Our customer service lines are buzzing with customers asking what will happen to the 837 Willard St. storefront when the Anthe building comes on line. Will people still be able to visit the Willard Street shop? Where will the books, tools and apparel be sold? What about the woodworking classes?
Here’s the plan as of now.
Nothing will change at Willard Street for at least two years. The first phase of construction at the Anthe building is to build and perfect our fulfillment center. That requires money and work and cleaning and infrastructure. This phase is the most important to us. It will allow flexibility and a more personal touch when filling orders. And it will save us a load of money.
The second phase is to get the storefront up and running at the Anthe building, which is at 407 Madison Ave. (a short walk from Willard Street that I make every day). People want to visit and buy our stuff in person, and a dedicated storefront allows this.
The third phase is to build new editorial offices, photography studios and workshop spaces on the second floor. It’s important to me that all of us work together. Help each other. Try to make the company better and the Anthe building a better place to work. Megan and I will help fill boxes with orders at peak times. At slow times, the fulfillment people will help us in the workshops and creating content.
I do not like hierarchy.
Through all this, the Willard Street storefront will carry on as a classroom and storefront for Lost Art Press and Crucible. People can visit both places if they want – though there’s no guarantee who will be at Willard Street at any particular time.
We don’t have any plans beyond what I’ve written above. So any questions beyond this post have this answer: We don’t know.
So if you are planning on visiting our Willard Street storefront this summer, please do. We are there typically from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday through Saturday (we are closed on Sunday). As always, knock on the front door, and we will be happy to let you in and give you a tour.
— Christopher Schwarz
There is no better work place than first floor Willard. It is intimate and flooded with light. I hope that does not go away.
My plans are to die at my bench at Willard Street. And we have no plans to move classes. But the light at the Anthe building is similarly amazing.
LAP Brewery perhaps?
In the video tour, Chris says that the old Chas Bilz insurance agency building across the street is being turned into a brewery and restaurant. That’s a much easier way to feed your local brew jones. And, knowing how Chris and Megan make friends with their neighbors, I’m sure there’ll be a Fancy Lad IPA on the menu before long (if not on opening day).
Totally missing are the plans for “Wally & the Bean”. Will they have Counterparts or become daily commuting felines?
Great question (I really mean this). I can just see Chris now walking the two cats on a leash between locations.
I have both dogs and cats as pets. One of the items I keep in my back pocket for job negotiations if I really like the job, but the compensation packing is quite up to snuff, is being allowed to bring my dog to work every day.