Building Opportunities on Main Street

WAITSBURG – The Farmer's Café, formerly located at 216 Main Street, was once a favorite gathering spot for locals; the perfect place to grab a cup of coffee and catch up on the news about town.

Over the next couple of months, new building owner Lane Hill hopes to transform the space into a new community gathering spot, though one of an entirely different kind.

Lane and her husband, Dr. Charles Hill, live in Seattle, where Dr. Hill is a professor at the University of Washington business school. Lane is a painter, printmaker, and educator.

The Hills became familiar with Waitsburg when their longtime friends, Jim German and Claire Johnston, and Paul and Karen Gregutt moved here. They began visiting the area more frequently after Lane's sister, Gail Gwinn and brother-in-law Joe Patrick, moved to town.

The couple purchased the Main Street building last year from the Gregutts and their partners, and Lane has been busy working out design plans, hiring a contractor and dreaming of all the possible uses for the space ever since.

"Charles enjoys being able to come out and visit and is looking forward to the experience of living in an artist-style loft," said Lane. "But I'm the one that's passionate about the project. He's excited to see what we come up with."

"We" refers to Lane and her sister Gail. In addition to building a living space upstairs, the one firm plan Lane has for the building is to create a large printmaking studio downstairs. Lane says she is excited at the opportunity to create art alongside her sister and is unabashedly enthusiastic about Gail's talent.

"Gail is an amazing artist," said Lane. "She's probably one of the most accomplished printmakers out there and has even developed nontoxic procedures for etching and printmaking. What she can do on a metal plate is incredible. I'm her biggest fan. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to work with her!"

While little is set in stone, Lane has plenty of ideas for the space that also includes five garages across the alley. She envisions a gallery/retail shop in front, a large printmaking studio on the main floor, a large apartment for Lane and Charles to stay in upstairs, along with some smaller studios or workspaces upstairs.

The façade of the building, which is currently being built by Ketelsen Construction of Walla Walla, will have a roll-up glass door to give an atrium feel to the space.

"People will be able to sit in the front and have it open to the street. It should be accessible and inviting so that people feel welcome to come in and check out what is going on," she said.

Lane said they are keeping as many of the traditional elements as they can, but that the space will be fairly open and streamlined, so that it can change as needs dictate.

"I want the space to be something that works within the community," Lane said. "Since I'm from outside, I don't know yet what that is and I don't want to make assumptions about what is needed. What I need is a good space for printmaking. Beyond that, I want to keep the plan open for something that can be fun – a gathering place and educational space."

Lane said she owned a building in Langley, Wash, on Whidbey Island, that included a bike shop, art supply store, coffee shop, studio, gallery and theater. It developed over time to what people wanted. It was a fun place with shows and activities for students of all ages, she said.

"I would not have known what it was going to look like from the beginning, but as it developed I realized it couldn't have been anything other than what it was," Lane said. She envisions something similar for Waitsburg.

"Most of what I've done in my history is art-related, as well as a lot of education. It's in my DNA," she said. "It's fun to share knowledge and this space will let us do that in a nice way. Art is a fun thing to teach – it's kind of like magic."

Lane hopes that area artists will use the facility to teach classes, and already has plans to work with Waitsburg artist Suze Wood. The downstairs will also be well-suited for painting and drawing and as a practice space for musicians.

Smaller apartments and studio spaces upstairs could be used as apartments for visiting artists or workshop attendees, studios, or offices.

"I'm considering the idea of 'pop-up stores' out front, in the retail space, where boutique owners will come and set up a weekend store with fun items that are hard to find in town, like clothing, shoes, and kitchenware," Lane said.

Lane said the garages out back hold possibilities as workshops, perhaps for bike or skateboard repairs.

"I'm open to ideas. I like to teach people how to take their passion and turn it into something that makes an income. I've worked with a lot of high school students to help them figure out how to earn money for college," she said.

"It really depends on how things go in the next year and who shows up with an interest," Lane added. "It always amazes me who is in the communities you move into and what their interest are. It's fun to find ways to connect people with each other and with their talents. I'm always surprised and it's always amazing and fun.

"And if it just turns out to be a printmaking studio, that's fine, too," she added.

Lane said she and her husband will continue to live in Seattle, but that she plans to visit Waitsburg weekly and intends to keep the gallery open during the week with regular hours.

Lane said the windows and roll-up door should be installed in the next few weeks and hopes the downstairs space will be finished in time for a pre-Christmas opening party.

"I'd love to go into Christmas with it looking beautiful," she said.