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The city has parks, trails, and a municipal
pool that serves hundreds of children all
summer long. Younger families are moving
to Vergennes because they can live in a
tight-knit community with a walkable
downtown and still easily commute to
their jobs in Burlington and Middlebury.
The Vergennes Recreation Committee
has seen a rise in participation from high
school students, according to Matt Chabot,
the current city manager. “That bodes well
for our future,” he said.
Like many of Vermont’s “designated
downtowns,” Vergennes helped rebuild its
economy by developing an amazing scene
for foodies. The 3 Squares Cafe is part of a
tough-to-choose-from mix that includes
Bar Antidote, Black Sheep Bistro, and Park
Squeeze. Vergennes provides uncommon
experiences for shoppers, too. Take, for
example, Women of Wisdom, a nonprofit
shop that sells “pre-loved” goods and
donates half of its money from sales to
local hospice efforts and half to organiza-
tions geared toward women and children.
“We are doing such great work in this
little community,” said Martha Redpath,
Women of Wisdom co-president. Martha
and her husband, Gary Lang, moved to
Vergennes from Burlington in 1987 and
raised their three children there because
they sought life in a smaller town.
The sight of the iconic, redbrick Kennedy
Brothers building greets visitors to
Vergennes who enter the city from Route
7’s southern access. In 1909, Sheffield
Farms, the largest dairy center in New
York City, developed the site as one of
several creameries throughout New
England that the company used to collect,
process, and ship milk. Hood bought the
facility and later closed it in the 1950s.
Kennedy Brothers bought the property in
1960 and made furniture—until it closed
in the 1980s. Since then, the building has
been reinvented as a marketplace.
the local school district offices and
Shacksbury Cider. There is also a co-
working center—shared workspace for
people not yet ready to fully rent office
space.
Bianca Dwy grew up in Vergennes and
graduated from Vergennes Union High
School in 2007. She has been assistant
manager at 3 Squares Cafe on Main Street
since 2014. “This community offers more
than it used to,” Bianca said, just prior to
delivering a pair of popular Buttermilk
Fried Chicken Sandwiches to a table for
two. “Lots of younger families have moved
in. It’s awesome! Everyone really takes
care of each other around here and gets to
know each other. It’s a great, caring place.”
In 2013, Robert Feuerstein and his wife,
Lillian Kennedy, bought the Kennedy
Brothers building. At the time, the only
tenants were Vermont Sun and
steam-heat fixtures—minus the original,
photo-worthy boiler that still stands tall in
the complex—and in came a new heating
system. Robert and Lillian also invested in
a new roof and insulation, and built a new
entrance and offices. Today, the Kennedy
Brothers building has 13 tenants, including
seven-member city council: six alderper-
sons and the mayor. By ordinance, the city
prohibits chain stores and chain
restaurants.
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