Lark Hall a couple’s three-year labor of love
March 2018 and after the first round of upgrades and asbestos removal, the yoga studio opened that September.
“By the end of 2019, we had actually just started to make money (with the yoga studio),” Jenn noted. Going into 2020, things were looking great and the plan was (for Lark Hall) to be open by September of last year. Then the pandemic happened.”
Jenn transitioned her yoga business to a mix of socially distanced outdoor and virtual classes, but the year-plus with no in-person events made launching the performing arts aspect of Lark Hall nigh impossible. There was a positive to it, however, as the pause allowed the Millers to really plot out and make all the renovations necessary to transform the space into a state-of-the-art concert venue.
Over 8,000 feet of new electric wiring, all-new sound and projection systems were installed. For safety and accessibility, the fire alarms were updated, Ada-compliant bathrooms were constructed and an elevator was put in. The goal of all the improvements was to upgrade the hall while still managing to maintain its original 1916 structure and charms.
“The extra year gave us time to plan,” Justin affirmed. “We could think about things like, ‘Which way should the bathroom doors open up so the lights don’t distract from the stage?’
“We built up the mezzanine with a bar and VIP high-top to really give it a special feel,” he enthused. “Right now we can hold 300 people and after the sprinklers are in, we can have 450. The acoustics are great and with the way it’s laid out, everyone in the room is going to have a sightline.”
Excepting its pending liquor license application, Lark Hall received all the necessary certification to open by February 2021. To get things rolling, the venue hosted local bands like Victory Soul Orchestra, Glass Pony and CK and the Rising Tide to limited in-person shows that were concurrently livestreamed by Albany-based Mirth Films. For July, the Millers booked weekly Grateful Dead-themed tribute performances.
Going forward, the Millers plan on a mix of local shows and have linked up with promoter Dan Smalls Presents, who books at Ommegang, the Egg and the now-closed Skyloft (RIP), to bring in acclaimed independent acts such as roots-rocker Parker Millsap and punk rock band Titus Andronicus later this fall.
In addition to musical acts, the Millers are hoping to make Lark Hall available for community organizations, weddings, special events and TED Talkesque presentations.
Jenn commented that having an experienced promoter like Dan Smalls has helped lessen the learning curve for a firsttime venue operator, but that she and Justin are still adjusting on the fly when it comes to running Lark Hall. Between the support they’ve received from
the Lark Street Business Improvement District and the large volume of emails they receive about booking the space, however, they’re hopeful they can come up with a strategy that works.
“We want to really get it open and come up with a standard
operating procedure that’s really mindful of the space and the community,” she said. “I have a lot of ideas for a local open mic night, how to get local bands here and long-term communitybased events. We want to cater to the community and local needs, and we’re thinking about
how to do it right.
“We’re trying to build it really organically,” Jenn added. “Some days it can be overwhelming, but we’re just trying to figure out how to make it work and think about how we can make it special and do things with consistency.”