Mechanics Hall to stay closed until at least October, maybe 2021

Photo | Grant Welker Mechanics Hall in Worcester

Write a Comment

By Grant Welker

Worcester's Mechanics Hall will stay closed until at least the start of October, the venue announced Friday, as it and other facilities remain largely unable to host any events because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Even that opening may be too soon, Executive Director Kathleen Gagne said.

"We may well find that we cannot afford to reopen until January or later in 2021," Gagne said in an announcement Friday.

Most of the venue's staff is out of work. A hospitality staff of more than 40, along with seven permanent staff, has been furloughed. As of Sunday, Mechanics Hall will be down to three staffers and two part-timers, Gagne said.

Mechanics Hall, a nonprofit, has lost $500,000 in revenue since mid-March, it said, spanning a normally busy period to help make up budgetarily for slower periods. It has received funds from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but those funds are also being depleted, Gagne said.

Mechanics Hall has had other challenges, too, including two costly roof issues this spring caused by heavy rain. The hall had to replace roof installation and copper roofing, as well as a stairwell and drywall damaged by rain. The venue is launching a fundraising effort called the Bridge the Gap Campaign, with a goal of raising $90,000 over roughly three months.

Mechanics Hall has reported revenue of just under $2.7 million in each of the past two years through fiscal 2017, with roughly 60% of revenue from programming. The remainder includes contributions and investment income.

The venue ran a $77,000 deficit in 2017 after a $150,000 surplus the previous year, according to Internal Revenue Service 990 reports.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly said 40% of Mechanics Hall's annual income comes from programming. The correct number is 60%.