DatelineCarolinaArt center brings new life to Tapp’s building

Art center brings new life to Tapp’s building

By Sarah Robbins
Edited by David Purtell

The Tapp's Center for the Arts opened Wednesday on Main Street in the former Tapp's department store building where many Columbia residents once shopped.

"I'm so excited to begin sharing my vision for an arts center with the community," said Brenda Schwarz, manager of the Tapp's center and the driving force behind the project.

Jim Gambrell, Columbia's economic development director, said Tapp's will play an important role in the developing Main Street arts corridor. He touts Tapp's as a destination location in addition to the Columbia Museum of Art and Mast General Store.

"Main Street is happening and it's happening now," Gambrell said.

When the Tapp's department store opened in 1903, it quickly became a hub for downtown, especially with its holiday displays and well-known restaurant. The store closed in 1995 as downtown faded. In 2005, four of the five floors were redeveloped as loft apartments. The arts center takes up the ground floor and basement.

Funding for the center has been complex and controversial. City Council, which had leased those two floors gave that up so the arts center could move in and then lent Schwarz $200,000 for the space interest free for 15 years.

She has an additional $175,000 loan from Tom Prioreschi, the building's owner.

Many of the 32 studio spaces, which rent for $150 to $400 a month, are still open. Schwarz also hopes to make money by hosting private events and scheduling theater and dance shows in the performance space.

The art studio spaces have glass fronts so artist can showcase what they've created. Additionally, artists can rent 11 window fronts on Main and Blanding streets to create three-dimensional displays.

"This is a perfect central location for people to see art," said Barbie Mathis, a watercolor artist who rents a studio. "And I'm excited about the revitalization of Main Street and I want to be a part of it."

Amy Puzerewski, who is showing her work at Tapp's but does not have a studio, is excited about the potential collaboration.

"Tapp's is going to be a cool new space where artists can work together, not just show their work," she said.

Mayor Steve Benjamin called it "a major step forward towards innovation and achievement for Columbia."

"This will make people realize the fantastic creative spirit we have here in Columbia," he said.

Larry Echerer, who owns a painting company, said he attended the opening because he wanted to see firsthand the development that he hopes will attract businesses to Columbia.

"I think it's about time Columbia had something like this," he said. "The more culture we have, the better it is for everybody."

Carmella Roche, owner of the Villa Tronco restaurant on Blanding Street, said the building had been transformed into "a wonderful art gallery." Villa Tronco has donated food for Tapp's events, and Roche hopes to continue developing a partnership between them.

"Everybody downtown will benefit from the foot-traffic that Tapp's will generate," she said.