Crystal outlet keeps Lenox plant shining on
A consortium of regional glassmakers and artisans hope to write another chapter in southwestern Pennsylvania's glass history next week by opening the Jamestown Crystal Outlets in the former Lenox glass factory in Mt. Pleasant.
"This is the prototype. If it's successful, we'll look at opening more in Pennsylvania. It's a huge sales departure for us," said Bob Rifenburgh, president of Jeannette-based St. George Crystal, the only company that produces 24 percent lead crystal for the retail market in the United States. Initially, the outlet will employ two full-time and a half-dozen part-time workers.
Along with St. George Crystal, the Jamestown Crystal Outlet will feature products by several other western Pennsylvania artisans and companies. They include L.E. Smith Glass, O'Rourke Hand Cut Crystal, both of Mt. Pleasant; Rolf's Cut Crystal and Glassware of Latrobe; Youghiogheny Art Glass of Connellsville in Fayette County; and Early American Candle of Allison Park.
"We already had a draw with the Lenox Outlet, and now we're giving people more of a reason to go there. It will be one store selling products from regional retailers, and we envision other glassmakers joining in," said Larry J. Larese, executive director of the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp.
A grand opening of Jamestown Crystal Outlets, located off Route 31 east in Mt. Pleasant, is scheduled for Friday. The outlet occupies 7,700 square feet of space.
The new outlet also unites a pair of time-honored, prominent glassmakers — St. George Crystal and L.E. Smith Glass Co. — under the same roof.
"This represents a cross-marketing agreement between us and St. George. I'm looking forward to this, because it's really both of us learning to work together," said Marty Noonan, president and managing director of L.E. Smith Glass, which employs about 140 people.
Noonan said the company will keep its current retail outlet at its glass-making facility open and has plans to open another outlet in Lancaster in eastern Pennsylvania in December or January.
"The economy is bad, and we're trying to position ourselves so that when the economy turns, we'll be ready," Noonan said. L.E. Smith's glassware is a significant component of collections offered by Williams & Sonoma and Martha Stewart.
Rifenburgh said St. George Crystal usually sells in bulk and packaged goods. "This will be a huge sales departure for us," he said. St. George Crystal employs 274 people.
Rifenburgh also looks forward to L.E. Smith's presence. "We're both in the glass business, but we're really not competitors. We have a symbiotic relationship," he said.
St. George Crystal had initially agreed to lease the space in the building last month. "Then I got to thinking what a great opportunity this would be for all of us," said Rifenburgh.
The Lenox Crystal manufacturing plant ceased operations in January, a move that left 157 workers jobless. The Mt. Pleasant plant began operations in 1970 as the first glass factory built in the United States dedicated to the production of hand-blown, lead crystal stemware.
The Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland and the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. teamed to buy the shuttered plant this summer for $1.6 million in hopes of rehabilitating and marketing the 153,000-square-foot building to potential glass-making operations. The partnership continues to lease the facility as a multitenant operation.
The Lenox building still has two large spaces available, one containing 53,000 square feet and the other 41,000 square feet.
"Retail exposure leads to interest in manufacturing operations. The vast majority of space is still manufacturing, and we hope to interest as many glassmakers as we can," said John A. Skiavo, president and CEO of the Economic Growth Connection.
The Lenox Factory Outlet Shop has remained opened since the plant closed, and the store will continue operating in the glass center.
Since the cessation of glass manufacturing operations at the Lenox building, county economic development officials approved lease agreements with Crystal Concepts of Mt. Pleasant and Glassautomatic Inc. of Latrobe. Both will remain components of the glass center.
