Bantam Arts Factory Welcoming Artists, Entrepreneurs Seeking Co-Working Space

Bantam Arts Factory is the new name for what was widely known as the Bantam Switch Factory at 931 Bantam Road/Route 202 in historic downtown Bantam. The newly-renovated Bantam Arts Factory offers naturally-bright sun-lit loft spaces where resident artists are currently creating everything from woodworking to fine paintings.

“With its’ bright natural sunlight, high ceilings and views of the Bantam River, the Arts Factory truly offers an ideal creative space,” stated one of the building’s associates Dick Sheldon. “There is also an attractive retail space on the main floor facing Route 202, plus co-working space on all four floors.”

Over the past six decades, the building was leased out to a variety of enterprises and freelance artists and businesses. “In 2015,” stated associate Gary Silverstein, “we decided to renovate and upgrade all four floors into the more current, efficient and safe modern workspaces. We installed uniform lighting throughout, painted all the walls white, and put up trim boards in all the hallways where artists can display their works.”

Jay LeBoff, a third associate, commented, “The building literally had no name after the Switch Factory closed in 1992. Since we now have many artistic entrepreneurs in the building, we logically recently re-named it Bantam Arts Factory.

“Our ambition is to attract creative folks from around the northwest and central Connecticut regions seeking unique and remarkably comfortable original loft space to co-work in with other artists and small businesses.” The building is located across from Zinni’s and Jackie’s restaurants in the southern region on Route 202.

The bucolic hamlet of Bantam was established in 1719. Today the Borough of Bantam is approximately one square mile in size and includes a section of the Bantam River and a series of falls known as Bantam Falls which supplied waterpower to industries and commerce that flourished in the small town.  A hydroelectric plant built in 1905 generated power for the Bantam Ball Bearing Company, Trumbull-Vanderpoel Electric Manufacturing Company, plus all the street lights and homes. 

The original Bantam Arts Factory building was the Flynn and Doyle Carriage Factory built in 1878 to produce carriages and sleighs. The prominent factory burned to the ground in 1888. The new building became the Connecticut Electric Manufacturing Company in the 1950's, and operated until the 1990's as the Connecticut Electric and Switch factory.

To learn more about the newly-renovated and re-named Bantam Arts Factory for available leasing spaces, contact David Dean at 860-459-6009 or via email to daviddean54@gmail.com.