Old Brick Store

Commercial Loan Program

The Old Brick Store in Charlotte is reminiscent of the community markets that have served as gathering places, gossip hubs and coffee clubs for generations in Vermont.  

And it’s meant to remind visitors of them.  

Owner Jolene Kao grew up in her family’s restaurant in Dallas. Diners saw her grow up there and, as soon as she could, get to work herself.  

Later in life, while pursuing photography and photoshoot production in the fashion industry, she felt it was time to think to the future, something more sustainable, and she longed for her own shop.  

The delicatessens she loved in her Brooklyn neighborhood inspired her, with the staple groceries and farm-to-table offerings. She first learned about Vermont’s own Grafton cheese at a Brooklyn restaurant. She also familiarized herself with seasonality of food and the way the environment impacts what is available, when.  

It was this passion for the food world that took Kao away from the photoshoot and back into the kitchen, live-fire cooking as a sous chef under the famous Francis Mallmann in his restaurant.  

Despite the amazing experience, restaurant industry pay wasn’t a long-term option.  

Once again, Kao was at a crossroads.  

Shortly thereafter, Kao had a baby and the world all but stopped on its axis as the COVID-19 pandemic spread. It was a New York Times climate piece that got Kao interested in Vermont, coupled with her partner’s Quebecois family history that drew the couple to their new home. Short trips and socially distanced meet-ups with friends here eventually convinced them it was time to make the move, knowing a supportive community awaited them.  

In 2022 the move was complete and Kao was ready to get the lay of the land, adjust to her knew life and, maybe, take it easy for the first time ever until the right opportunity to open a shop presented itself.  

That didn’t work out.  

 The Old Brick Store became available later in the year. Kao knew she had to jump on it. Referrals to both Vermont Small Business Development Center and Community National Bank eventually led her to VEDA.  

She struggled to recall the exact process from there, because, she said, it worked so well.  

“It just went smoothly, and I felt like they actually read the business plan that I had put together,” she laughed. “When I was writing it, there was a question of, ‘Is anybody going to read this and actually care about all of myself that I’m putting into it’?” 

The resulting conversations with VEDA showed that, yes, they cared a lot about the little details and what Kao could bring to the table that is the Vermont business landscape.  

“They bought into the idea and my vision for the play, and that was equally as important as having the financials,” she said; the stars aligned in a way, and those complementary values sealed the deal.  

Through VEDA’s help in buying the building, Kao was able to make it her own without having to seek permission from a landlord. And through her vision for the space, the warm, welcoming, community space is a reality — complete modern touches, minimalist aesthetics and, perhaps most importantly, an amazing Fat Toad Farm goat milk caramel latte.