Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 33

I

t's happy hour on a Friday at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts,
where area partners have convened over Sly Fox beers to toast
the opening of Belly-Kitchen and Drinkery at the downtown art
center. Joining in the inaugural toast is GoggleWorks Executive Director Levi
Landis, Belly-Kitchen and Drinkery Chef Jim Churchman and Manager Dustin
Wise, and Managing Partner for Sly Fox Brewing Co., John Giannopoulos.
They discuss the imminent opening of Belly-Kitchen and Drinkery as well as
other new initiatives - the Sly Fox Stage designed for performing arts in the
venue, new on-site catering and campus-wide liquor license, and plans for
culinary programs.
Over a year ago, Landis, then newly-commissioned to lead GoggleWorks in
its second decade, met with board members to dream about what the downtown
art center could become. Since 2006, the art center has served 250,000 annual
visitors through a broad array of arts and education programs, exhibitions,
on-site studio artists and arts partners, a retail arts store, Arts Festival Reading
and premier events, event rentals, fine craft and art studio programs, summer
camps and more. "GoggleWorks has seen no shortage of strong ideas," says
Landis. "Our challenge has been crafting a consistent, articulate vision and
growing our audience with that in mind."

Continued on page 34

Landis cites two areas where he wanted to focus this vision, saying, "I
realized that to thrive long-term, we needed to both serve the community
more substantively, more charitably, and to improve the on-site vibrancy to
make visiting GoggleWorks an inspiring experience." Toward the latter, Landis
convinced the Board that a broad-based food program could provide unique
opportunities to draw more visitors and bring them back more often. "As
someone who experienced the richness of visual arts somewhat after many of
my peers in the arts, I know that not everyone comes to a painting, or sculpture,
or creative process with an immediate appreciation," Landis says. "But everyone
needs to eat, and I believe the experience of making and enjoying quality food
is a gateway for creativity and artistic appreciation."
Landis began exploring the concept by contacting John Giannopoulos
from Sly Fox Brewing Company. "I had been in contact with the Sly Fox crew
from my days producing the Philadelphia Folk Festival and serving the music
community in Philly," Landis states. "John thinks in very inventive ways. I knew
he would get the vision for a vibrant hospitality program immediately. What I
didn't expect was just how much mentorship and expertise he would bring to
the project." Giannopoulos, whose tasting rooms in Phoenixville and Pottstown

Photograph by Heidi E. Reuter Photography

Roger Grafton

Partners gather at GoggleWorks to pair fine
art, craft beverages and eclectic food.

Fill Your Belly,
Feast Your Eyes

GreaterReadingChamber.org

  33
http://www.GreaterReadingChamber.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017
