Community
With the move to the last location at 594 Main Street Mike Wolchock the owner of The Neon Factory became much more community driven. Watching how the neighborhood came together to save one of Main Street's/Winnipeg's most run down areas and to see how all these small businesses and small organizations form such a great community and awesome new atmosphere really struck home with mike.
Already involved in various local committees within the North End and the centennial area Mike decided to take his social actions to another level. Unfortunately this required putting the growth of the Neon Factory on hold for a while. But that was a sacrifice he was prepared to make for there was much bigger things afoot.
The often asked question
"Whats going on with the Neon Factory? Where is Mike these days?"
Well here is the answer.
In 2009 Mike took on a hole new project that was very dear to him.
While operating the Neon Factory in the evenings he took on a day job at Pollock's Hardware Co-op. But it was MUCH more than a day job to Mike.
But to understand you must now know the story of Pollock's Hardware Co-op.
The story of Pollock's Hardware Co-op.
In 1922 Pollock's Hardware opened its doors for the first time. They served the North End Community as a local independent hardware store for over 85 years. In 1994 Wayne and Lois Cash bought the store and ran it until they wanted to retire. They then put it up for sale and unable to find a buyer they had to close in 2007.
This is when the community stepped up. They were so upset about this local icon closing they decided to save it and re-open it as a co-op. A community meeting was held a board was formed, a business plan was created, memberships were sold and on June 21st 2008 Pollock's held its grand opening as Pollock's Hardware Co-op!
The closure of Pollock's was hard on Mike as he was a loyal customer from the days his dad used to take him there till now. When he had learnt of the closure he wanted to purchase the business him self but that wasn't in the cards for him at the time. So he sadly watched the windows get boarded up and kept his fingers crossed for the little hardware store. When he learnt of the reopening he was so happy and once again became a regular customer. With regular visits he noticed that they were having some struggles. With that being said he offered up his services in any way to help out and on the spot became an employee. Not long after that he became manager.
With his passion for the past and knowledge of running a business he successfully captured the atmosphere of an old time hardware store while watching the financial end if it grow into a great success.
Being such a community orientated organization they then became involved with an organization called BUILD as well as many other local social enterprises. This all lead to the idea of buying another building and creating one of Winnipeg's first Social Enterprise Center's. When Mike brought forward the idea of Pollock's purchasing another building I am pretty sure the board thought he was crazy. But after much talk and planing they partnered with two other organizations, BUILD and MGR, and bought the property at 765 Main (the old postal office at the tracks) and very successfully brought the Social Enterprise Center to life.
Pollock's Hardware Co-op is now as big as it is small! Its the needle in the haystack of corporate structures and big box stores. Leading the way for the little guy as a fine example of how it is possible to be an independent, to serve and give back to the community, as a part of the community.
Its all of that that is so important to Mike and this is the reason that he put aside his life time project of the Neon Factory. As his involvement with the community on a social level grows and his time with Pollock's Hardware Co-op settles into to a more steady comfortable pace he is now ready to place his efforts back into The Neon Factory and the community that surrounds it.
The Neon Factory and the community that surrounds it.
Back at the Neon Factory if you look out the front windows to the other side of the street you will notice several small businesses and little organizations. There is the Edge Gallery, Mawa, The Red Road Lodge, The Tallest Poppy, Mitchell Fabrics, Main Meats, many studios and even some living spaces. The architects moved in on our side of the street, things were looking up! Unfortunately many buildings on our side of Main were hit by Winnipeg's big ol wrecking ball. These old buildings could have provided great locations for several new small businesses and organizations to become a part of the great little artist village that was being created while keeping the history of the block in tact.
This too was part of the reason Mike stepped back from 594 Main Street.
But us little guys just have to keep pushing and hang in there. The buildings built in place of what was torn down are massive and provide no retail or public space. Not exactly what we call community friendly. In a perfect world they would have at least provided retail space facing Main Street on the main floor in The Manitoba Health Building. This would have given room for the community to grow into the thriving area it was working so hard on becoming. People would be out and about (on foot) exploring all the amazing things our little strip of Main Street has to offer. But it is what it is now and we can and will work around it. What the community need is more foot traffic more little businesses to help us grow in to a booming area and confidence in Winnipeg to allow us to become more than just a strip of government offices and boxy closed in buildings.
To all of you who work in these mega-structure's I recommend going out on your lunch break and wonder down to The Tallest Poppy for a bite to eat (best food ever by the way), check out The Edge art gallery and MAWA, take a peek at The Neon Factory and get to know your neighborhood.
Its not a scary place.
