The former Mission House Coffee location on Commerce Street won’t be empty for much longer.
Less than two months after the coffee shop announced its closure, the Academy Center of the Arts announced that the space would become The Music Hall, a 100-person concert venue dedicated to hosting local and independent artists.
It opens Friday with the Local Call set to perform a sold-out show.
Holding events at the space on 722 Commerce St. isn’t a new occurrence. When Mission House first opened in 2019, the shop was split into two parts: a small sitting area and a large event space that hosted weddings, church services, concerts and local theater productions.
“It was my coffee spot,” said Academy CEO Geoffrey Kershner. “With how close it was to [the Academy], we would constantly have meetings over there.”
When Kershner heard about the coffee shop closing, he started thinking of ways that the nonprofit Academy could use the space.
“We moved fast,” he said, noting that the closure announcement came in June. “But we are excited to cultivate the space and say yes to more [artists].”
The Lynchburg area isn’t without a shortage of large venues. The historic Academy has a capacity of 800. Liberty University has the Liberty Arena and the Vines Center, and within driving distance are venues like Roanoke’s Berglund Center and Charlottesville’s John Paul Jones Arena. Smaller, more intimate venues are a different story. While area breweries, restaurants and wineries often host local or regional musicians and performers, Kershner said it’s not the same as having a dedicated venue.
“Usually they’re secondary,” he said. “They’re more providing ambiance. Most people may not be there to see them. It just seems so important to have a space that musicians can come to just perform.” 
At one point, Lynchburg did have a small venue. The Ellington on Rivermont Avenue had a long history of hosting jazz musicians, performers and dancers. The historical building was converted into apartments in 2022.
As a Lynchburg local, Kershner has fond memories of being part of the Ellington’s music scene.
“The Ellington was an incredible space,” he said. “It was approachable because of how intimate it was.”
It was also the Lynchburg home of a Roanoke-based ska-punk band called Swank, according to Kershner.
“Usually we’d see them play in Roanoke, but when they would make it to Lynchburg, that’s where they would play.”
The Academy has hosted local and regional acts in the past. But Kershner said for many artists, filling an 800-seat auditorium might be daunting. It can also require extensive setup.
“[The project] was an easy yes,” he said. “The space has flexibility. It’s easy to set up and turn over, unlike some of the larger venues. The coffee shop in the front can easily be converted into a concessions and box office. Plus part of keeping the space sustainable is to make it available for the community to rent out.”
Adding the Music Hall to the Academy’s campus allows for the creative scene downtown to continue to grow and thrive while also welcoming national touring programs and performers.
“We’ve had local performers open for national acts in the past,” Kershner said. “But this new space allows us to connect with more and more local artists so when a tour comes through we can match them with a local [act] that fits.”
With The Music Hall, Kershner is hoping they can bring back the same magic the Ellington had while also reshaping what the art scene is in Lynchburg.
“I think Lynchburg is traditionally known for its theater programs. We have some great high school productions, and now the Academy has the youth theater program,” Kershner said.
“There are local actors and directors who have gone off into the world creating things. But Lynchburg is also a music town. I want to see that become part of our city’s brand. We want to build up the music scene and have live music become a regular activity. And hopefully, it will encourage people to take a chance and experience a new artist.”
Upcoming performers include Chamomile and Whiskey, Flat Five Jazz, Sara Beck and The Chapstix. Tickets are on sale online.
