McKelvey Will Reopen ‘Maker Space’ After TechShop Closure
Date Posted: November 19, 2017
Posted In: News, Organizations, Projects,
From St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Jim McKelvey, a St. Louis native and entrepreneur, plans to open a new “maker space” in St. Louis after the closure of TechShop this week.
TechShop, which had 500 members in St. Louis, abruptly closed its facility in the Cortex innovation district Wednesday. The location was among 10 that were shuttered nationwide after the company announced plans to file for bankruptcy protection.
For a monthly fee, TechShop supplied 3D printers, laser cutters and welding equipment, among other machinery, for members to make prototypes and merchandise.
After its closure, Cortex officials fielded dozens of calls and emails from TechShop members worried about access to their materials. Cortex owns both the building and the equipment.
“The response we heard from members was pretty overwhelming, and it really spurred us to be as responsive as we could to try to figure out how to help makers get through the holidays,” Cortex President and CEO Dennis Lower said.
McKelvey, co-founder of Third Degree Glass Factory in St. Louis, contacted Lower and offered to open a new studio for inventors in St. Louis using the former TechShop equipment.
Until a new space is found, Third Degree, a gallery and studio at 5200 Delmar Boulevard that has glass-blowing studios and kilns for artists, will operate the former TechShop space in Cortex. Third Degree’s co-owner Doug Auer will lead the new entity and hire several former TechShop employees.