What the Machine Shop is and isn't. Also, Corb Lund

The Machine Shop is not The Yard, or Mill Square, or The TECH, or Mill Market.

It’s a completely separate entity, and yet confusion over what exactly is happening at the former St. Marys Paper site remains.

Stephen Alexander, The Machine Shop’s newly appointed events and promotions manager, has tasked himself with making the performance and conference centre’s identity clear to the public.

“People are still confusing us with The TECH,” Alexander told SooToday. “They’re doing great things out in The Yard like bringing in Hedley. It’s an amazing opportunity for our community. It shows that even though there’s people talking about the dynamics of the site, everybody’s working together at making this an amazing space. But we’re not . . . The TECH. We are The Machine Shop.”

Under new ownership and with a fresh management team in place, including operations manager Joe Iachetta and executive chef Glen Dahl, the goal for the newly renovated 40,000-square-foot venue is to create a cultural hub for the community and beyond.

“I see the Machine Shop as a gem of Northern Ontario. [It can be] the focal point of, not just Sault Ste. Marie, but of Northern Ontario,” said Alexander. “I can see us starting to pull events that are traditionally in Sudbury or Thunder Bay. With everything that’s going to be developed in that area long term, it’s just going to be an amazing space.”

With this in mind, The Machine Shop is preparing to host a number of performances throughout the year.

Announced this past April, Alan Doyle and the Beautiful Gypsies are scheduled to appear on Friday, June 24.

Advanced tickets for this concert are on sale now and can be purchased here.

Alexander was pleased to inform us that he had just confirmed multi-award winning recording artist Corb Lund for Friday, September 16.

Additional concert information and ticket details are forthcoming.

Other live performance events are currently in the ‘offer’ stage, Alexander said.

Drawing on his 13 years as proprietor of Loplops Gallery-Lounge, he sees his new position at The Machine Shop as a natural progression and a benefit to the Sault’s music scene.

“Loplops will still exist, but this allows us to bring in some of the bands we used to bring in that are now too big for a bar, like The Sheepdogs,” he explained. “I think it will strengthen our music community. Now I can cast a net and catch a larger audience. I see it as a really great possibility and merger.”

“The Algoma Conservatory of Music has been a great partner, especially on the music side that I’m not necessarily familiar with,” he continued. “Guy [Traficante] has been a great source of amazing acts. I see them being a major part in bringing events to the Machine Shop.”

The fully licensed and outfitted performance venue currently holds 750 for concerts, but with improvements to restrooms, parking and means of egress, Alexander hopes to increase that to 1,000.

In addition to concerts, The Machine Shop is also ideal for weddings, conferences, banquets, and corporate and community events.

It will soon boast a fully equipped 2,000-square-foot state of the art kitchen and 100-seat restaurant.

The Mill Steakhouse and Wine Bar is tentatively set for a mid-July opening, Alexander said.

In preparation for this, The Machine Shop will host a job fair next week to fill approximately 60 positions, including bartenders, servers and kitchen staff.

Full job fair details will be released shortly.

To learn more about The Machine Shop and it’s initiatives, please click here.