New Performance Venue Coming to Old Town TC

by Lynda Twardowski Wheatley

Three local food, beer, and entertainment powerhouses are joining forces on a new arts venue in Old Town Traverse City.

Jon Carlson and Greg Lobdell, owners of Blue Tractor, North Peak, Mission Table, Jolly Pumpkin, and The Shed are partnering with Sam Porter of Porterhouse Productions, producer of beer festivals and concerts in the region.

The as-yet unnamed 14,000-18,000 square-foot venue will hold as many as 1,000 for concerts. It will be a new structure built on the existing site of the Good Work Collective (formerly Preggers) and The Shed, adjoined by Blue Tractor. The two-story building will extend east toward the new Old Town parking deck, and will also include a rooftop bar. Blue Tractor will remain open as a separate restaurant and bar.

Plans call for a fall 2012 groundbreaking and a summer 2013 opening.

Announcing the project, Porter told The Ticker, "It will be a multi-diverse venue, built to accommodate everything from a dancing show for 1,000 or a full dinner for 500 or even a sports event."

According to Porter, the region is in need of a venue for "dancing, national, high-energy concerts where people can celebrate and have a conversation. Right now we use lawn and snow for that market. It can be below freezing, and we'll sell out 3,000 tickets to a show. So just wait until we start bringing shows inside, and downtown."

Porter has hosted festivals at the Grand Traverse Commons, at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, and on the streets of Old Town. He says the new space will serve as an anchor for his festivals and a place for pre- and post-event parties. His company will also book concerts and art exhibits in the space, and the venue will be rented for private events.

The trio say a key mission of the project is to support Michigan artists, wineries, brewers, distillers, and local non-profits.

"We'll have lots of for-profit events, but as many if not more not-for-profit shows for the community to use affordably. We are focused on the community at this venue," said Carlson.

Carlson and Lobdell already own the Blue Tractor/Shed building, and the group has an option to buy the Good Works Collective building (formerly Preggers and Nesbitt Hardware).

Discussions are underway with potential local investors who would join the trio to fund the entire project -- including Blue Tractor.

The proposed project represents another milestone in the resurgence of Traverse City's Old Town. Blue Tractor opened in the former Dill's space in 2007. Old Town Coffee, Urban Diversions, Soul Hole, West Bay Cottage Furnishings and other eateries and retailers have also popped up. The new City-owned parking deck opened last year.

"It's so great to see new energy there year after year since we've been there," noted Lobdell.