Live jazz in North Bend used to call Boxley’s Restaurant home. Now, it’s moving just a couple of blocks away, to Piccola Cellars, in the renovated old city fire station.
The arrangement, negotiated between Jazz Clubs NW and Piccola was given the go-ahead by another party, the North Bend City Council, which officially still owns the Piccola building. In a unanimous vote May 17, the council approved an amendment to the Piccola lease, allowing the venue to expand its lease into more of the old fire station building to add a stage for live music, and down the road, potentially a restaurant.
For the long-range plan, there are no specifics just yet, but in the short term, “Piccola is partnering with Jazz Clubs NW,” on an ambitious schedule to bring live jazz back into North Bend five nights a week, said Jazz Clubs NW Executive Director Gregory Malcolm.
Before closing April 23, Boxley’s hosted live jazz performances Wednesday through Sunday, every week.
“We’d like to go back to that schedule because it’s not only professionals playing, it’s to work with local students interested in jazz,” said Malcolm.
They’ve already started live jazz performances, he added, weekly on Thursdays at the Piccola tasting room.
The transition from Piccola as a warehouse and tasting room to Piccola plus a stage is likely going to be phased in, Malcolm said, starting with a stage, then a possible remodel and finally a restaurant. Questions on the structural impact of the proposed removal of an interior wall to open up a potential stage area, and how the partnership might affect the winery operations will need to be answered, too.
In the short term, though, Malcolm is hoping to have the stage area, wherever it ends up, booked with live music by mid-June.
“It will be a great situation for our nonprofit because we continue to get to present music,” he said, adding, “live jazz is alive and well.”
The partnership between the winery and the non-profit was actually fostered by the city of North Bend, Malcolm said, after the club learned that the historic building that Boxley’s was in was about to be sold.
“Piccola stepped in and said hey, this is a great idea. It seems like a win-win-win.”
According to the amended lease agreement, Piccola will expand into the remaining two engine bays in the building for a $500 monthly rent increase, from $1,300 to $1,800 for the full space. Should the tasting room eventually create a restaurant on the site, the rent will increase to $2,400 per month. For now, Piccola is planning to get a food cart permit.
The winery will be financially responsible for installing a second restroom on the site and other planned improvements. Jazz Clubs NW will help with funding, too, Malcolm said. “We’ve put in for a $10,000 (King County 4Culture) grant at Piccola that will get us started on the work.”
The total build out cost is estimated at $66,000.
The five-year lease, started in 2014, also specifies that Jazz Clubs NW be allowed to operate at Piccola. If the non-profit ceases operation or leaves the winery, the business will have to renegotiate the terms of leasing the additional space.
Jazz Clubs NW, formerly the Boxley Music Fund, is the sponsor of the North Bend Jazz Walks and Blues Walks. Learn more about live music events from the organization at www.jazzclubsnw.org.
