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                                 ing and recognized need. “This was our opportunity; Barry having this space become available was just beyond per- fect, because there really is no other available space in the downtown area that would lend itself as perfectly as this space to the concept that we want- ed to go forward with.”
With the site secured, a proposal for a performance venue was put together and presented to a number of funding sources, Gould went on, adding that $175,000 in seed money was awarded to the Amherst BID by the Massa- chusetts Office of Business Develop- ment’s Regional Pilot Project. With that money, an attractive lease was secured, the architectural firm Kuhn Riddle was hired “at an incredibly reduced rate,” to design the venue, and additional fund- raising efforts were initiated.
Overall, the buildout costs for the project are a projected $750,000, said Gould, adding that the fundraising goal is $1.3 million, with just over $1 million secured to date.
It has come from a variety of sourc- es, including $250,000 in local, com- munity support in amounts ranging from $10 to $50,000; a $100,000 gift
“If you want retail
to thrive, if you want restaurants to thrive, you can’t just be a shopping center — that’s what malls are for; they have free parking there, it’s great. We want to create something in Amherst that positions us as a destination for 300 miles and further from us.”
from Amherst College (a $75,000 cash gift and a Steinway piano); American Rescue Plan Act funds, local and state grants, and other sources. “You name it, we’ve gone after it,” Gould said.
Speaking of naming it, that was another task on the do-to list, said Gould, noting that there were several contenders being considered when someone suggested naming it after the famous bar immortalized in that graf- fiti, which is asked about on an almost daily basis at Amherst Coffee.
“And I thought, ‘why not play off that nostalgia of a bygone era?’” Gould told BusinessWest. “Another thing that will bring us together again after this pandemic is community and nostal- gia, and going back a little bit. So while we’re going forward, let’s pay some homage to the past.”
While construction, fundraising, and naming efforts have been the most
visible aspects of the project to date, the BID and DAF have also been put- ting together an operations plan, said Gould, noting that Laudable Produc- tions, which already works with several area venues, has been hired to book performers for the Drake, which will be operated as a nonprofit, with all pro- ceeds going to future performances.
A soft opening is set for April 26, featuring the Northampton Jazz Work- shop, also known as the Green Street Trio, she noted, adding that the lineup for the spring and summer will be announced in early April.
Drake
Continued on page 50
Gabrielle Gould
says a live- performance venue has long been a priority for Amherst, and it should provide a spark for its downtown.
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