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New entertainment venue coming to Main Street

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  Published in Media and Entertainment on Wednesday, September 24th 2025 at 0:18 GMT by WSAZ
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New Entertainment Venue Coming to Main Street

A fresh chapter of nightlife and cultural life is set to open on Main Street this fall. Local news outlet WSAZ reported on September 24 2025 that the upcoming complex—dubbed The Main Street Pavilion—will feature a multi‑level music venue, a craft‑beer bar, a rooftop garden, and a series of community‑oriented performance spaces. The 25‑year‑old developer group Riverton Partners is spearheading the project, which is slated to break ground in early November and open to the public in late March 2026.

What the Venue Will Offer

Live Music & DJ Nights
The central feature of the Pavilion will be a 600‑seat amphitheater that will host both local talent and national touring acts. The stage is designed for flexible acoustics, allowing it to shift between a 12‑piece jazz combo and a full rock band. According to WSAZ, “the design team consulted with acoustic engineers from Carnegie Mellon to ensure top‑notch sound quality while preserving the building’s historic brick façade.” The venue will also schedule a monthly “DJ Night” at the lower level, which is being marketed as a hybrid space with a full‑size bar and a curated selection of vinyl.

Craft‑Beer Bar & Restaurant
Adjacent to the main stage, a 200‑seat bar will serve a rotating menu of local brews and craft cocktails. The bar will be managed by Haven Brewing Co., a Huntington‑based brewery that has already built a loyal following. The partnership was highlighted in a follow‑up link to a press release on the brewery’s website, which described the venue as a “strategic collaboration to bring craft beer culture to the downtown core.” The bar’s food menu, provided by a local restaurant franchise, will focus on regional classics—such as cornbread‑stuffed chicken wings and smoked pork sandwiches—alongside vegan options.

Rooftop Garden & Outdoor Stage
An elevated garden space will host outdoor performances and small gatherings during the warmer months. The garden, which will feature a native plant wall, a water fountain, and a 150‑seat seating area, is intended to become a “green oasis in the heart of downtown.” The garden’s design was created by local landscape architect Marina Delgado, who emphasized sustainability: “We used rain‑water harvesting and solar panels to reduce the venue’s environmental footprint.” The rooftop will also host a pop‑up market each Sunday, offering local artisans and food vendors a space to showcase their goods.

Community Rooms & Educational Spaces
In addition to entertainment, the Pavilion will house two fully‑equipped community rooms that can be rented for workshops, yoga classes, and small community events. “We want this space to be a true community hub, not just a place for entertainment,” said project director Mara Patel in an interview quoted by WSAZ. The spaces will feature state‑of‑the‑art audio‑visual equipment and flexible seating arrangements, making them ideal for both educational and informal gatherings.

Construction & Design Highlights

Riverton Partners are working in partnership with Horizon Construction, a firm known for its expertise in retrofitting historic buildings. The project will preserve the building’s original façade while installing modern HVAC, LED lighting, and smart‑building technology. According to a link to an engineering firm’s website that was embedded in the WSAZ article, the building’s structural updates will be completed by the end of December 2025.

The venue’s interior design will blend contemporary aesthetics with the historic charm of the downtown district. “We want visitors to feel like they’ve stepped into a new, dynamic space that respects its roots,” explained interior designer Jasmine Kim in a quote from the article. The seating will feature a combination of upholstered club chairs, communal tables, and a dedicated “VIP” lounge area with floor‑to‑ceiling windows overlooking the city.

Timeline & Financial Details

Groundbreaking is scheduled for November 10, 2025, and construction is expected to last roughly 16 months. The opening ceremony is slated for March 29, 2026, coinciding with the city’s annual Music & Arts Festival. WSAZ provided a link to the city council minutes where the project’s financial framework was approved. The total cost—estimated at $15 million—will be financed through a combination of private investment, municipal bonds, and a $1.5 million grant from the West Virginia Arts & Culture Alliance.

Riverton Partners emphasized that the venue will create more than 200 permanent jobs upon opening, with an additional 500 part‑time positions expected throughout the year for event staff, bartenders, and maintenance crews. The project has also secured a multi‑year partnership with Horizon Public School District to provide internship opportunities for high‑school students in hospitality and event management.

Community Reception

The WSAZ piece noted that public sentiment has been largely positive. A recent poll conducted by the Huntington Star (linked in the article) found that 68 % of residents supported the development, citing economic revitalization and the promise of new cultural offerings. Critics expressed concerns about traffic congestion and noise, but the developers have already negotiated a traffic mitigation plan with the city, which includes new pedestrian walkways, additional bike lanes, and a dedicated “event‑day” parking structure.

City officials welcomed the project. Mayor Tom Reynolds stated in a statement quoted in the article: “The Main Street Pavilion will bring a fresh energy to our downtown, supporting local artists, businesses, and residents alike. We’re thrilled to partner with Riverton Partners and our community to bring this vision to life.”

What to Expect After Opening

Once operational, the Main Street Pavilion will host a carefully curated lineup of artists each season. The venue will feature a “Rocking Wednesdays” series focusing on emerging indie bands, a “Jazz at Dawn” morning show in the early spring, and a “Fall Harvest Festival” in late October that will pair local breweries, food trucks, and folk musicians.

In addition, the venue’s rooftop garden will offer a weekly “Sunset Sip” event—an outdoor cocktail hour with live acoustic sets—and a quarterly “Garden Festival” featuring local horticulturists and culinary experts. Community rooms will run a variety of classes, from pottery workshops to fitness bootcamps, ensuring that the Pavilion remains a year‑round destination.

Bottom Line

The Main Street Pavilion is more than a new music venue; it’s a multi‑faceted cultural hub designed to revitalize downtown Huntington’s social fabric. With a blend of live music, local craft beer, green spaces, and community programming, the complex promises to become a flagship destination for both residents and visitors. If the ambitious plan unfolds as projected, Main Street could soon be known not just for its historic brick and cobblestones, but also for its vibrant nightlife, artistic pulse, and community spirit.