THE LOFTS
Our home for roadies
off the road.
THE LOFTS
In the beginning, we traded New York City for Niles simply because we have family in the area. Then we saw the building. We already had the seed of an idea that would become The Roadie Clinic, and if we were going to do it, a beautiful and geographically central location seemed best. With easy access to international airports but removed from the bustle of a big city, we knew Niles would give us the perfect balance of access and retreat. Beginning with no more than a family and a building…it started to unfold.Niles already possesses a rich community of artists, many centered around music. Umphrey’s McGee have roots here, as do Tommy James and the Shondells. Our media partners, ProSoundWeb, are based in town. Electro-Voice started just down the road from our building in the same area that Souldier Guitar Straps currently resides. The French Paper Company, an environmentally-conscious paper source for artists (and popular among concert poster artists), has called Niles home for 150 years. It might be a quiet little burg, but it’s impossible to deny the creative base already present in Niles, MI.
Then there’s the building itself. Even stripped to the studs, it just feels like a special kind of safe. The connection from 205 E Main’s roots as the original telegraph building to its eventual transformation to a retreat for pro audio professionals just feels right, too. What those pioneers would say about how far their humble patch bays have come, we wish we knew. As amazing as the space will be once construction is complete, the area around us may well surpass it.
Only two blocks from our door is a 20+-mile bike & walking path along the St. Joseph River. There’s a concert pavilion and a theater downtown. Across the street a brand new gym has opened with pilates and yoga studios a few doors down. Plus a new distillery and a new brewery in town are a few blocks apart. There are restaurants that cater to all types of dietary needs and choices. The town is so welcoming and willing to support our efforts and our community.
The Lofts will be little havens. A place to be not-at-work and not-at-home and not-full-of-expectations. Families will be able to be somewhere safe, neutral, and supportive.
Some people may only need a brief pause to catch their breath. For others, it might be the lifeboat that gives them the needed space for healing. Whether through therapy or by being in an environment where talking through the complex set of emotions that come with being on the road. For some, it will be a place for recovery.
When you’re surrounded by people who have been through the same things, it’s a lot easier to feel understood. To face and talk about the things you’ve all felt for years, but haven’t been able to really unpack. The Lofts will be a place just for that. A little reset button, in the middle of the country, in Niles, MI.
Our location:
Niles, MI
A Closer Look at 205 E Main
“Understanding that endurance sports leave you in a better place physically and mentally…how can touring leave you in a similar place? I think that’s where The Roadie Clinic comes in”
Tom Wood, Audio Engineer
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