The development of the Artist Village
This seed was planted by a man named Richard Walls. One of the few people who could in-vision such a unique revitalization of such an area. He begun buy buying up The old Occidental Hotel and the building where The Edge Gallery and MAWA now reside. Instead of kicking the tenants of the Occidental out to the street he redeveloped the building in to a Hostel where they could still reside but in a much more safer and less intoxicating way. The bar was eliminated and it became a great place called Studio 631 - an urban art canter. The Down Town Coffee Ground was created which is a monthly event where there is an open mike, bands, coffee tea and snacks. Most of the programming here was volunteer based by artists and residents with in the building and area. It was amazing to see how such a place could have such a profound effect on the past tenants who continued to live there. Many of whom became involved in the art programs and many of the other programs that the Red Road Lodge has to offer. Quality of life went up and they became a part of a community with open arms. Some times the answer to revitalization is to open the door and welcome what we have been shutting out and pushing away for so long.
An open hand goes a long ways.
The Tallest Poppy owned and operated by Talyia is located with in the space as well! A great little restaurant between Red Road Lodge and The Edge. All I can say is its a must! Best food ever! You would think you'r grandma was in the kitchen with her best recipe book making you'r lunch for you! Its as homemade and tasty as it gets! Whats a neighborhood with out an awesome local restaurant? People come from all over Winnipeg to frequent the Tallest Poppy. Its a great attraction to this little neighborhood.
The Occidental became The Red Road Lodge. The exterior got an amazing face lift that brought culture and character back to the block and what was once a run down hotel is now a place of life.
In the other building he welcomed The Edge Gallery and MAWA. Two awesome thriving galleries that also offer studio spaces, work shops and mentors. Always hosing art openings, local bands and events, I recommend taking a peek in to what these two organizations are all about. You will notice how all these places i have mention are highlighted.
Click and follow the links!
Richard later bought up two more buildings across the street! One of which Mike and Joe later purchased to turn into the Neon Factory and Prop House and the other on the corner of Alexander and Main where BIOS (an architect firm) now operates. A smart strategy to saving a neighborhood I would say! Buy up all the buildings (before they get torn down) and make them all into something awesome!
Thanks Richard!
In Conclusion
To keep such a great thing going and growing it is important to stick together as a community.
To keep feeding the great fire that was started. The future is bright and will only get brighter as the logs get thrown on and the fire grows.
We can't wait to watch the Artist Village that was originally envisioned
grow above the 'mega-projects' that loom over us and to watch
the culture of this community continue to explode.
Already involved in various local committees within the North End and the centennial area Mike decided to take his social actions to another level. Unfortunately this required putting the growth of the Neon Factory on hold for a while. But that was a sacrifice he was prepared to make for there was much bigger things afoot.
The often asked question
"Whats going on with the Neon Factory? Where is Mike these days?"
Well here is the answer.
In 2009 Mike took on a hole new project that was very dear to him.
While operating the Neon Factory in the evenings he took on a day job at Pollock's Hardware Co-op. But it was MUCH more than a day job to Mike.
But to understand you must now know the story of Pollock's Hardware Co-op.
The story of Pollock's Hardware Co-op.
In 1922 Pollock's Hardware opened its doors for the first time. They served the North End Community as a local independent hardware store for over 85 years. In 1994 Wayne and Lois Cash bought the store and ran it until they wanted to retire. They then put it up for sale and unable to find a buyer they had to close in 2007.
This is when the community stepped up. They were so upset about this local icon closing they decided to save it and re-open it as a co-op. A community meeting was held a board was formed, a business plan was created, memberships were sold and on June 21st 2008 Pollock's held its grand opening as Pollock's Hardware Co-op!
The closure of Pollock's was hard on Mike as he was a loyal customer from the days his dad used to take him there till now. When he had learnt of the closure he wanted to purchase the business him self but that wasn't in the cards for him at the time. So he sadly watched the windows get boarded up and kept his fingers crossed for the little hardware store. When he learnt of the reopening he was so happy and once again became a regular customer. With regular visits he noticed that they were having some struggles. With that being said he offered up his services in any way to help out and on the spot became an employee. Not long after that he became manager.
With his passion for the past and knowledge of running a business he successfully captured the atmosphere of an old time hardware store while watching the financial end if it grow into a great success.
Being such a community orientated organization they then became involved with an organization called BUILD as well as many other local social enterprises. This all lead to the idea of buying another building and creating one of Winnipeg's first Social Enterprise Center's. When Mike brought forward the idea of Pollock's purchasing another building I am pretty sure the board thought he was crazy. But after much talk and planing they partnered with two other organizations, BUILD and MGR, and bought the property at 765 Main (the old postal office at the tracks) and very successfully brought the Social Enterprise Center to life.
