martelli announced that throughout 2021, despite the pandemic, Cheshire was able to create over 800 jobs. That growth was buoyed in part by the arrival of new businesses, such as Starbucks and Bone In Prime Steakhouse.
Martelli stated that another new business moved into town at the end of 2021, occupying the site of a former well-known Cheshire establishment.
“Rebel Interactive closed on the old Furniture Barn property (535 West Main St.) last week,” Martelli told The Herald. “It’s a great company, and they really want to get involved with the community, which we are very excited about.”
Rebel Interactive is a digital marketing company with around 95 employees, who plan to move into the location sometime in winter.
“They plan on moving in at the beginning of March,” Martelli explained. “There are still some things that need to be done to ensure they can be successful at the location, like expanding the area’s broadband capabilities.”
Town Manager Sean Kimball, who assisted Martelli with the deal, commented on how the Southington-based company had been looking for an opportunity to expand, and that the old Furniture Barn location should be a perfect fit.
“Andrew and I first met with (Rebel Interactive’s) leadership team back in August and the Town has worked with them closely over the past few months to provide any assistance or helpful information that we could as they navigated the property purchase,” Kimball said. “The presence of a dynamic, innovative marketing firm full of working-professionals has the potential to be transformative for the West Main Street area. In our initial meeting, their senior executives expressed their own excitement and desire to become a meaningful and contributing member of the Cheshire community through community events, school partnerships, internship opportunities, etc.”
Rebel Interactive also has plans to revamp the property into a new, high-tech video production space that can be used to film client commercials, record podcasts, and offer a variety of other services. Kimball and Martelli both feel that the introduction of this company into the community will be positive.
“Cheshire doesn’t have anything like this,” Martelli said. “So it’s very exciting that they decided to work with us, and it can’t come at a better time.”
In addition to Rebel Interactive coming to Cheshire, the town is expecting to build on the 800-plus job creation seen over the last year, as Martelli explained that many local businesses are still looking to expand their workforce.
“Places like Macy’s and Bozzuto’s are still hiring, along with many other businesses in town,” Martelli said. “It’s one of the reasons that we are asking our legislators to (push the State to) consider adding a bus route to service these areas in order to help our biggest employers get employees to work.”
Currently, there is no public bus route that adequately services the north end of town, where businesses such as Macy’s and Bozzuto’s are located. With the new legislative session about to begin, Martelli hopes that will change.
“The proposed route will not only serve the north end of town, but also go to the prison, in order to help all our residents and employees,” Martelli said. “Cheshire residents will be able to visit anyone who might be in the prison, or if they work there that would help them out as well.”
Not all of the recent news on the business front has been positive, however. Cheshire said goodbye to one of its best-known orchards — Hickory Hill Orchards — which had been in operation for 44 years. The orchard, located at 351 South Meriden Road, announced on Facebook on Nov. 27 that they would be closing their doors.
“It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing our last day of business for Hickory Hill. It has been 44 years of fun, satisfaction, and friendship! We have always been grateful for our loyal and appreciative customers and will miss you all!”
The Kudish family that operates the orchard do not have any future plans to sell the property, according to Martelli, and still plan on living at and operating the orchard for non-commercial purposes.
The past year brought a lot of bad news in terms of the pandemic’s impact on the state and nation. However, in Cheshire, when it came to the local economy, things were actually positive.
Cheshire Economic Development Coordinator Andrew Martelli announced that throughout 2021, despite the pandemic, Cheshire was able to create over 800 jobs. That growth was buoyed in part by the arrival of new businesses, such as Starbucks and Bone In Prime Steakhouse.
Martelli stated that another new business moved into town at the end of 2021, occupying the site of a former well-known Cheshire establishment.
“Rebel Interactive closed on the old Furniture Barn property (535 West Main St.) last week,” Martelli told The Herald. “It’s a great company, and they really want to get involved with the community, which we are very excited about.”
Rebel Interactive is a digital marketing company with around 95 employees, who plan to move into the location sometime in winter.
“They plan on moving in at the beginning of March,” Martelli explained. “There are still some things that need to be done to ensure they can be successful at the location, like expanding the area’s broadband capabilities.”
Town Manager Sean Kimball, who assisted Martelli with the deal, commented on how the Southington-based company had been looking for an opportunity to expand, and that the old Furniture Barn location should be a perfect fit.
“Andrew and I first met with (Rebel Interactive’s) leadership team back in August and the Town has worked with them closely over the past few months to provide any assistance or helpful information that we could as they navigated the property purchase,” Kimball said. “The presence of a dynamic, innovative marketing firm full of working-professionals has the potential to be transformative for the West Main Street area. In our initial meeting, their senior executives expressed their own excitement and desire to become a meaningful and contributing member of the Cheshire community through community events, school partnerships, internship opportunities, etc.”
Rebel Interactive also has plans to revamp the property into a new, high-tech video production space that can be used to film client commercials, record podcasts, and offer a variety of other services. Kimball and Martelli both feel that the introduction of this company into the community will be positive.
“Cheshire doesn’t have anything like this,” Martelli said. “So it’s very exciting that they decided to work with us, and it can’t come at a better time.”
In addition to Rebel Interactive coming to Cheshire, the town is expecting to build on the 800-plus job creation seen over the last year, as Martelli explained that many local businesses are still looking to expand their workforce.
“Places like Macy’s and Bozzuto’s are still hiring, along with many other businesses in town,” Martelli said. “It’s one of the reasons that we are asking our legislators to (push the State to) consider adding a bus route to service these areas in order to help our biggest employers get employees to work.”
Currently, there is no public bus route that adequately services the north end of town, where businesses such as Macy’s and Bozzuto’s are located. With the new legislative session about to begin, Martelli hopes that will change.
“The proposed route will not only serve the north end of town, but also go to the prison, in order to help all our residents and employees,” Martelli said. “Cheshire residents will be able to visit anyone who might be in the prison, or if they work there that would help them out as well.”
Not all of the recent news on the business front has been positive, however. Cheshire said goodbye to one of its best-known orchards — Hickory Hill Orchards — which had been in operation for 44 years. The orchard, located at 351 South Meriden Road, announced on Facebook on Nov. 27 that they would be closing their doors.
“It is with a heavy heart that we are announcing our last day of business for Hickory Hill. It has been 44 years of fun, satisfaction, and friendship! We have always been grateful for our loyal and appreciative customers and will miss you all!”
The Kudish family that operates the orchard do not have any future plans to sell the property, according to Martelli, and still plan on living at and operating the orchard for non-commercial purposes.
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