Eric Suher’s recent real estate portfolio is filled with questionable decisions, leaving Northampton’s live music scene and economy at risk. The Calvin Theater, one of the city’s largest indoor music venues, is the latest example of Suher’s questionable decision-making. At one point, Suher owned five music venues in downtown Northampton that were closed.
- Five music venues in downtown Northampton owned by Suher were closed at one point.
- These venues included the Calvin Theater, the Pearl Street Nightclub, the Green Room, and The Basement.
No single business owner can be held entirely responsible for putting a city’s success at risk. However, the cumulative effect of Suher’s actions is undeniable. The local real estate investor controls many Northampton properties that are important to the live music scene.
The city’s music scene is a delicate ecosystem that requires all its members to function properly.
“The city’s music scene is an ecosystem that succeeds when all its members do well,”
says Chris Freeman, executive director of the Parlor Room Collective. Freeman believes that Suher’s actions have had a negative impact on the city’s music scene.
- Freeman believes Suher’s actions have had a negative impact on the city’s music scene.
- The city’s music scene would benefit from Suher selling the Calvin Theater, which has been vacant for years.
Despite promises made 18 months ago to sell the Calvin Theater, Suher has yet to fulfill his end of the deal. The same could happen for the Calvin Theater, those in the local music industry say. However, Suher finally sold the Iron Horse Music Hall to the Parlor Room Collective last year. It is now hosting a full schedule of acts. The Calvin Theater’s ownership has changed hands several times since its opening in 1922. However, Suher’s ownership of the theater has been marked by stagnation and inaction. The Calvin Theater has been vacant for nearly 10 years.
Eric Suher’s economic inactivity is not limited to the Calvin Theater. He owns the once-iconic and now closed Pearl Street Nightclub, plus two other closed clubs on Center Street, the former Green Room and The Basement. Suher also owns one of the most visible pieces of property in the city near the corner of Main and Pleasant streets. The space at the downtown’s busiest intersection has been closed and empty for nearly 15 years. Suher announced in 2016 that he was waiting for the right tenant. However, due to Suher’s inaction, another highly visible commercial space sits idle, a small but real drag on the city’s economy. The city’s economic growth has been hindered by Suher’s lack of action.
Suher’s inaction has had a profound impact on Northampton’s economy. The city’s downtown area, which relies heavily on tourism and local businesses, has been negatively affected by Suher’s vacant properties. The city’s economy would benefit from Suher selling the Calvin Theater and other properties.
- Suher effect
- noun
- refers to the phenomenon where a single business owner’s inaction or poor decision-making has a negative impact on the local economy.
- Suher effect
- noun
- refers to the phenomenon where a single business owner’s inaction or poor decision-making has a negative impact on the local economy.
Despite promises made 18 months ago, Suher has yet to sell the Calvin Theater. It is imperative that Suher sells the Calvin Theater and other properties to revitalize the city’s economy. The city’s music scene is an ecosystem that requires all its members to function properly.