Pollock's Hardware Co-op is now as big as it is small! Its the needle in the haystack of corporate structures and big box stores. Leading the way for the little guy as a fine example of how it is possible to be an independent, to serve and give back to the community, as a part of the community.
Its all of that that is so important to Mike and this is the reason that he put aside his life time project of the Neon Factory. As his involvement with the community on a social level grows and his time with Pollock's Hardware Co-op settles into to a more steady comfortable pace he is now ready to place his efforts back into The Neon Factory and the community that surrounds it.
The Neon Factory and the community that surrounds it.
Back at the Neon Factory if you look out the front windows to the other side of the street you will notice several small businesses and little organizations. There is the Edge Gallery, Mawa, The Red Road Lodge, The Tallest Poppy, Mitchell Fabrics, Main Meats, many studios and even some living spaces. The architects moved in on our side of the street, things were looking up! Unfortunately many buildings on our side of Main were hit by Winnipeg's big ol wrecking ball. These old buildings could have provided great locations for several new small businesses and organizations to become a part of the great little artist village that was being created while keeping the history of the block in tact.
This too was part of the reason Mike stepped back from 594 Main Street.
But us little guys just have to keep pushing and hang in there. The buildings built in place of what was torn down are massive and provide no retail or public space. Not exactly what we call community friendly. In a perfect world they would have at least provided retail space facing Main Street on the main floor in The Manitoba Health Building. This would have given room for the community to grow into the thriving area it was working so hard on becoming. People would be out and about (on foot) exploring all the amazing things our little strip of Main Street has to offer. But it is what it is now and we can and will work around it. What the community need is more foot traffic more little businesses to help us grow in to a booming area and confidence in Winnipeg to allow us to become more than just a strip of government offices and boxy closed in buildings.
To all of you who work in these mega-structure's I recommend going out on your lunch break and wonder down to The Tallest Poppy for a bite to eat (best food ever by the way), check out The Edge art gallery and MAWA, take a peek at The Neon Factory and get to know your neighborhood.
Its not a scary place.
The development of the Artist Village
This seed was planted by a man named Richard Walls. One of the few people who could in-vision such a unique revitalization of such an area. He begun buy buying up The old Occidental Hotel and the building where The Edge Gallery and MAWA now reside. Instead of kicking the tenants of the Occidental out to the street he redeveloped the building in to a Hostel where they could still reside but in a much more safer and less intoxicating way. The bar was eliminated and it became a great place called Studio 631 - an urban art canter. The Down Town Coffee Ground was created which is a monthly event where there is an open mike, bands, coffee tea and snacks. Most of the programming here was volunteer based by artists and residents with in the building and area. It was amazing to see how such a place could have such a profound effect on the past tenants who continued to live there. Many of whom became involved in the art programs and many of the other programs that the Red Road Lodge has to offer. Quality of life went up and they became a part of a community with open arms. Some times the answer to revitalization is to open the door and welcome what we have been shutting out and pushing away for so long.
An open hand goes a long ways.
The Tallest Poppy owned and operated by Talyia is located with in the space as well! A great little restaurant between Red Road Lodge and The Edge. All I can say is its a must! Best food ever! You would think you'r grandma was in the kitchen with her best recipe book making you'r lunch for you! Its as homemade and tasty as it gets! Whats a neighborhood with out an awesome local restaurant? People come from all over Winnipeg to frequent the Tallest Poppy. Its a great attraction to this little neighborhood.
The Occidental became The Red Road Lodge. The exterior got an amazing face lift that brought culture and character back to the block and what was once a run down hotel is now a place of life.
In the other building he welcomed The Edge Gallery and MAWA. Two awesome thriving galleries that also offer studio spaces, work shops and mentors. Always hosing art openings, local bands and events, I recommend taking a peek in to what these two organizations are all about. You will notice how all these places i have mention are highlighted.
Click and follow the links!
Richard later bought up two more buildings across the street! One of which Mike and Joe later purchased to turn into the Neon Factory and Prop House and the other on the corner of Alexander and Main where BIOS (an architect firm) now operates. A smart strategy to saving a neighborhood I would say! Buy up all the buildings (before they get torn down) and make them all into something awesome!
Thanks Richard!
In Conclusion
To keep such a great thing going and growing it is important to stick together as a community.
To keep feeding the great fire that was started. The future is bright and will only get brighter as the logs get thrown on and the fire grows.
We can't wait to watch the Artist Village that was originally envisioned
grow above the 'mega-projects' that loom over us and to watch
the culture of this community continue to explode.
