A local municipality is promoting its downtown core as an influx of new businesses moves in.
The town of Essex is celebrating the grand openings of two new restaurants. At one end of the Talbot Street business district, near Wellington Avenue, is On the Docks, an establishment with takeout and eat-in options which already has a successful location in Harrow. At the other end of the downtown area, near Medora Avenue, is Vang's, an Asian eatery that relocated to Essex from Lakeshore. Ribbon-cuttings took place at both establishments Thursday morning with Essex Mayor Larry Snively and town council members Kim Verbeek, Morley Bowman, Chris Vander Doelen, and Sherry Bondy.
Nelson Silveira, Essex's economic development director, tells BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that this pair of new eateries is the latest in a string of ten new businesses that have come into the town centre.
"We're really excited," said Silveira. "These are huge investments. People are starting to see the value of investing in Essex Centre and seeing that it's not just about the location, but also about the customer base. We're really happy to welcome them here."
The town has been accepting more applications for the Essex Centre Community Improvement Plan (CIP), one of several in the communities making up the town of Essex. Vang's, for example, used a development grant to upgrade its parking lot and signage, update its facade, and build a new outdoor patio. As for On the Docks, Silveira said its successful location in Harrow Centre made it possible for the owners to open a second restaurant in the town centre.
Silveira is enormously pleased to see all this new mom-and-pop development deciding to take up commercial space in Essex Centre, spurring additional employment chances in fields like construction.
"Small businesses make up the fabric of our community," said Silveira. "We're a small community and every small business in our community employs people. They provide job opportunities and there are spinoff jobs as well."
Information about CIPs throughout the town of Essex can be found at its official website.
Staff at Vang's restaurant in Essex join Mayor Larry Snively and members of town council to cut their grand-opening ribbon on April 25, 2019. Photo courtesy Town of Essex.
