The event caps a year and a half of work to bring the Pendleton here — and ends a string of opening delays. The center had been expected to open early this year, but prolonged renovation postponed the debut.
“I can’t tell you anymore to wait another month, can I?” said Jim Verdin, the founder of the Pendleton.
“This will be a test run on how the building works,” City Manager Judy Gilleland said. “I sense the excitement in the community. In talking with a lot of the artists, I know everyone is very excited to have the public come in.”
Sue Rogers, who has moved her framing business Artique into the Pendleton, was there earlier this week making final preparations in her shop, saying “Oh, it’s great.”
Francine Riley of Centerville, a late addition to the Pendleton stable via the Visceral Art Gallery, is moving to Middletown even though it gives her only half the space of her former location.
“We’re downsizing quite a bit but we have a variety of artists here. That’s what’s so much fun about being part of this, from the ground on up,” she said.
Riley is one of about 10 parties that has rented space as of today’s opening.
The Pendleton will have its official grand opening May 7, on the first Friday of next month, which will include a ribbon-cutting. Verdin will attend that opening but will not be in town today because he’s spending spring break with his family.
The much-debated project to adorn the Pendleton with hundreds of decorative car hoods will not happen until sometime after the grand opening, Verdin said, because the renovation of the building took longer than expected, requiring installation of new HVAC and sprinkler systems.
“With the artists this brings to town and the public that will attend the events, it’s an added emphasis to the downtown, which is certainly positive for Middletown,” Gilleland said.
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