A manufacturing facility that abruptly shut down earlier this year in Lockport, Niagara County is preparing to reopen after a newly formed ownership group acquired the operating assets of the former Candlelight Cabinetry business.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that Candlelight Curated Inc., a partnership formed by local investors Aaron Santarosa, Peter Demakos, and Jon Ebel, has officially taken control of the facility and plans to relaunch operations with a major modernization effort.
The reopening is expected to immediately restore 100 manufacturing jobs that were lost when the plant suddenly ceased operations in January.
The company is partnering with Quebec-based manufacturer Cuisine Idéale on an $11 million investment strategy aimed at rebuilding and upgrading the longtime Lockport manufacturing site located at 24 Michigan Street.
The facility entered foreclosure after experiencing financial turmoil under prior ownership, resulting in a complete halt to manufacturing activity and layoffs affecting the entire workforce.
Before operations collapsed, the plant employed approximately 170 workers and had become entangled in disputes involving lenders and ongoing operational challenges that ultimately left vendor orders unfulfilled.
According to state officials, the acquisition was completed through a Uniform Commercial Code foreclosure sale, commonly referred to as a UCC foreclosure process, allowing the new ownership group to quickly secure the operating assets and begin efforts to restart production.
The investment plan includes significant structural renovations throughout the facility as well as the installation of updated precision manufacturing equipment intended to expand production capabilities and improve operational efficiency.
The ownership group says the long-term goal is to combine traditional custom cabinetry craftsmanship with more advanced automated manufacturing technologies in an effort to compete for larger market opportunities throughout the East Coast.
“This is outstanding news for Lockport and the entire Western New York workforce,” said Hochul. “The re-opening of a shuttered business is a major victory, especially when it puts 100 talented people back to work while actively upgrading regional manufacturing infrastructure. This targeted investment helps secure the future of custom cabinet making in Lockport and advances the overall economic momentum of the region.”
Company officials emphasized that restoring jobs remains one of the project’s top priorities as preparations begin to restart production.
“We are incredibly grateful for New York State, the Niagara County IDA and Senator Ortt’s swift partnership, which allowed us to step in, secure this historic facility and protect Lockport’s long-standing legacy of high-end cabinet manufacturing,” said Candlelight Curated Inc. CEO Peter Demakos. “Our primary goal is to get our skilled craftspeople back to the production floor as safely and quickly as possible. With a $11 million commitment toward structural renovations and machinery upgrades, we are positioning this plant to operate with greater efficiency, higher quality and broader custom design capabilities than ever before.”
State economic development agencies are also assisting with the project.
Empire State Development has approved up to $2 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits connected directly to the company’s job creation commitments. Officials say those incentives are expected to help offset deferred maintenance costs and major equipment upgrades needed to restart production.
State Senator Robert Ortt praised the acquisition and credited the investor group for moving quickly to preserve jobs in the region.
“I am grateful that we have a group of investors who recognize the importance of this business in our community and who have committed first and foremost to doing right by the workers,” said Ortt. “This group saved a well-established company and dozens of jobs, and moved quickly to do so—keeping reliable, good-paying jobs here in Niagara County.”
The reopening marks a significant turnaround for a facility that only months ago appeared at risk of remaining permanently shuttered.
