Two New Businesses Open in Downtown Burlington Amid Infrastructure Upgrades

Recovering Clay Pottery Studio and The Vault Bar opened their doors in downtown Burlington on August 15, marking a double storefront launch as the city works through infrastructure improvements and repairs, elonnewsnetwork.com reported.

Burlington Invests $10 Million in Downtown Utility Upgrades

The city of Burlington has committed $10 million to replace water and sewer lines across 16 blocks downtown. The two-year construction project is scheduled for completion in May 2027.

Maggie Hogan, director of downtown Burlington, acknowledged the friction between public works and private commerce. Managing construction schedules while keeping local storefronts accessible requires constant coordination, according to city officials.

Beyond utility upgrades, the public works initiative includes sidewalk improvements designed to support anticipated commercial expansion. These foundational improvements are meant to support the arrival of new businesses.

“We are upgrading downtown infrastructure so it can support growth and the arrival of new businesses,” Hogan said. “Some of the things we are doing are not very flashy, like the utility work. They are not very flashy, but they are very important to ensure our infrastructure is solid and can support the future of Burlington.”

Expansion of Recovering Clay Pottery Studio

Briggette Slivinski originally launched pottery classes at the Elmira Community Center before pandemic closures forced a pivot to her backyard shed in Graham.

That initial makeshift studio accommodated roughly five people in a 600-square-foot space. By 2022, rising demand pushed Slivinski to double the shed’s footprint to 1,200 square feet before initiating a search for a commercial storefront last year.

Jenni Gillaspie, a studio assistant, noted that despite the scale of the new 6,200-square-foot location, the staff remains focused on preserving the intimate atmosphere established in the backyard workshop.

The ground floor features 12 pottery wheels, six kilns, and dedicated hand-building stations. Beginners can enroll in structured, hands-on instructional courses, while experienced ceramicists can rent dedicated workspace and storage on the second floor.

“I am essentially a stay-at-home mom, but I come here, work part-time and get to see other people,” Gillaspie said. “I also get to exercise my creative side a little bit, and it is a joy to be able to serve others and show them care and openness.”

Establishment of The Vault Bar

Davis stated she spent about 10 years thinking about having a bar before identifying the downtown Burlington property.

The venue occupies a building that formerly functioned as a bank. The co-owners preserved the original bank vault intact, which ultimately inspired the establishment’s name.

The partners designed the interior to function as an eclectic sports bar, pairing an intimate seating layout with the ability to enjoy games. Rader noted that the early operational phase has involved unexpected adjustments.

May 2027 Utility Completion Deadline

The ongoing downtown infrastructure project remains on schedule for its projected finish date in May 2027. Crews continue working across the 16 designated commercial blocks to finalize water and sewer line replacements while municipal administrators coordinate downtown promotional events to sustain foot traffic for retailers and newly opened venues.