PORT TOWNSEND — After eight years on Lawrence Street, the youth coffeehouse project known as The Boiler Room is moving out Saturday.
To mark the occasion, a nine-band concert starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday will for the last time rock The Boiler Room stage at 1028 Lawrence St.
After leasing out the space at a discount rate, the building’s owner, Malcolm Dorn, decided to renovate the building.
So far unable to find a replacement location, the coffeehouse staff, volunteers and patrons say they are a little sad, but are hopeful that a new place will turn up soon.
“It can get a little discouraging, but I know that we can find something though,” said Boiler Room intern Dan Frederickson.
“It’s springtime and we are optimistic.”
Variety of sources
The Boiler Room is sponsored from a variety of funding sources, including the city of Port Townsend.
During a fund-raising event two weeks ago, the coffeehouse raised an unprecedented $19,500 in community donations during an auction and a daylong concert.
Area artists and musicians contributed to the event.
Now the coffeehouse’s board members are in the process of negotiating with several uptown property owners to lease a space by using the auction money and other funds.
Steve Boruch is conducting the negotiations and said the talks are in an early stage — too soon to talk about specific details of the new location.
“I’m kind of half-bitter and half-excited to see the Boiler Room thrive in a new location,” said Frederickson.
“This place is not big enough to pull the talent that actively comes from The Boiler Room. We’ve been here for eight years and it’s time for a change.”
In the meantime, staff is preparing to debut “The Vroom,” The Boiler Room’s portable espresso cart, during the opening of the Port Townsend Farmers Market on Lawrence and Tyler streets this Saturday.
The Boiler Room attracts youths ages 15 to 25.