An authentic Mexican restaurant opened in downtown Rutland City on Friday.
Ibjar Meneses and his wife, Betsabe Meneses, have been selling tamales out of the church they belong to for the last several months, but ever since the Rutland Board of Alderman approved a grant that supported his plan to open a brick-and-mortar business downtown, excitement on social media has ballooned.
Read MoreTen years ago this week, Rebecca Buonadonna was one of the few people interested in opening a new store in downtown Rutland.
Downtown would fill up to where the ground floors had a better than 95% occupancy rate, then suddenly empty out again, partially because of the retirements of a lot of longer-running business owners. Buonadonna and others are emerging as a new generation of established downtown business-owners who say they are excited about the future as the state prepares to reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read More“It’s pretty safe to say that the community remained very strong considering the circumstances of the pandemic,” said Nikki Hindman, executive director of the Downtown Rutland Partnership.
Read MoreAhead of June's LGBTQ+ Pride Month, community members in Rutland, Vermont, are sending a message that all are welcome in their city.
"I think it's going to make Rutland a better place," predicted Karly Haven of the nonprofit group Queer Connect Rutland, which is one of the grassroots organizations working to create a Pride celebration for June in Rutland.
Read MoreThe former Knight of Columbus (KOC) building is showing the classic signs of remodeling, as it is one of the several properties purchased by Belarus-native and Guilford, Vermont, resident Pavek “Paul” Belegour, 50.
The tech mogul and cryptocurrency investor has been in the news a lot lately, after purchasing at least 3,100 acres and 10 buildings and businesses in Windham, Windsor and Rutland counties over the past two years. He is working on a “Viking Village” theme park in Guilford, and on May 4 he also took over the media operations of the Brattleboro Reformer, Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal.
Read MoreJust a few blocks west of that junction is a historic downtown with local shops and a view of not-so-distant mountains. A distinct and fascinating feature of the business district is the Rutland Sculpture Trail. The collection of eight stone sculptures (with more to come) recollects the history of the region through representational works of art. The Danby marble from which the sculptures are carved recalls a centuries-old local practice. The trail of art guided our visit.
Read MoreBuilding off a desire to make the greater Rutland community hospitable to everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community, a new coalition and campaign is heralding the message that “All are welcome here.”
Read MoreAccording to organizers of the Downtown Rutland Sculpture Trail, Freeman was among the very first Black students to go to college in Vermont. He went on to become a leading abolitionist and even the first Black man to lead a college in the United States as president — before the Civil War.
Read MoreThe DRP board of directors voted unanimously last week to give the position to Hindman, who was the DRP’s events coordinator before stepping in as interim director late last month after Steve Peters left the job to take over the Rutland Area Food Co-op. Board President Shannon Poole said they opted against advertising the position.
Read MoreCelebrate Poetry & Earth Month all April long by rediscovering your sense of place among the pop-up poetry path created by The Paper Poet in collaboration with Phoenix Books Rutland and Downtown Rutland Partnership. Over 30 poets have 70+ poems on display in 17 downtown Rutland businesses. Poems are on display through the first week of May. You are invited to celebrate by following the green signs and reading the poems in the window fronts.
Read MoreThe primary responsibility of this position is to maintain the cleanliness of sidewalks and the urban environment within Rutland Vermont’s designated downtown district. A major component of this role includes the operation of a small sidewalk sweeping machine. This is a seasonal, part-time position averaging 10 hours per week through October, with flexibility on the schedule.
Read MoreArt is a community heartbeat, and I felt the beat strong on a cold morning as I walked through downtown Rutland to view spectacular murals. Sure, most communities have murals, but there is something special about the collective body of work in downtown Rutland.
Read MoreThe Downtown Rutland Partnership is starting weekly giveaways when you eat out in Downtown Rutland! Every week we’ll be offering a gift certificate to one lucky winner that posts a photo of takeout from a downtown restaurant.
Read MoreShop local this holiday season with gifts under $50 for everyone on your list! Find a variety of items right here in Downtown Rutland, Vermont — including home decor, jewelry, clothing, self-care products, handmade crafts, local foods, accessories, collectibles and so much more.
Read MoreGus Louras outlasted most of his peers. Sam Frank Inc. already was one of the longest-serving businesses in the city when Louras, who died this week at age 95, purchased it.
Read MoreThe object of this new native-marble sculpture is one of America’s first civil-rights advocates. The man rendered for the ages in stone was also the first Black college president in the USA. Now it's time to introduce and celebrate Martin Henry Freeman, a Rutland native.
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