FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2014
FOR INFORMATION
Heather Joy, Spaceworks Manager
SpaceworksTacoma.com
Spaceworks Announces The Blue Octopus Grand Opening
Friday, September 12, 2014 ~ 11am-8pm
5013 N. Pearl Street, Ruston
Tacoma, Wash –
Spaceworks
Tacoma is excited to announce the latest Spaceworks Creative Enterprise
to open its doors, The Blue Octopus on Pearl. Grand opening festivities
are set for Friday, September 12 from
11am – 6pm, plus a reception from 6 – 8pm, at 5013 N. Pearl Street in Ruston.
Nationally
recognized artist Kerry Cole, owner of The Blue Octopus, offers
painting parties, an art gallery, and a painting studio at her new
location. Since early 2010, The Blue Octopus has
been located in downtown Tacoma, first at Sanford & Sons, then at a
co-operative space called The Saint Helens Ave Mercantile, where four
women-owned businesses operate under one roof. Cole needed more space
for her sought-after painting parties and has been
working with Spaceworks since early in the year to find a larger home
for her business. Regarding her new spot, Cole says, “This location has a
lux, relaxed, beachy vibe which more accurately reflects the feeling
you would have while painting in a cottage
by the sea.”
Along
with space, Spaceworks Tacoma has provided Cole with business training,
one-on-one consultation and marketing support. Thanks to Spaceworks’
partnership with the property owners John
& Karen Trueman, Cole has also been provided with 6 months free
rent. The Trueman’s wanted to activate the first floor of their
previously vacant building that until a year ago was Ruston’s liquor
store. They knew with plenty of vacant space in Ruston that
the Spaceworks program “was a good way to fill our space with something new to the area.”
“Looking
at the Spaceworks success rate, which we understood to be 80%, we also
felt that there is a very good chance that our Spaceworks tenant will
sign a lease with us to continue the
business when the Spaceworks lease is up. So to us, it’s a ‘win win’
situation and well worth the effort,”
the Truemans said.
The Blue Octopus on Pearl’s business hours are Wednesday – Sunday from 11am – 7pm. One-on-one instruction, private or ‘Sips-N-Canvas’ painting parties can be scheduled any time. Details can
be found at: www.theblueoctopus.com
####
Vacancy
to Vitality! Spaceworks Tacoma is a joint initiative of the City of
Tacoma and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber designed to activate empty
storefronts and vacant
space in Tacoma. The initiative makes no- and low-cost temporary space,
training, and technical assistance available to artists, creative
entrepreneurs, organizations, and community groups in order to nurture
successful projects that transform Tacoma into
a stronger, more active city. Since starting in July 2010, Spaceworks
has worked with over 150 artists and creatives in 31 spaces around
Tacoma.
