By: Brian Genest – Sept. 2022
Have you noticed all the new businesses in Dracut? Month after month, there are ribbon cuttings, grand openings, and new offerings all over town. And it’s not by chance.
In the last couple years, there’s been a renewed focus on economic development and it’s paying off for the town and its residents.
Dracut is home to a wide variety of different businesses and new ones are opening all the time, providing the town with more tax revenue and citizens with more in-town choices. Here’s a look at just a few of the businesses that have opened in Dracut recently.
Nutrition Junction is serving up protein shakes, calorie-burning teas, and healthy snacks at 1734 Lakeview Avenue.
Across Tennis Plaza, also at 1734 Lakeview Avenue,
Barry’s Hot Sauce is being made and bottled.
Speaking of heat, Don Tito’s Mexican Grill is spicing things up at 34 Broadway Road.
Likewise, Asado’s Firewood Grill, an outdoor restaurant at 1276 Broadway Road, features grilled steak, chicken, and chorizo.
Coco’s Café & Catering is doing business at 197 Merrimack Avenue.
Woah Nellie’s BBQ & More is fired up at 361 Tyngsborough Road.
Nova Farms, Dracut’s fourth recreational marijuana dispensary, is up and running at 1274 Merrimack Avenue.
Downtown Barbell, a new gym with a weight-lifting focus, is pumping up patrons at 15 Victory Lane.
Keller Williams Realty Success has opened a Dracut office at 7 Broadway Road.
Those are just some of the new businesses to open in the last six months or so. Bringing new businesses to town is just one area of focus for the town’s Economic Development Committee and Economic Development Project Planner Dan Phelps. Supporting existing businesses is another.
Every month, an existing establishment is named “business of the month” and highlighted in an article by Phelps on the town’s economic development website. Brox Farm has been chosen for September. Other businesses featured this year include Scola’s Restaurant, Farmer Dave’s, Wignall Animal Hospital, Essex Silver-Line Corporation and Lucky Oil.
Recently, you may have noticed the new signs around town delineating the town’s nine business districts: Broadway Road, Bridge Street, Collinsville, Dracut Center, East Dracut, Hovey Square, Kenwood, Lakeview, and Navy Yard. Members of the Economic Development Committee developed the program to give each district its own identity and help encourage local commerce at businesses in all sections of town. On the back of each sign, there’s a code you can scan to get more information about the history of the specific district and the town’s sign program.
In addition, to support and promote in-town Christmas shopping during the upcoming holiday season, a scavenger hunt and other activities are in the works.
When it comes to economic development, the town’s message is loud and clear: Dracut is open for business!
Brian Genest is the producer and host of Eye On Dracut, winner of the 2022 Hometown Media Award for News, which airs on DATV Channel 8 and online at DracutTV.org. ◊