What's Next for Copia?
Visitors at Oxbow Public Market offer their suggestions to revamp the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts, which has been shuttered since 2008.
When Copia had its grand opening on Nov. 28, 2001, founders had high expectations that the majestic center would become a worldwide destination for those seeking the upscale pleasures of mingling the cultural worlds of wine, food and the arts.
The center had a library of rare books, a museum, gift store, upscale restaurant, 260-seat theater, 13,000 square feet of gallery space, 72-seat kitchen demonstration area, outdoor concert terrace and three and half acres of outdoor landscaped gardens.
But instead of becoming a cultural magnet, Copia struggled to attract visitors and ultimately filed for bankruptcy Dec. 1, 2008, with a bond-financed debt of $78 million.
The massive modern center projects an eerie feeling of emptiness as it awaits the next phase of its existence, now being determined by Keith Rogal's development group.
The new footprint for Copia is still undecided. On Thursday, visitors at the Oxbow Public Market, Copia’s next-door neighbor since 2007, offered their ideas for the center's rebirth.
Michael Wright lives in Benicia, but is no stranger to Napa and Copia.
“I very much support the arts and education. I would love to see something with the arts go into Copia. Done right, it could succeed and be world renowned," Wright said. "A place like Napa cries out for the performing arts, concerts, a performing arts school, so many options.”
Luis Candelas of Napa believes Copia should be an extension of the Oxbow Market.
“Why not? It could be the Oxbow but on a much larger scale – restaurants, art galleries. Or maybe make part of it a youth center. The kids in Napa don’t have a lot to do,” Candelas said.
Christine Chapdelaine of Napa is sad that Copia has sat vacant for so long.
“It’s such a shame, The gardens, the building, even the waterfall outside are so beautiful, but it’s just a big empty space,” Chapdelaine said. “It would be wonderful to have concerts, benefits, fundraisers and performing arts at Copia.”
“Give it to the kids for a skating rink,” said Carol Doyle of Napa. “There is nothing for our kids to do in Napa. Might as well be something for them rather than just sitting there empty.”
Kathy Scott of American Canyon has her own ideas about Copia’s future.
“Turn it into a residential drug and alcohol rehab facility. Lord knows there are enough people to fill the place," Scott said. "It’s got the space to make rooms for the clients, there’s a kitchen. Add some classrooms and offices and you’re all set.”
Matt Gronger of New York has friends in Napa County.
“I went to Copia once when I was here visiting. It didn’t really impress me that much," Gronger said.
"I think Copia would be a great convention center. It’s huge, plenty of meeting rooms and parking, a kitchen, beautiful landscaping and it’s right on the river. And who wouldn’t want to come to a convention in the Napa Valley?”
jothsn
11:43 am on Saturday, January 14, 2012
The City of Napa should take it over, as a replacement City Hall. The old City Hall on school is too small & outdated for a growing Napa. If this opportunity is missed, in a few years taxpayers will be on the hook for a huge expenditure to design and build a replacement.
Giselle Lampe
8:26 am on Sunday, January 15, 2012
HGTV should take over, with support from our local celebrity Chef such as Tyler Florence, Michael Chairello, Morimot and support from our other local great Chefs this really could be something. They could turn it into audience live sets where tourist could get tickets for live tapings, do shows on gardening, home decorating, cooking and of course wine. Demo kitchens for classes, already there and a live good morning America type host show with interviews from the people in this valley who help make it what it is, we have everyone here from famous winemakers, chefs, race car drivers, filmmakers, actors, athletes, writers and more, have them share their stories...who wouldn't watch this? If HGTV isn't into it get someone else, and knock there socks off...has anyone approached Oprah?
Marcia Battat
10:37 am on Sunday, January 15, 2012
I think that a Music Center to include a Music Conservatory with a theater/concert hall and a museum for music would be an inspiration for young aspiring musicians to have an opportunity to be taught the history of how music developed from the beginning of time. Having classrooms for teaching studios, master classes and workshops for children and adults of our community and beyond, wishing to be educated with top professionally qualified and dedicated musicians and teachers from around the world to come and offer their worldly experiences and share their lives with other musicians and non-musicians who would like to be educated!
We have Napa Valley Music Associates, a non- profit organization, searching for a permanent home in this community and would like to be a part of this new project for Copia to have us included. It would truly benefit musicians and non-musicians of all ages to have a space specifically designed for improving the education of music for everyone of all ages!
Marcia Battat
Napa Valley Music Associates
Marcia Battat
Tom Ontis
1:32 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
As a Napa ex-patriate, now living in Contra Costa County, it is pretty clear to me that the location was all wrong, thus not taking the old real estate adage into consideration. The design and look did not fit into the overall scheme of things, though there was never much there. Older homes prevailed in the area, some I'm certain had been in families for more than one generation.
Napa, upvalley, has become a destination location since I left in the late-1970's. Napa itself has not become part of that destination, until maybe recently. In the event many aren't aware of it, there is more to Napa than the wineries and vineyards that dot the valley, above Napa proper.
I could see its use as educational, with one or more of the local universities, Sonoma State, UC Davis, SF State or even PUC from Angwin as joint use for extension programs. On Highway 680, going down into the San Jose area from where I live, colleges, even the private, for profit colleges are expanding. Why not Napa? I am not talking about competing with the community college, but Bachelors and Masters level courses. It's all about money!
Louisa Hufstader
3:10 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Tom, the Oxbow district where Copia is located has gotten much busier in recent years. The Oxbow Public Market has managed to become both an international draw and a local hangout, and there are a bunch of popular restaurants and tasting rooms clustered around it plus a bike/kayak rental shop, a bakery and a butcher, a high-end day spa and a hair salon. People routinely walk across the new bridge from downtown Napa and across Soscol, which used to be unheard of. Come visit, it's nice and you should definitely see the new flood walls around the houses on First Street.
Chris Gillespie
10:47 pm on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Why didn't Copia succeed in the first place?
Louisa Hufstader
9:45 am on Monday, January 16, 2012
That's a big question, Chris. My two-word answer in conversation is usually "bad management," but this sentence from the Napa Valley Register sums it up well:
"Ambitious plans never offered financial returns, however, and the center lost money from the start. Efforts to recast its mission in various ways never gained traction."
You can read the whole article—one of more than 3,900 that comes up when you search "Copia"– at http://napavalleyregister.com/eagle/entertainment/copia-ceo-resigns-bankrupt-center-loses-bid-to-go-on/article_c8ab6b29-5c45-5260-b838-ccc9905857a0.html#ixzz1je0CVfGp
Chris Gillespie
11:15 pm on Monday, January 16, 2012
When the city was thinking of relocating offices I thought Copia When plans were in place to move the transit center I thought Copia. I agree that it would be a great place for city hall and/or a convention center. Does Napa even have a convention center? Where are conventions held now - in hotels, or at the fair grounds? Napa could use a city center - even if its on the edge of town.
Louisa Hufstader
5:56 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Copia COULD be a lot of things, but it will take a bunch of expensive work to remodel the space. The cooking amphitheater, gourmet restaurant, exhibit galleries, lecture hall and so on were created for very specific purposes; there's virtually no office space.
Although we have many examples in our society of museums created out of other spaces, I've not heard of a museum that was built as such and then converted to another use. So this will be interesting.
Veronica
8:31 am on Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I attended a conference at Copia once. It was held in the theatre-type area and lunch was catered and provided in the common area. Smaller break-out groups were held in the areas designated for cooking classes. It seems to me that the space is already set up for at least small to moderate-sized conferences.