By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted October 12, 2025 at 11:58 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Andrew Meier sits on the steps of the Newell Shirt Factory building he purchased and restored. His efforts over the past 20 years have earned him the Phoenix Award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce.
MEDINA – Receiving an award from the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce is certainly an honor, said Andrew Meier, who will receive the Phoenix Award at ceremonies Oct. 23 at White Birch Golf Course.
The award recognizes Meier's efforts over the past 20 years to transform the former Newell Shirt Factory into three floors of thriving businesses.
Meier, a local attorney, purchased the building at 113 West Center St. in 2005 and immediately began remodeling. In 2006, the first store, Shirt Factory Café, opened. It has since been restructured and is a restaurant and cocktail lounge known as the Shirt Factory.
Several businesses, including 810 Meadworks and a salon, opened there but moved, giving Meier new opportunities to try other ventures, he said. The result was the creation of a coffee and snack shop called Factory Espresso, which opened in spring 2024, and a classic cocktail bar called Newell Lounge, which opened this spring.
The complete renovation of the second floor created space for Webster, Schubel and Meier to relocate their law offices there.
The third floor renovation houses the Hart Hotel with 10 boutique rooms.
Factory Espresso serves breakfast and lunch as well as coffee.
(Left) The portrait of Robert H. Newell is a highlight of the Newell Lounge, located in the Newell Shirt Factory building, owned and restored by local attorney Andrew Meier. (Right) The second floor of the Newell Building houses the offices of Webster, Schubel and Meier, where the original Newell Shirt Factory safe is still a prominent feature.
The Newell Lounge also serves food and is open Sunday through Wednesday evenings.
The shirt factory is open other evenings of the week.
Meier said their plan is to eventually have the lounge open every day. He expanded the kitchen and added an outdoor event space behind the building.
While Meier acknowledges that the Chamber's recognition is indeed an honor, he would have gotten nowhere if the other businesses in town hadn't all pulled together.