The Grand Avenue Club Renovation Has Turned Into Community Project
Founded in 1991 by a coalition of psychiatric patients, advocates, service providers and citizens, the Grand Avenue Club (GAC) supports adults with mental health challenges through training and education, employment placements and enrichment programming.
In early June, we shared the news that the Grand Avenue Club was chosen to be Milwaukee’s 2022 recipient of Design For a Difference. Design For a Difference is a charity that works with local designers across the country to give deserving non-profits a complimentary redesign or makeover. In Milwaukee, Design For a Difference partnered with FLOOR360, a Wisconsin-based flooring showroom and design firm that plans, organizes and implements the remodels.
Now, another Milwaukee company is getting in on the mission. BILTRITE Furniture is supporting the renovation through an inventory donation worth $5,000.
BILTRITE Furniture has been a part of the Milwaukee landscape for nearly 100 years, since Irwin Kerns opened his first upholstery shop on 3rd and Garfield. Four generations later, Kern’s granddaughter, great granddaughter and other family members are still giving back to the community that grew their business.
“We’ve been affiliated with the Grand Avenue Club since 2005,” says Randi Komisar Schachter, 4th Generation Family Member at BILTRITE Furniture. “I saw something pop up on social media that Design For A Difference was going to work with the GAC. I had to chime in right away-- we had to be the furniture store that was a part of this.”
Since BILTRITE moved into their new current location in 2006, they have always had at least one member of the Grand Avenue Club on their staff. Currently, GAC member Hermoine is leading their custodial team.
“I had a connection to the Grand Ave Club through an acquaintance of mine,” says Randi. “I asked him to tell me more about the club. During our conversation, the bells went off in my head-- this would be a great opportunity to employ members of the Grand Avenue Club for our custodial team. We’ve forged these great bonds with the club and the members, and they are some of the best employees we’ve ever had.”
For the project, the BILTRITE Furniture team has donated a desk, two arm chairs, a swivel chair, a lamp and an entertainment console. “In the past we’ve donated a leather sectional. There’s a framed picture in our lounge, everyone from GAC signed it to say thank you,” says Randi.
Milwaukeeans will likely recognize the Grand Avenue Club from the outside. It’s across the street from Swinging Door, on the corner of Water and Michigan streets. The cream city brick building was erected in 1858, and is the oldest commercial building in the city. The Grand Avenue club moved into the building in 2001 and has been serving the community through their downtown headquarters ever since. Now, they are ready to open the next chapter with a new and modernized space for their members.
“This is a very old and historic building,” says Ben Holt, Operations Manager at Grand Avenue Club. “That comes with a lot of amazing things but it also comes with some difficulties. We've been in this building for almost 25 years and things sort of just gradually and organically evolved, not so much an intentional design based on what we actually tangibly do. This is a bit of a reset for us.”
Led by Kelly Kuehn, Kashou Design Studio Manager at FLOOR360, this makeover relies 100% on donations from businesses and individuals in Milwaukee. According to Kuehn, our community has shown incredible support.
“We knew what their wish lists were and the functional needs of the spaces inside,” says Kuehn. “BILTRITE’s selection met all of our needs and the individuals at the store were amazingly helpful. It was very meaningful to us that they are so involved with the Grand Avenue Club. We’re dedicating a lounge to BILTRITE to thank them for their longtime support of the GAC.”
Demolition begins on September 26. According to Kuehn, part of the excitement around this project is keeping the design a secret until the project’s completion. On October 18, FLOOR360, The Grand Avenue Club and Milwaukee Magazine will host an “open your eyes” style reveal where the space will be unveiled to GAC staff, members and board members for the first time.
“We don't know what the final product will be but we've seen the general build ideas and we're pretty blown away,” says Holt. “We were a bit unsure of how this whole process was going to go, but Kelly Kuehn and the Design For A Difference crew came in and sat down with us, met with members, found out what a daily routine looks like, and it really seems like they are building something intentional based on the needs and feedback of the members.”
