December 25, 2007
By Robin Kaminski/The Dailey Item

Elevator Interior Designs, a company which custom designs the interior of elevator cabs, is moving its operation from Chelsea to a new home in Lynn at 10 Marine Blvd.

The move will supply the company with three times the amount of space that it currently has.

Executive Director of the Economic Development & Industrial Corporation James Cowdell said the move signifies a change in the air for the city.

“This is a very solid business bringing good jobs to Lynn,” he said. “We pursued them when we heard they had outgrown their space in Chelsea.”

With the recent approval of the Waterfront Master Plan by the City Council to develop more than 250 acres of prime real estate, and the approval of $750,000 in funding by the Seaport Advisory Council to create a commuter ferry, officials hope the city is starting to look more appealing to businesses.

“The EDIC is pleased to play a role in making this happen with the Elevator Company,” Cowdell said. “We’re happy to partner with MassDevelopment on the project and we want our friends at the state level to realize that Lynn is open for business.”

Elevator Interior Design is owned by John Antonellis, who worked for the company formerly known as Elevator Doors, Inc. for 18 years. He purchased the company 18 months ago and changed the name.

The company has designed and manufactured elevator interiors for numerous high profile projects in Boston, including State Street Bank, the Federal Reserve, Prudential building, and the U.S. Courthouse.

Antonellis said the 33,000 square feet in Lynn provides the company with the perfect combination of space for manufacturing as well as office space and a showroom for full-scale mockups.

The company currently employs 25 employees and expects to add approximately 15 new employees when it moves to Lynn.

The new positions will include engineers, fabricators, craftsmen and metal refinishers. The company also said it plans to expand and develop a national presence over the next five years.

Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. said it’s always a good sign when an established business relocates to the city.

“It doesn’t happen by accident, he said. “Our development team led by Cowdell is working hard to put out the welcome mat for new and existing businesses alike.”

Cowdell said relocation costs and the build out of the Marine Boulevard building, owned by Dominic Vincenzo, are being jointly financed by MassDevelopment and EDIC, with MassDevelopment contributing 90 percent and EDIC the remaining 10 percent.