Madison Reporter

The Atwood Music Hall is set to open in Madison in 2023.

Isthmus.com reports the now vacant building at 1925 Winnebago St. will open sometime next year as a music and arts venue, offering concerts, music, food and beverages vendors and events, all while providing opportunities for young musicians.

Partners in the venture Toffer Christensen and Jake DeHaven insist they wanted to get Madison back on its feet following the COVID-19 crisis while promoting equity and opportunity in the neighborhood.

“It was important to us to have a room that could both serve larger touring artists or local bands on one night but also be an inviting and intimate space for a neighborhood gathering the next,” Christensen said in a press release. “The building design that my partner, Jake DeHaven, has put together is a really thoughtful concept in both detail and function that maximizes the room’s flexibility and accessibility. We are both very excited to bring this project to life and continue contributing to the vibrant growth of the Schenk Atwood neighborhood.”

In the promotional video, local Latin musician and radio host Tony Castañeda narrates, often reminiscing on he once performed in the building more than four decades ago in the first ever live Latin music show in the Madison area. The building was originally constructed to be the Madison Gospel Tabernacle in the 1930s, before hosting Operation Fresh Start. It has been vacant for multiple years.

The video also features positive comments from a variety of people in the area, including Ald. Brian Benford, who represents the 6th district, Barrymore Theatre general manager Steve Sperling, restaurant owners Chuckie Brown and Jamie Hoang and pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church just across the street from the building, Andy Twiton.

Elements of the plan call for the church to offer parking for the venue to ensure accessibility and maintain the peace in the family friendly neighborhood.