In November, owners of Luthier's Co-op in Easthampton created a GoFundMe campaign seeking to raise $40,000. The money will be used to pay bills since COVID-19 has led to the closure of Massachusetts bars as well as capacity restrictions for indoor events and restaurants.
So far, the intimate venue on Cottage Street has raised $8,700.
The owner who created the campaign, Steven Baer, said the fundraising request became necessary due to mounting debt.
“For obvious reasons, we have been unable to sell beverages or hold events on-premise since March and have accumulated a significant amount of new debts related to the shutdown,” Baer said on GoFundMe. “As we prepare for re-opening in a restructured manner, we are humbly asking for your support.”
Baer said before the pandemic Luthier’s featured about 10 bands and 2 open mics per week. The owner said that comes out to be around 200 artists performing at Lutheir’s every week.
In addition to the campaign, Luthier’s is seeking to raise revenue by renting its two rooms for low-capacity - 9 people max - private events. Luthier’s will start taking reservations on Dec. 15 for gatherings on Jan. 15 or later.
Luthier’s was founded in 2004 as a fine stringed-instrument repair shop that held small jams every week. The positive buzz around Lutheir’s was intense and owners expanded the bar and performance space in 2012. A kitchen and second bar were added in 2017.
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