The Peace Center will repurpose a historic carriage factory, utilized as a restaurant since 1991, into a 1,300-capacity, three-tiered, flat floor music club. The new venue, called Coach Music Factory, will feature genres of music ranging from rock, jazz, country, and pop to rhythm and blues and electronic dance music. Coach Music Factory will be comparable to, and slightly larger than, the Orange Peel in Asheville, The Fillmore in Charlotte, and Center Stage’s The Loft in Atlanta. One of Coach Music Factory’s unique features will be glass walls behind the stage that open for an indoor/outdoor concert experience with the backdrop of the Reedy River and the Peace Pavilion. 

  

The Peace Center has owned the Markley Building since its inception in 1990 and purchased the Gullick Building in 2012. These Main Street buildings, which have been leased to tenants until the last few years, will be merged to create one of the most unique artistic operations known to the music industry.

At street-level, the Markley and Gullick will be transformed into an intimate 250-capacity listening room and lounge: The Mockingbird. As a nod to Nashville’s famous Bluebird Cafe, The Mockingbird will feature a wide variety of up-and-coming and experienced singer/songwriters, musicians, and performers, a gorgeous bar, hardwood and tile floors, beautiful tin ceilings, and a plush lounge. Artists will perform in front of a floor-to-ceiling glass wall with the backdrop of downtown Greenville and a window into the performance for passersby walking down Main Street.

On the second floor of the Gullick will be an artist co-op: The Studio which will house a state-of-the-art recording studio and artist development spaces. The Studio will be utilized by visiting and local artists who wish to rent a professional studio, as a laboratory for students learning the technical aspects of recording, and by the Peace Center to produce original programs and content for the community. It will also feature collaboration rooms for writing and education for aspiring singer/songwriters, musicians, and music producers.

   

The Studio

On the second floor of the Gullick will be an artist co-op: The Studio which will house a state-of-the-art recording studio and artist development spaces. The Studio will be utilized by visiting and local artists who wish to rent a professional studio, as a laboratory for students learning the technical aspects of recording, and by the Peace Center to produce original programs and content for the community. It will also feature collaboration rooms for writing and education for aspiring singer/songwriters, musicians, and music producers.

   

Artist Loft

Above the listening room will be the Artist Loft featuring three luxury hotel-style ensuites and a shared kitchen and lounge area. The Artist Loft will be utilized by artists performing in any Peace Center venue and will be particularly attractive to those participating in residences and week-long engagements.

   

The Peace Center has plans for a full renovation of the Huguenot Mill including the addition of a terrace off the Ramsaur Studio.

By adding these outdoor spaces, the Peace Center will provide a special area for patrons to enjoy a new front door to the Reedy River. Floor to ceiling doors and windows will lead out to the terrace. This will offer patrons attending performances at the Peace Pavilion, guests for private events, students taking classes or participating in workshops, and musicians rehearsing for the evening’s Broadway performance, an opportunity to delight in this beautiful new outdoor feature. 

 

The Peace Center will make many improvements and enhancements to the grounds of its campus to better celebrate the Reedy River and the beauty of our surroundings. 

The Wyche will receive minor enhancements to become a multi-functional, open-air event venue on the Reedy River including interior and exterior illumination, ceiling fans and heaters, accessible pathways, and lush landscaping.