*Featured Photo by Kacey O'Brien.
An active and accommodating arts and culture scene can do wonders for a community—both for its local residents and the visitors it attracts. The presence of talented and passionate people behind it can create a lasting positive impact.
And that’s just what happened to the East End of Glens Falls. What was once an area left to neglect has over time transformed into a thriving community, thanks in large part to The Shirt Factory—a one-of-a-kind creative hub in the Lake George Area.
What Exactly is “The Shirt Factory?”
The Shirt Factory has become a unique year-round attraction to the City of Glens Falls over the course of the last few decades. The original building—located at the corner of Lawrence St. and Cooper St.—has actually expanded with the additions of the Community Action Building and the Maple Street Annex building on the same block to form The Shirt Factory Campus.
While these structures may look like older factory buildings, inside holds a vibrant mix of shops, artist studios, galleries, professional services, classes, and more—all of which are open to the general public.
Today, The Shirt Factory is home to over 70 studios and over 100 local artists, offering a wide variety of goods, services, and interests to be explored. From traditional art mediums like paintings and photography to more consumer-based products such as clothing, food and beverages, books, and more.
Pictured: Dawn's Stitching Alterations & Repairs (Suite 105); Photo Credit: Kacey O'Brien
And some of these tenants have found long-term success residing in the building(s) of the campus for near or over 20 years, with some shining examples including:
- Stephen LeBlanc (Suite 101-A) and his production of handmade and fabricated metalworks.
- Bill McCarthy of Eastside Gallery (Suite 103) and his handcrafted pottery.
- SensabiliTeas (Suite 106) has made and sold a selection of over 200 loose-leaf teas since 2006.
- Victoria Palermo (Suite 306) and her contemporary art studio.
*For a full list of studios, check out The Shirt Factory online directory.
History of The Shirt Factory
The reason why The Shirt Factory structures resemble factory buildings is because they originally were.
The original building, specifically, was built in 1902 by local men, JR McMullen and Walter Leavens, who were previously working their way up in the factory business before the last great fire in Glens Falls burned down what was the Joseph Fowler Shirt Factory. Together, they founded the McMullen-Leavens Shirt Factory, which produced high-end men’s dress shirts.
The factory was very successful and was, in fact, a major employer of the local area for several decades. Production was expanded to include women’s shirtwaist dresses in the 1930s, and their fashion was even worn by celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe and Bob Hope.
However, the McMullen-Leavens Shirt Factory eventually slowed production until it finally closed in 1996. In fact, parts of the factory were left neglected even before closing. Along with it, a vital part of the local area for much of the 20th century was lost, leaving the East End of Glens Falls to decay.
Later in 1996, the now current owner, Eric Unkauf, bought the building at auction, with the original intent to build his own machine shop while renting out the rest of the space to other industrial tenants. However, what Unkauf didn’t account for when advertising the space was its appeal to local artists, who were drawn to the building by its cheap rent and large windows that drew in natural light.
With this developing revelation, Unkauf allowed artists and creators to rent out suites in the buildings, which gradually built the now well-established Shirt Factory as a thriving hub for local arts, shops, and galleries.
Today, the original factory’s legacy in the community is honored with displays throughout the halls of the preserved interior. Copies of ads and cases displaying some original garments can be found throughout the building, which were donated from Eric Unkauf’s personal collection.
Thanks to this, the spirit of the 20th century lives on—now effectively repurposed in the form of modern artists and small businesses, and in turn helping revitalize the once-abandoned part of Glens Falls into a still-growing arts district.
Events and Activities
In addition to the assortment of studios and shops residing at The Shirt Factory, the location also serves as a host to various events year-round.
Perhaps the most well-known example is the Thursday Market & Food Truck Corral, held weekly from the third Thursday in May to the second Thursday in September every year. The streets surrounding the campus are filled with local food trucks, vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities.
Another highly anticipated event is the annual Holiday Open Houses—both after Thanksgiving and again in the middle of December. These open houses are a terrific opportunity to find open doors throughout the main building and interact with the various artists inside, not to mention getting your holiday shopping done with additional guest vendors throughout these weekends.
Pictured: The Sunflower Collection (Suite 114); Photo Credit: Kacey O'Brien
Besides the events that The Shirt Factory itself organizes, there are a multitude of classes and workshops hosted by certain tenants throughout the year, such as:
- Ling’s Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy (Suite G03) teaches kung fu, tai chi, and self-defense classes for all ages and ability levels.
- Lemon Tree Yoga and Healing Arts (Suite 108) offers yoga and meditation courses.
- Jeanne Noordsy (Suite 218) has felt-making classes for all levels.
- Joan Reid (Suite 311) hosts painting and drawing workshops, as well as energy healing workshops such as Reiki and Hawaiian Energetics.
Pictured: Hands of Light Healing Massage Therapy (Suite 109); Photo Credit: Kacey O'Brien
Introducing the Muralgarten
Another project that The Shirt Factory partakes in is the Muralgarten—playfully using the German word for “garden.” The Muralgarten is a free, public art park gradually being built in the neighborhood of The Shirt Factory Campus.
Utilizing the sides of buildings and structures in an old industrial block of Glens Falls, 30 murals are planned to be painted over the next several years, breathing new life into the community. These murals are created by members of a board of artists and members, with careful supervision by Shirt Factory owner, Eric Unkauf.
The Muralgarten, much like the Shirt Factory itself, welcomes artistic creativity and ingenuity. The ultimate goal of this project is to not only create a welcoming public space for everyone to enjoy, but also to provide a vibrant economic—and cultural—impact to the East End of Glens Falls. In fact, there is a long-term plan with the Muralgarten to connect with other local arts organizations.
So, if you happen to see some mesmerizing murals when visiting Glens Falls, feel free to snap a few photos and help share and spread support for this unique outdoor attraction.
*To learn more about the Muralgarten, as well as the artists involved with this project, check out the Muralgarten website.
**You can also discover these artists in our "Murals, Mosaics, and More" blog.
Come and Visit
The Shirt Factory is undoubtedly one of the most unique attractions in the Lake George Area. Combining local arts, shops, and culture, this space is open year-round and is free to check out.
Whether you’re nearby, or are planning on visiting Glens Falls and would love to help support some local small businesses and makers, make the trip to The Shirt Factory and discover a whole new world waiting for you.
Pictured: Beldame Books (Suite 118E); Photo Credit: Kacey O'Brien
When to Visit
The open hours for specific studios and vendors may vary, but for the best experience, it’s been recommended to visit the complex on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
This is found to be when all first-floor studios are open, as well as a handful of the other studios on the remaining floors.
Where to Park
There is free and available parking for the public at the following locations:
For the Main Building:
For the Community Action/Shirt Factory Annex:
For the Maple St. Annex:
*For any additional questions or information, please feel free to reach out to management@shirtfactorygf.com
*Special thanks to Eric Unkauf and Billie Jean for providing their insights and information used in this blog.