A quick rundown on our current projects

It has been a while since I have updated you on at Clientele. I hope to get you caught up on everything that has been going on in the last few months; including some plan changes, additions, and the Show of Hands project. Before jumping into the nitty gritty, I should mention that these plans have changed probably twice a week from January to present. While I finally feel confident enough with the layout to achieve the goals of these renovations, it is almost a guarantee that my plans will change from what is said below. With all that said, here is our current projects:

• The Front Stoop: The most obvious issue you probably noticed at Clientele was the stoop. The old one was well worn out and couldn’t be salvaged. The original plan was to replace the stoop with a level platform that would also be an ADA ramp to allow those in a wheelchair access to the building. That plan changed after several meetings with the city inspectors, fire marshal, and the development office, but I will speak more toward that later. The new plan is a similar concrete and block stoop, with steps coming up from the west side. The reason for moving the steps to the side is to allow more usable space on the sidewalk. I would like to install a fence to separate the public sidewalk from Clientele’s space. A problem I noticed during all our shows was people not having a place to go to catch a breath or just chill. They would meander around outside and sit on the adjoining buildings’ porches. Once everything is finished, there will be a designated spot for our patrons to stand and relax outside.
• ADA Access: This was a huge point of our Show of Hands pitch, and still is a major driving factor in our renovations. We went through several ideas before reaching an agreement with the city officials, and will be placing second entrance into the building in the rear. This allowed us to navigate through code requirements, allowed us to add an ADA parking spot, and provided a level entrance into the gallery. We are also making the restroom officially ADA accessible. This includes handle bars, a wider door, and a proper ADA sink.
• Second Restroom: Yes, we are adding a second bathroom as well as a small storage space. Both are needed in order to get a West Virginia Tavern License and actually sell beer. That would be a huge boost to the studio because right now, it really doesn’t make money.
• Odds and Ends: There is a bunch of small things not totally worth mentioning, cleaning up and dressing up the patio, redoing how we hang art, actually adding a sign to the front, cleaning up the facade, etc.

So, as you can see, there is a bunch of work to do before we can truly consider Clientele “open”. We are slowly ticking things off the list though, and I will try my best to keep everyone in the loop. Thanks for all the support you have shown us so far. It really has made these improvements justifiable and easier to stomach, financially speaking. I really hope to get this place setup for long term success, and with the enthusiasm we have seen so far, I feel this place can establish itself as a hub for our local makers.

-Will