Green Mountain Coffee Visitor Center and Café Celebrates Grand Reopening, Three Months after Tropical Storm Irene
Event Marks 5th Year of Business for Historic Train Station and 20th Anniversary of Revitalizing Waterbury
Waterbury, VT, December 9, 2011 -- On Saturday, December 17th, the Green Mountain Coffee® Visitor Center and Café, located at the historic Waterbury Train Station, invites the community to its grand reopening after Tropical Storm Irene. The celebratory event will take place throughout the day at the Visitor Center at 30 Rotarian Place in Waterbury featuring local musicians, food, and, of course, coffee. A toast will be held at 3:15 p.m. to commemorate the Café's 5th anniversary of business in Waterbury, Vermont, as well as the 20th anniversary of Revitalizing Waterbury.
"We're delighted to open our doors to the community again," said Melissa Gorham, operations manager of the Green Mountain Coffee Visitor Center and Café. "Regulars and visitors alike have asked us every day since the storm when we'd be ready to open, and it feels wonderful to finally let them know that we're alive and well in Waterbury - and we're ready for visitors."
In the wake of Tropical Storm Irene, the historic Waterbury Train Station was one of many buildings in the village to sustain extensive damages. Three months after Irene closed its doors, repairs and enhancements to the building, such as additional indoor seating and a revamped menu, promise to reestablish the Café as a center for locals to mix and meet over freshly brewed coffee, and for visitors to be introduced to the charm of the area. Hours of operations will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily.
"The Visitor Center is such an important part of the local community," said Jeanne Kirby, Executive Director for Revitalizing Waterbury. "It is a hub of activity and a vital component in showcasing the history and architectural beauty of our town. Waterbury suffered a great deal from Tropical Storm Irene, but this occasion marks another promising milestone in our recovery as a community."
A collaboration between Revitalizing Waterbury and the Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Foundation resulted in the restoration of the Train Station five years earlier. It is the continuation of this strong partnership that is enabling the Visitor Center and Train Station to reopen post-Irene.
About the Green Mountain Visitor Center and Café
Waterbury's historic train station was restored in 2006 to all of its early-20th century glory. It now serves as a cutting-edge visitor center with interactive, multi-sensory displays, a café, and a community room. The restored building also continues to function as an Amtrak stop for the train that runs from St. Albans to Washington, D.C.
The recreated baggage building serves as a waiting area for Amtrak passengers as well as a community room where visitors can learn about the station restoration and Waterbury's history. An interactive display in this room depicts the devastating flood of 1927, and a new pictorial collage represents the recent flood.
The adjoining exhibit space is a multi-sensory depiction of a coffee bean's long journey from "tree to cup." After a self-guided tour, visitors can sample coffees from around the world in the Green Mountain Coffee Café.
About Revitalizing Waterbury, Inc.
Revitalizing Waterbury, Inc. works to strengthen the economic, social and cultural vitality of downtown Waterbury. Formed as a grassroots non-profit in 1991, RW efforts aim to capitalize on downtown Waterbury's unique qualities and assets and create appropriate, positive changes that are beneficial to the greater Waterbury community.
About Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc.
As a leader in specialty coffee and coffee makers, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. (GMCR) (NASDAQ: GMCR) is recognized for its award-winning coffees, innovative Keurig® Single-Cup brewing technology, and socially responsible business practices. GMCR supports local and global communities by offsetting 100 percent of its direct greenhouse gas emissions, investing in sustainably-grown coffee, and allocating at least five percent of its pre-tax profits to socially and environmentally responsible initiatives.
GMCR routinely posts information that may be of importance to investors in the Investor Relations section of its website, including news releases and its complete financial statements, as filed with the SEC. The Company encourages investors to consult this section of its website regularly for important information and news. Additionally, by subscribing to the Company's automatic email news release delivery, individuals can receive news directly from GMCR as it is released.
CONTACT: Sandy Yusen
Director of Public Relations
GMCR's Specialty Coffee Business Unit
866.968.2739
sandy.yusen@gmcr.com