Saratoga Joinery, a community woodworking shop located at 69 Caroline Street, is set to open its doors on Tuesday, March 5. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Joinery has a mission to offer a safe and inclusive environment for woodworkers of all levels to learn, build and share their passion for the craft right in downtown Saratoga Springs.
The 8,500 square foot facility is well-equipped with high-quality machines, tools and ample workspace. Lumber, sheet goods and other materials are available for purchase on-site. Members get full access to the space, an area for project storage, discounted class registration, and opportunities to showcase or sell their work. In addition to membership, Saratoga Joinery will offer woodworking classes to the general public. Project-based, skill-based and seminar-based classes will be offered to all experience levels – no membership required.
The organization’s founder, John Haller, spent the past three years learning best practices from other wood shops, schools and maker spaces, and believes Saratoga Joinery offers something unique. “The idea is to create a safe, welcoming place for people to learn and develop skills. There will always be staff on-site to ensure safety and help less experienced people gain the confidence they need. A sense of community is really important to us, so we plan to partner with other organizations on service projects. These projects will give our members the opportunity to get practical experience in a team setting while giving back to their community.”
Saratoga Joinery’s founding Executive Director, Tori Colarusso, sees the Joinery as a place to teach important life skills and provide a creative outlet to the community. “In our increasingly digital world, it’s so important that people have access to tactile hobbies. At the Joinery, not only are people able to find satisfaction in creating something with their hands, but they’re learning valuable skills and building a community. Our goal is to make this craft accessible to everyone.”
Saratoga Joinery will offer monthly membership for $85 per month or prepaid annually for a 10% discount at $918 per year. Memberships will be available to purchase starting on Tuesday, March 5. The public is invited to a Grand Opening event on Saturday, March 16 at 10:00 AM. Tours of the facility, refreshments and fun activities will be available.
Shop hours and more information can be found on their website at www.saratogajoinery.org.
Saratoga Joinery is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies upon the support of the community to keep our blades spinning.
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