Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | March 20, 2023 | wbjournal.com FOCUS PHOTO | MATT WRIGHT M E E T I N G S G U I D E & T O U R I S M A new home for art and community A local arts couple breathes life into a Canal District events space post-COVID BY TIMOTHY DOYLE WBJ Staff Writer I n the 19th century, the Cromp- ton Loom Works operated at 138 Green St. in Worcester, so industrialist George Crompton could watch his business from his estate atop Vernon Hill, the spot where Saint Vincent Hospital has since come and gone. e mill was abandoned and later redeveloped by Dino Lorusso, who still owns it today. Crompton Place is a bustling hub of retail spaces, restaurants, and offices at the heart of a revitalized and renamed Canal District. Nestled at the back of the building by a brick courtyard with a fountain is a gallery and event space called e White Room, owned by Birgit Straehle and Luis Fraire. e space has made a post- COVID comeback over the past year and is a nexus of cultural and social life in Worcester, hosting everything from weddings and family gatherings, to art exhibits, concerts, and business networking events. e first show in the space since Straehle and Fraire bought it coincided with Worcester's tercentennial. "We were debating if we should wait with the artwork until aer we painted the walls," said Straehle. "We spon- taneously decided with the big event coming up to have some artwork up and then it turned out to be a show." e White Room was founded and previously owned by Amy Lynn Chase, who opened it as an event space in 2014. Chase, wanting to focus on her retail ventures Crompton Collective and e Haberdash, sold the business to Straehle and Fraire in 2022. Straehle said that for the couple, its birthday is June 10. Chase laid the groundwork for e White Room being a versatile event space. Straehle and Fraire added their own flair, bringing their previous experi- ence running an art gallery at the Sprin- kler Factory and adding new amenities, like a full bar. e space itself is, like the name sug- gests, white. When Fraire and Straehle bought the space, he wanted to make it even brighter than it was. ey made it their own, adding whimsical touches like a disco ball, their collection of plants, and a line of handmade hammocks. Fine art is almost always a feature in the space. At the time of publication, they are hosting a show of paintings curated by Juniper Rag, a Central Massa- chusetts-based art magazine and artist promotion company. "We actually had a tough time trying to define what the space is," said Fraire. "Okay, it's a function hall for sure, but it's A variety of shows A sampling of White Room 2023 events Event Type of event The Poet's Cauldron Spoken word open mic Mamaliga - Klezmer Band Concert Juniper Rag: TORRID | Abstract Impressions Art exhibition Bachata Y Más Dance Social Live music & DJ dance event El Salon: Mi Orgullo Visual art and performance Ping Pong is for LOVERS! Community event Source: The White Room Luis Fraire (left) and Birgit Straehle purchased The White Room after their arts gallery in The Sprinkler Factory was closed down.

• Cover