bowling green scene a happening hamlet

T h e B o w l i n g G r e e n S c e n e

Happening Hamlet in the Heart of Caroline County

The Heist Offers

"Music, Food, Spirits, and Community "

Bowling Green has most of the amenities one would want in a small town. Coming this month, it will also have a dedicated music venue in the renovated bank building on Main Street. Musician and Bowling Green native Jason Manns is opening The Heist with a handful of partners.

Manns says, "I feel like my history is forever entwined with Bowling Green. I love this town. My grandfather moved here to raise his family, my dad raised us here, and I couldn't be happier that we moved back home (from Los Angeles) four years ago to raise our family here. I love LA, but I really loved my childhood. Krista and I wanted that for our kids, and we wanted them to grow up here."

Q: How did your vision for the old bank building come about? “That's a good question. It's tough to know if I had the whole vision from the start or if it was in stages. I have wanted to put something like this in Bowling Green since we moved back but couldn't find the right fit. Virginia is unique in its liquor laws, so you can't really open just a "music venue" per se. It needs to also be a restaurant, or a brewery, or a winery... all of which we investigated. Once The Corner Store opened and we saw how amazing the food was, we were really excited for this partnership.”

Q: Tell me a little bit about your partners. It's been a family project from the beginning. My dad, Mike Manns, and I partnered on the renovation of the building. The building consists of an old portion, built over a hundred years ago, and an addition which was built in the '60s. Prior to The Heist, we outfitted the newer portion of the building with a kitchen and retail area for The Corner Store, which is serving amazing food. My wife Krista and our manager Alicia Vossberg have been the brains behind the design elements, and Alicia has been heading up the outfitting and equipping of the bar because she owned a bar in Denver for years. Rounding out the team has been Ed Webb, our contractor, and we even roped my brother-in-law, David Miller, in from North Carolina to help with some of the construction. Like I said, a family affair!

Q: What has been your favorite part of the rebuild?

“This part right now is my favorite. It has all been amazing and I've learned so much. At this moment though, the hardest structural elements have been completed, the space looks amazing. We're outfitting the facility with great sound and lighting, and we'll also be a streaming venue, so you'll be able to enjoy the shows from the comfort of your own home if you'd like to! It feels like an awesome little music venue.”

Q: What are your hopes for The Heist as an addition to Bowling Green? “Our sincere goal is to enhance the town with food, drinks and entertainment without changing anything. I love Bowling Green and I

By amy bayne

want it to stay cute and quiet... most of the time. But we are very much looking forward to providing an outlet for entertainment that folks don't have to drive 30 minutes for, or at least that Bowling Green folks don't have to drive for. Fredericksburg is great, and so is Richmond. They are not too far away, but to grab a beer or a glass of wine after work, eat some food, listen to some music and then walk home? That seems like the dream to me!”

Jason Manns says The Heist will open with a few soft opening events in September and then move to a Friday/Saturday schedule. He adds, "The Heist will be an intimate venue with amazing food and drinks in a charming little town." You can follow The Heist on Instagram or Facebook for updates @theheistbg.

Other Events in Bowling Green in September Bowling Green Farmer ' s Market Saturdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., North Main Street

Flea Market - September 11th, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Chase Street and North Main

Ladies Night Out - September 17th, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Dainty Chic Roadside Stand, 116 Chase Street Small Town Friday Nights September 17th, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Participating businesses throughout town Free-S Style Fridays - Fridays 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., $10, The Painted Horse Gallery, Main Street, Studio time at the gallery among artists. Register online at www.thepaintedhorse.com Drab to Fab Chair Rehab Class September 4th and 11th, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., $125, The Painted Horse Gallery, Main Street, Two-part class will teach you how to refinish/rehab a chair. Register online at www.thepaintedhorse.com Make and Take Macrame Earrings - September 17th, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., $35, The Painted Horse Gallery, Main Street. Register online at www.thepaintedhorse.com Sip and Paint: Acrylics with Palette Knives - September 18th, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., $45, The Painted Horse Gallery, Main Street. All supplies included. Register online at www.thepaintedhorse.com Terrarium Bar - September 25th, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., $35, The Painted Horse Gallery, Main Street. Register online at www.thepaintedhorse.com

Amy Bayne is an educator, writer, and artist who lives in Bowling Green, VA.