Growth

For decades, South Burlington has dreamed of creating a vibrant downtown hub that would bring people together and foster economic growth. Now, with new projects underway and businesses opening, that vision is beginning to take shape.”We’re just really excited that we’re part of this community,” said Tom King, the franchise owner of Jersey Mike’s in South Burlington.Jersey Mike’s recently celebrated the grand opening of its second-ever location in Vermont, marking a significant milestone in the city’s evolving downtown scene. This new restaurant, alongside others like Bliss Bee on Market Street, signals a shift toward a livelier city scene.Ilona Blanchard, South Burlingtons Community Development Director, shared her excitement about the ongoing transformation.Weve been working toward a new downtown since the 1970s, Blanchard said. The citys leaders and community members have long been dedicated to making this dream a reality, and they are now seeing that vision come to life.Blanchard emphasized the hard work of local officials, committees, and public participants who have contributed to this long-awaited development.”The development aims to attract not only new businesses but also to improve the overall sense of community. Its incredible to watch it come to life, Blanchard said, reflecting on the progress made so far.These new businesses are not just creating jobs; they are also redefining the identity of South Burlington.The resulting new businesses coming in and the new apartments, people know where South Burlington is, and thats a big change from 10 years ago, Blanchard said.One of the city’s most anticipated upcoming projects is a major biking and walking bridge connecting South Burlington to Burlington at Exit 14 of Interstate 89. Blanchard said she is optimistic that the bridge will strengthen ties between the cities.We think this will really help to link our downtown to Burlington and then our whole corridor for biking and walking, she said.With these changes already underway, South Burlington is poised for continued growth. The city is preparing for even bigger projects in the near future, and its leaders said they are hopeful that these developments will continue to improve the city’s overall quality of life.