Legacy Glassworks is more than just a head shop, and the local Duluth business’s expansion proves this.
“We custom built this new shop over the course of two months,” said Legacy Glassworks co-owner Josh Wilken-Simon. “It’s double the square footage of the old shop.”
On Oct. 19, Legacy Glassworks welcomed the community to check out the new shop on 30 West 1st Street in downtown Duluth. The tobacco shop/art gallery/music venue continues to bring in artists of varying mediums, from glassblowing to painting and rapping. The store has come to create a hub of entertainment and art appreciation for its third year running.
For the reopening celebration, Legacy Glassworks hosted live glassblowing and music performances from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The event featured local artists from Duluth, Minneapolis and all around the Midwest.
Before moving the store one shop down to the corner lot, Legacy Glassworks was just a small office space.
They still managed to throw events like a grand opening, but it didn’t take much to reach maximum capacity and some events had artists performing out on the sidewalks due to lack of space.
Now, Legacy Glassworks has the space to host even bigger bashes. As one might guess, this calls for more precautions in protecting the fragile glass pieces that line three of the four walls of the shop.
“We do take some precautions,” Wilken-Simon said. “We have enough staff, and in all the concerts we have had in the old shop, which was even smaller, we never had any problems. People are really respectful.”
Wilken-Simon also said the new space makes the business a more accessible venue for the variety of artists the store hosts.
DJ T. Dack (also known as Tobin Dack) has been a local Duluth musician for the past 11 years. He said he performs at Legacy Glassworks more than any other venue in Duluth because it’s “friendly and personable.” He describes his music as “down tempo ambient.” Curious? Take a listen.
“I like the culture,” Dack said. “Everyone that works at Legacy has been really supportive of the local music scene … it’s really nice to get my foot in the door.”
The new storefront invited Minneapolis glassblowing artist to come up north for the grand reopening. Prior to this weekend, Thomas had never been to the Duluth shop to blow glass, but he said the “friendly, personal” environment made a good first impression.
“It’s really nice to see that (the artists) are all from Minnesota, Wisconsin … the upper Midwest,” Thomas said, who has been professionally blowing glass for the past nine years. “There’s too many stores that are just willing to order crap online because they can get it for cheaper.”
Wilken-Simon said Legacy Glassworks prides itself on being local, both in the products they sell and through the artists they support.
“When other stores in my industry sell Chinese- and Indian-imported glass, we bring it all local so that’s what the customers really appreciate.”
*This article was also published on LakeVoice News.
BY KIM HYATT
hyatt045@d.umn.edu