• Sections
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Bridal
    • Community
    • Education
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • MVMA
    • Perspectives
    • Travel
  • Shop Local
    • Arts & Culture
    • Bridal
    • Community
    • Dining & Cuisine
    • Education
    • Entertainment
    • Fashion
    • Financial & Professional Services
    • Florists, Gift & Specialty Shops
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Real Estate
  • Calendar
  • Dining Guide
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Login

Merrimack Valley Magazine

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Community
  • Education
  • Fashion
  • Food & Drink
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Perspectives
  • Travel
← Back

Genuine Connections

Jenn Lucey
photography Kevin Harkins
Published January 11, 2021
Share:

Bell Tower Management Looks to the Future of Lawrence  (sponsored)

Gary Sidell, president of Bell Tower Management in Lawrence, didn’t grow up in his father’s business. That man, Chet Sidell, founded a women’s clothing manufacturing company in 1975. At its height, KGR (named after three children’s initials) supplied business to over 50 New England factories, where garments were produced for Talbots, Ann Taylor, Nordstrom and other retail outlets. At their home base in Lawrence, he’d repurposed old mill buildings for warehouse and office space. 

“At the time, people thought my dad was crazy,” says Sidell, “But in retrospect, he was a genius because of how much he was ahead of the curve.” Lawrence had the reputation, back in the day, as the arson capital of the world. So, investing in those spaces was risky business for Chet. This was before our region’s mill buildings became a national success story and grew to be associated with economic vibrancy.

The same risk-taking zeal that birthed the company would be called upon after it ended in 2001 and the family moved on to new opportunities. Gary had only been in the business for 7 years when the pair made the difficult decision to leave the garment world. With half-a-million square feet of vacant space at the time, and no knowledge in real estate or construction, he recalls what followed: “Well, we’ve got a mortgage and taxes to pay. We better start renting.” 

Though the journey would include an initial 5-year period during which they didn’t turn a profit, Gary is thrilled they persevered. “There were nights where we were like, ‘what the hell are we doing here? Let’s just sell and get out.’” But they didn’t. And the new venture would eventually provide much more than just an income. 

 

Chet also had an altruistic drive, and he’d fostered that in Gary. They started renting to nonprofits they knew and cared about, like Lawrence Community Works and Groundwork Lawrence, then expanded over time. Having made it through this major challenge, part of their mission would always be to give people the chances they deserve with a focus on up-and-coming businesses. “Some of those people took a small office 10 years ago, and now employ 30 people and are in over 12,000 square feet,” says Gary. 

Running the business two years after his dad’s passing, the junior Sidell is still influenced by his mentor. He maintains the commitments his father inspired: to the community, to helping others: “It’s never been about simply collecting a rent check on the first of the month. I enjoy helping people get connected, grow their business or maybe find another donor for a nonprofit I care about. And I definitely got that from my dad.” 

That passion for supporting up-and-comers is much of the force behind 60 Vibe, the coworking space Gary owns and manages. Since COVID, the reinvention lessons learned on his father’s side have been paramount. 60 Vibe features private rooms equipped with mics and cameras for podcasting and multimedia communication, and computers that are loaded with editing software. 

The father-to-son focus on community is seen in Gary’s upcoming projects. In 2021, one of Lawrence’s busiest intersections will get five stories of living and retail space in place of a half-century-old parking lot. Gary is part of a team of local developers working to combat decades of disinvestment downtown. They care about Lawrence and want more people to stay after work. 

Gary’s business life might be summed up as such: He can stand in a building he owns, which houses Lawrence’s first brewery, remembering how excited Mayor Dan Rivera was about the opening, and walk next door to the clean room of Alpha Tau Medical, an organization working on a cancer drug that could have located their headquarters anywhere in the U.S. but came to Lawrence because Gary learned from his dad the importance of genuine connections.   

60 Vibe houses traditional workplace comforts such as private conference rooms and printing services, as well as the tools and equipment to launch a career in web design, videography, photography, music and sound engineering, and other fields.

Bell Tower Management
Lawrence, Mass.
(978) 375-7363
BellTowerManagement.com
60Vibe.com

Share:
Related Articles
The 495 – This Week’s Episode – Susan Sirois
Little Bits Meets Eight Great! Christmas Edition
All I Needed to Know
Bellesini Academy

Bell Tower Management, Inc.

60 Island Street, Lawrrence, MA 01840
Website
Directions
(978) 375-7363
Read More →

Bell Tower Management, Inc.

60 Vibe in Lawrence’s mill district offers the professional amenities that you deserve, but also the environment and resources to take your business where you want to go. Whether separating work and home life, or starting a new venture, 60 Vibe has affordable options. You’ll find traditional workplace comforts such as private conference rooms and printing services, as well as the tools to launch a career in web design, videography, photography, music and sound engineering and other fields. Members also have access to computers, microphones and cameras for professional webinars and podcasts. 60 Vibe even offers mentoring and training to entrepreneurs. 60 Island Street / Lawrence, Mass. / (978) 375-7363 / BellTowerManagement.com / 60Vibe.com
Address
60 Island Street, Lawrrence, MA 01840
Website
Directions
(978) 375-7363

Current Issue

Subscribe

Who We Are

mvm is the region’s premiere source of information about regional arts, culture and entertainment; food, dining and drink; community happenings, history and the people who live, work, play and make our area great.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Sections

  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Bridal
  • Community
  • Education
  • Fashion
  • Food & Drink
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • MVMA
  • Perspectives
  • Travel

Links

  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Regular Contributors
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Contact

© Copyright 2020 512 Media Inc, All rights reserved.

Orangetheory Fitness Chelmsford @DrumHill / (978) 577-5901

Orangetheory Fitness Methuen @The Loop / (978) 620-5850

Orangetheory Fitness Chelmsford @DrumHill / (978) 577-5901

Orangetheory Fitness Methuen @The Loop / (978) 620-5850

*Valid on new memberships during the month of September 2020.

 

Newsletter Signup

MERRIMACK VALLEY TODAY: Noteworthy. Local. News. (Launching May 2021)
Wellness Wednesdays
Eight Great Things To Do This Weekend (Thursdays)
NoteWorthy - Happenings, Movers & Shakers (Sundays)

Orangetheory Methuen is celebrating it’s one year anniversary with an
Open House, Saturday June 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Join your friends and neighbors to learn more about the fastest growing workout sensation in the nation. Tour the studio. Meet the coaches. Enter to win a 10 pack of classes. The first 20 people who sign up for a free class at the event will receive a free bonus class, no obligation. 

Click here to learn more! 

Click here to schedule your FREE CLASS in Chelmsford @DrumHill / (978) 577-5901
Click here to schedule your FREE CLASS in Methuen @The Loop / (978) 620-5850

*Free Class for first-time visitors and local residents only.