Artisan shop to return to Carson City’s BAC

The Brewery Arts Center hopes to debut its renovated artisan shop next week.

Expresso Yourself is the name of the redesigned space, which now features a coffee bar, locally-made chocolates, and artwork as well as a small stage for planned or impromptu performances.

The table tops are either chalkboard or whiteboard with chalk and markers to play with while you sit.

“We want to encourage creativity,” said Gina Lopez Hill, executive director, BAC. “We are hoping for some spoken word and open mic nights.”

The Proscenium Players, too, may offer some small-scale productions on the stage, said Jeff Fast, president of the Proscenium Players Inc., board and productions manager at the BAC.

The coffee bar will be serving coffee from The Roasting House in Virginia City and chocolates made by Carson City chocolatier, Moondance Chocolates, as well as pastries.

“The chocolates are gorgeous,” said Hill.

Artwork from local artists still line the store’s walls and now its ceiling.

Hand-painted parasols that were made for Nevada Day to raise money for the Carson City Arts and Culture Coalition hang from the ceiling and are on sale for $25 each.

“They look great in the space, but everyone is buying them up,” said Hill, who said the BAC has been holding art classes there during the rehab.

So the BAC is working with some local artists to produce more parasols that will be sold to raise funds for the BAC.

If construction work and inspections are completed on time, Hill hopes to open Expresso Yourself by Dec. 20.

The shop’s hours to start will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with extended hours for special events.