Scott Swanson
Mike Hall, owner of The Point restaurant, has toyed with the idea of staging musical entertainment at his establishment for years.
He’s had occasional artists perform in his parking lot, including some in conjunction with the Ore-gon Jamboree.
This year, though, he’s followed through with a 40 x 60 pavilion tent, 15 tables and a stage set up in his parking lot, facing Foster Lake. Then, with some help of local musician Jobe Woosley, his June 9 performer, he put together a schedule of mostly Friday night performances through the end of August.
He didn’t expect what happened next.
“The phone started ringing off the hook,” Hall said.
The concert venue, which has no cover charge, has been packed out, he said – not just on Friday nights, but on other nights as well, as customers spilled out of the normal six-table outdoor seating area into the tent.
“Normally, I run a staff of 20 to 25,” Hall said following his second concert of the summer season. “I had to add 10 more people. I have 38 right now.”
On nights it’s rained, he didn’t expect much, but “people came anyway,” he said.
The June 9 concert, featuring Woosley, drew 130 people, “despite the storm.” Hall said.
He attributes part of the success to his promoting it on social media, but the word has clearly spread.
“A number of people are coming from out of town,” he said.
Gabe Cox, a rising blues performer from Portland, will perform this Friday, June 24.
The entertainers, a mixture of local acts and others from the Portland area, represent a range of musical styles – country, Americana, soft rock, blues. Concerts typically run from about 6 p.m. to “8:30 or 9.”
All he asks is that customers buy dinner and “maybe a drink or two.”
Hall said he also sees this as an opportunity to promote other businesses in the community. He plans to hang banners in the tent area that will advertise other establishments that offer late-night entertainment, such as Downtown Lounge and Woods Roadhouse.
“I want to encourage people to go to other businesses in town,” he said. “This is an opportunity to promote economic development.”
The tent, he said, also has come in handy for other expanded opportunities; it’s already been reserved for two class reunions and a family gathering.
No performers are scheduled Aug. 5 due to the Oregon Jamboree and Aug. 19, due to the Willamette Country Music Festival. Also, a special July 8 show featuring Trevor Tagle is sold out.
Following Cox, other performers on the schedule are: All Rights Reserved on July 1 and July 22; Melody Guy on July 7 and Aug. 12; The Van Rontons on July 14; Carrie Cunningham on July 15; Eugene Comedy Show also on July 22; Kelsey Bales and the Sons of the Storm on July 287; Redwood Son on July 29; Briana Renea on Aug. 3; Tay & Spence (local performers Taylor Thorpe and Spencer Knight) on Aug. 10; The Naughty Sweethearts on Aug. 24; and Rich McCloud on Aug. 26.
He said he may add more as the summer nears.
To reserve seats, call (541) 367-1560.
Woosley, generally regarded as one of the top music performers Sweet Home has produced, has performed widely in the Northwest and said he thinks there is a lot of potential for what Hall is experiencing.
“There’s so much going on here in the summer, we might as well add some musical concerts to it. We have the Jamboree, but not much else.
“There’s not a lot of local music. For Mike to get out and get the stage going, that’s phenomenal. It’s already proving to bring in a lot of people. They’re selling out on reservations. That’s crazy.”
Hall said he decided to go ahead and try the concert idea based on a conversation he had with another business owner, who had just purchased the Trash to Treasure clothing store in town.
“Nancy Patton told me eight years ago, ‘Don’t be afraid to think big.”