Release Date: June 16, 2011
Release No: 11-11
Contact: Kate Herrington
BARRE - Valerie Beaudet, owner of “Ladder 1 Grill” and “Flowers by Emslie & Co.”, Barre, has been chosen by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as the recipient of the Vermont Community Spirit Award. Nominated by Vermont Women’s Business Center (VWBC) Director Linda Ingold, Beaudet was selected for the award based on her unwavering support of and contributions to the revitalization of downtown Barre.
When Beaudet learned Flowers by Emslie & Co. was for sale in 2002, she bought the business with her own money plus an SBA-guaranteed loan for $80,000. As a new owner, she focused on providing excellent customer service and expanding the Emslie business line to include a wide range of unique gifts. The business was successful, and Beaudet began looking for another space in 2005.
When the Barre City Fire Department outgrew its original quarters, built in 1904, it relocated to a new public safety complex on the north end. Subsequently, the Barre City Council placed the historic firehouse on the real estate market, hoping the new owner could generate tax revenues, offer local employment, and retain the building’s historic character. Potential purchasers were asked to submit bids for review by the Council. Beaudet was the only bidder to submit a plan which more than satisfied all three City Council parameters.
“From the very beginning, Valerie’s offer stood out,” said the Mayor of Barre City, Thomas Lauzon, in a letter supporting Beaudet’s nomination. “Her vision of what the firehouse could be was extraordinary – a true community gathering place housing a café and several local businesses.”
Beaudet co-purchased the firehouse with her husband, Richard Beaudet, in 2006. “I couldn’t have done it without Richard,” said Beaudet. “He’s been right there beside me all the way.” Dedicated to preserving the firehouse as an historic resource, she undertook renovations that would honor the past by integrating it with the future. More than 200 historic firehouse photos adorn the walls throughout the building, and the Beaudets paid $4,000 for a replica of the original weathervane, valued at $1 million and housed at the Vermont Historical Society. “The firehouse just didn’t seem complete without it,” said Beaudet. “When I’d drop my son at daycare, I’d see the hose tower as I came down the hill and I’d think ‘it really needs the weathervane.’”
Three months after purchasing the building, Beaudet moved her staff, which currently numbers eight employees, and Flowers by Emslie & Co. into the firehouse. The store occupies roughly one-third of the ground floor with three different businesses occupying leased space in the upper story. Beaudet leased the remaining downstairs space to two different restaurant tenants over a two-year span, and when neither was successful, launched her own restaurant, Ladder 1 Grill, in July, 2009.
Ladder 1 Grill, open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., offers steaks, seafood, pasta dishes, pizza, salads and more than 25 appetizers. Since opening, Beaudet has tripled the Grill’s seating capacity, increased her employees from six to fifteen, and expanded the wine and beer selection to a full liquor bar. According to Beaudet, the Grill served roughly 4,500 customers last month and anticipates even more with the arrival of summer.
Today, Ladder 1 Grill is a vibrant hub of activity in Barre City. “People say it’s the hottest place in town,” Beaudet said. Asked if she thought the renovated firehouse had helped revitalize the downtown area, Beaudet responded, “Absolutely. We’re like the poster child with the City of Barre Planning Commission.”
“Under Valerie’s stewardship, one of Barre’s most significant landmarks has new life, houses 4 operating businesses, and has become a center of community activity,” said Stephen Gurin, Jr., Regional Vice President, Community National Bank, Barre.
As a volunteer, Beaudet directed Barre’s first downtown Oktoberfest in 2009 and has served on the Barre Partnership, a non-profit, volunteer organization dedicated to creating a thriving downtown. She currently serves as a board member of the Barre Area Development Corporation.
Valerie Beaudet will be honored by the U.S. Small Business Administration on June 16th at a ceremony presented by Vermont Business Magazine. The event will take place at the Shelburne Farms Coach Barn, Shelburne, Vermont. # # #