J. Gregory Gerdel
MONTPELIER — Jasmine Gruen, one of the quartet of 20-something Vermonters who have inspired and designed a Langdon Street evening destination for young people and teens, wants to make it clear that parents and adults are welcome to enjoy the Clubhouse Commons, too.
With community enthusiasm and a sufficient measure of financial support, the Clubhouse Commons opened on Saturday, Sept. 5, to a flurry of curious patrons, Gruen said. But, she explained, they have realized there’s a public misunderstanding: “Adults think they are not allowed in here. One way young people need to be served is not to be isolated. We want to have people show up and see what the younger generation is doing,” she said.
The collaborators, also board members, for the project include Esther Lent, Ayden LaPoint, and Hutch Warren, whose construction skills were essential during the pre-opening remodeling of the space.
In addition to the first-floor café and stage, the building includes second-floor offices for rent and an occupied third floor apartment.
The Clubhouse Commons’ mission includes a café, regular live entertainment, exhibits and working space for visual arts, socialization across generations, and an opportunity for students at both Montpelier and U-32 high schools to earn academic credits for approved projects at the Clubhouse.
“We have several teens working here who are between 17 and 20 years old,” Gruen said. “We are trying to get high schoolers to work here. They can get both work experience and academic credits.”
Gruen, a U-32 graduate, said the faculty running the outside-of-school programs have been both enthusiastic and supportive of the opportunities at the Clubhouse.
The hours of operation for the Clubhouse Commons (3–11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon to midnight Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday) are designed to provide access to both the café and events, but importantly, a work experience opportunity that is not available with the regular hours of downtown businesses, Gruen said. The evenings with live entertainment will often require an admission fee, typically $10, but are free to those 18 and under.
Although she professed some ambivalence due to controversy around several social media platforms, Clubhouse Commons does have information posted on Meta’s sites.
“We have found that Instagram has the best reach for our customers, and I like the simplicity of their presentation and graphics,” Gruen said. She added that Tik Tok is also an effective media channel.
“But what I really prefer is word-of-mouth,” Gruen said about what she considers the most effective way to develop interest.
