Worcester Business Journal

4 Worcester Business Journal | August 5, 2019 | wbjournal.com C E N T R A L M AS S I N B R I E F Table Talk considering moving away from WooSox stadium V E R BAT I M Weed law "We work really hard to pass legislation, and then it doesn't turn out to be applied and have the results that we expected. So I hope the committee will require that this law be enforced." State Sen. Patricia Jehlen (D-Cambridge), on proposed bills to better enforce the law around host community agreements between municipalities and marijuana companies Seeing into space "These microchannel plates we're making – we do one big thing nobody else can do. We can make them bigger than anyone else and allow other people to build completely new instruments." Till Cremer, a researcher at Charlton manufacturer Incom, which develops detector technology allowing scientists to detect particles in space Beer garden bonanza "We've got a small window of time, so we decided instead of sitting on that empty space, let's activate downtown while we can." Medusa Brewing Co. Owner and General Manager Keith Sullivan, on the Hudson brewery holding a summerlong beer garden at vacant space purchased by the company W orcester dessert manufacturer Table Talk Pies is looking to relocate its 140,000-square- foot facility in Kelley Square as space and real estate become a premium with the impending construction of the $101-million Polar Park baseball stadium. e company is intent on ensuring a smooth relationship with the city and minor league team Worcester Red Sox during the construction phase, but coexisting past construction will be difficult, said Harry Kokkinis, president of the snack pie company. "I do think it would be good if we could find a facility in Worcester or land where we could build to meet our needs," Kokkinis said. "at's what we're looking for right now." Kokkinis who indicated moving wasn't a final decision, said the company is leaning toward a move. Regardless, the company has begun reaching out to property owners to inquire about other sites. In April, the pie maker told WBJ the company was beginning to consider its future in the Canal District. Kokkinis said then very preliminary discussions were held regarding interest in the factory from Boston developer Denis Dowdle and the team. Neither the city nor the team could be reached for comment. e city and team announced in August 2018 the overall $240-million project with the ballpark, a mixed-use development and an overhaul of Kelley Square. e 10,000-capacity ballpark will be built on the former Wyman- Gordon land and closely abut Table Talk's manufacturing facility. In fact, a sharply hit foul ball to right field could end up on the company's property if it clears the stands. Logistical challenges Kokkinis sees the economic and cultural benefits to having the Triple A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox move to Worcester. Table Talk has even become a founding sponsor of the team. However, the logistical challenges have already manifested when the city and team held a ceremonial groundbreaking. Parking lots typically used by Table Talk workers were full and traffic made it difficult for the company's trucks to leave the property. "e area was inundated," Kokkinis said. "It was a great event, and it was great that so many people turned out; but I think it gave us a little taste of what game day might be like." e city says it has secured the rights to all of the land it needs via eminent domain or an agreed-upon price. Table Talk offices in a building Washington Street were a casualty of that process, but the main 120 Washington St. facility wasn't included on that list. A new facility built by the company in 2017 on Southgate Street gave Kokkinis and the company an idea of what working on a modern manufacturing facility would be like, so moving from the three-floor, 74-year- old building was already an option. "e facility has been performing very well, and that's sort of gotten our attention on the value of having something all on one floor and long enough to have our pie line in a straight line," he said. W The Table Talk Pies' Canal District facility would be the immediate right-field neighbor of the Worcester Red Sox, should the company choose to stay in the location. BY ZACHARY COMEAU Worcester Business Journal Staff Writer PHOTO/TMS AERIAL SOLUTIONS

• Cover