South Jersey glass factory grows

JE Berkowitz LP, the South Jersey architectual glass maker that once made mirrors for Strawbridge's and Wanamakers and now makes reflecting panels for buildings like Comcast headquarters and the Kimmel Center in Center City Philadelphia, turned earth at its Pedricktown, Salem County plant yesterday to begin a 53,000 sq. ft. expansion of the 200,000 sq. ft. plant.

The company is run by Arthur Berkowitz, grandson of the founder. "Our growth has been rather amazing, in light of the commercial construction industry being so flat," says Ed Berkowitz, Arthur's semi-retired dad.

The company hopes to hire another 20-25 workers above the current 196 workers. "There is still manufacturing done in the Philadelphia area, and the plant itself is state-of-the-art," Arthur told me. More from Berkowitz here and from the South Jersey Times here.