Exciting Developments for Georgetown as Cangshan Cutlery Moves In
In the bustling city of Georgetown, the residence of many, big changes are set to take shape as Cangshan Cutlery Co. is gearing up to plant its roots in the area. After initially planning to move from California to Leander, the company has made the significant decision to pivot its operations entirely to Georgetown, and that’s something locals can look forward to!
New Beginnings for Cangshan
It all started back in 2021 when Henry Liu, the brains behind Cangshan, announced his intention to move the award-winning knife brand to Texas. His eyes were always set on the thriving Austin area, and Georgetown is poised to be the perfect location for establishing a brand new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. With a sprawling 135,000-square-foot development in the works, residents are eagerly anticipating a fully operational facility by early 2029.
Just recently, on September 24, the Georgetown City Council green-lighted a pair of incentives for Cangshan, aiding the company in a whopping $45 million improvement project at its new headquarters on 107 Halmar Cove. This is fantastic news, as the facility is expected to create over 150 jobs — a great boost for the local economy!
A Journey of Twists and Turns
Originally, Cangshan planned to establish a vast 400,000-square-foot facility in Leander, having received some incentives for that project. However, with rising lease costs in California, the company decided it needed to make the leap sooner rather than later. In 2022, the shift to Georgetown commenced, and now, the company is even in the process of selling its 41 acres in Leander — a site that’s been attracting a good amount of interest lately.
What’s Next for Cangshan?
At the Georgetown site, a brand new manufacturing company called Austin Cutlery & Tool LLC will be established, focusing on producing cutlery for Cangshan and another related line, New Star Food Service LLC. With plans for a third cutlery brand to be manufactured on-site, excitement is building within the community about the potential of this manufacturing hub under the umbrella of Everware Corporation and Affiliates.
It doesn’t take long for progress, as Cangshan is already moving operations into a 158,000-square-foot building at 201 Velocity Drive. This space will help them gear up for the two-phase project, aiming to jump deep into high-volume commercial production with advanced automated laser-cut manufacturing systems.
Looking to the Future
Rick Loofs, Chief Operating Officer of Cangshan, shares the excitement, stating that the first phase of 50,000 square feet is projected to come online by early 2026. That means they’ll be able to produce up to 3,000 pieces of premium cutlery a day! By the time the entire site is operational, estimates suggest production could ramp up to an astounding 30 million pieces annually.
Adding to the benefit for Georgetown, the City Council approved a set of 10-year incentives, including a job creation grant worth $302,000 and a tax abatement valued at approximately $941,421. This partnership seems to be a win-win, leading to exciting job opportunities and economic diversity for the community.
Community Spirit Shines Bright
As Liu puts it, “Georgetown has become a hotbed for manufacturing,” and he couldn’t be happier about the community’s work ethic, which he describes as “very different” from California. Currently, Cangshan has 44 employees, with plans to expand hiring in the next year, a promising outlook as the company prepares for growth.
Loofs has expressed that managing the financing of this expansion along with the health of business operations can pose a challenge. However, they remain focused on building a strong organizational culture that’ll attract potential team members and contribute positively to the Georgetown community.
With so much momentum building within Georgetown, it’s clear that this project is more than just about cutlery. It’s set to make waves in the local economy, and for residents, it’s an opportunity to welcome a company committed to enriching the community.
Indeed, the next few years will be one to watch for Georgetown — a promising future awaits!
