By Natalya Bucuy • The Current Contributing Writer
The story of Hofford Mill is an inspirational one. It’s a tale of business transformation through the pandemic, an everchanging family dream, and of resilience through tough times.
As Kate McEvilly, the owner and CEO of the entertainment center, puts it, opening Hofford Mill has been “a whirlwind adventure.” Originally built in 1896 as a lumber mill, the structure on Bridge Street had operated as a general store, a furniture repair facility, a soap factory, a silk mill, and a hosiery company. McEvilly’s family owned the building and used it as a storage facility until recently when an idea to transform the space into an attraction sparked.
“We wanted to make use of a large chunk of the space to create income and better use of the building,” McEvilly says. “Initially, I got the idea to open up an ax-throwing place from doing it myself. Then, we were planning to bring in a brewery, and things kind of just snowballed from there. Through the planning and construction process, things evolved. When we opened in February 2020, we had a coffee shop, ax throwing, hostile, and a restaurant called The Gorge.”
But that’s where this impressive story really begins. The family opened the restaurant six weeks before the pandemic placed everything on hold. McEvilly had to put all of the stuff on unemployment and fully close down for two weeks. But this hiccup only gave way to more unique ideas to emerge. Together with her mom Lucie, McEvilly decided to offer bulk buy groceries. She built a page on Hofford’s Mill website with an offering of bulk-buy items in large quantities at a fair price with no-contact pickup. “Some people drove from 45 minutes away just because they knew it was gonna be a positive experience, and they felt inclined to support small business,” McEvilly says. “That move really kept our business alive and was a great marketing tool for us.”
Continuing operations through the lockdown and, at the same time, offering an alternative for the local community helped the owners and staff of Hofford Mill not only stay afloat but to create strong bonds with its customers.
After a few months, the restaurant business slowly reemerged, first with takeout-only options, then with minimal indoor seating. “For the longest time, it was just my mom in the kitchen and me, and really just a skeleton crew,” McEvilly recalls. “My mom even came up with the idea to use plants to separate tables so that people could still feel comfortable in our space. So that’s also where all the plants came from.”
Today, The Hofford Mill is home to The Gorge Eatery, Uncommon Grounds coffee shop, Bronson E-Bikes, and Pocono Fly Fishing. The center hopes to attract more vendors and host larger events in 2023. The family employs a staff of about 20 people at the George Eatery restaurant. The close relationships with the community and the staff are what keep the business going strong, McEvilly says.
“The way we care is evident in our day-to-day operations. There is no yelling or screaming. We highly encourage transparency, and I can genuinely say it’s a very positive place to be in,” McEviily says. “With everything that’s gone on in the past few years, it can be difficult to find peace. And despite how crazy customer service and hospitality can be, I feel peace when I am in that building and with my colleagues.”
And peace is what defines the space McEvilly and her team have created. “What makes The Gorge and The Hofford Mill unique is probably the plants and earthiness of the space,” she says. “It’s a space that was used for many years by a variety of people. Now it’s a place of enjoyment. And really, having earthy colors and all of the greenery, people tend to use the word Zen when talking about the space.”
Life throws curveballs sometimes. Resilience, persistence, and the ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances are the key to success and lasting peace. And for Hofford Mills that has been exactly the case.
For more information, visit thehoffordmill.com.
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