LYNDON- If you've lived in Lyndonville for more than a couple of years, you probably have noticed changes in the downtown retail area. Where Phat Cats, Village Kids Boutique, and H.O.P.E. once stood, now sit empty spaces, looking for revitalization. Those are not the only businesses to have left in the past couple years. Perkins What Knot Shoppe, Ewe Forium Boutique- Yarn and Supplies, and Skin Deep Tattoo Studio have also left.
Many of these businesses were only open for a few months before they closed.
But times are starting to look up, according to the Lyndon Planning Director and Zoning Administrator Annie McLean.
"Many of these buildings have already hosted several businesses over the past few years. The great thing about these spaces is that they can accommodate different types of businesses as the needs and interest of the community and visitors to the community grow and change. There are quite a few new businesses that have opened or have been permitted to open in these buildings, especially along Depot Street. A martial arts/indoor fitness studio is opening up in the former location of the Village Kids Boutique, and The Green Mountain Grow Store has already opened in the former Tanglz and Toes space."
Along with that, there is also another retail store that has been granted permission to open at 37 Depot Street, and plans for a co-working space in the old Bag Balm building just in front of Aubin Electric on Depot Street. Permit applications for this project have not been submitted at this time, but there is a a proposal in place.
This goes along with the proposal to knock down the old building that housed the Eliminator Pest Control, which is in the process of becoming a Dunkin Donuts.
But Eliminator won't be going away anytime soon. They have moved to 293 Hill Street, the location of the old Packing House, which closed in the spring of 2016.
"We had always been looking at it as a home base of operations, and then when the impetus to move from (their Broad Street location) accelerated, we decided to enter into a long lease-to-purchase with the owner of the building." said Marcus Brown, the President of Eliminator.
The only concern for Brown is that the change in location may affect business, going from Broad Street to Hill Street. But since they aren't a retail shop, they don't rely on walk-in clients to survive.
They are also planning on completely redesigning the building to accommodate the new business.
"This building is currently about 6,000 square feet, and we are basically going to divide the building in half; half being renovated for office space and the other half for shop space for the property and pest control side of our businesses, for supplies, equipment, and storage needs," said Brown. "As well, we plan to add a 30 by 40 garage on the end of the building and a 2 bay overhead where we can pull in trucks and work in them with our torch."
The Eliminator never stopped their services during the move, but the building itself won't be done construction for a while. Brown could not give a definite date of completion, but hopes for it to be done within six months.