Common Man gifts Flying Monkey to Habitat for Humanity

PLYMOUTH — For nearly two decades, music and entertainment lovers have had a venue right on Main Street: the Flying Monkey Movie House & Performance Center. Under new management, the vision to bring top-quality acts to the area remains, and there are more ideas brewing.

The Common Man Family, on June 8, said the company donated the Flying Monkey to Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity. The two organizations have a long history of collaboration, and the transition will not only be beneficial for the entertainment offered, but the community as a whole.

Common Man Family CEO Sean Brown said since the COVID-19 pandemic, operating a music venue has presented challenges. After doing research, the hospitality company leaders saw many theaters are opting for a nonprofit model.

“We have been friendly with the Habitat folks for a long time, and one of the main mantras we both have is to do good,” Brown said. “I can’t think of another organization that does as much good.”

Susan Mathison, president of the Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity Board of Directors, is a “dear friend” of Common Man founder Alex Ray. She said the conversation had been ongoing, and now was as good a time as ever to make the transition.

“Alex has, over the last 50+ years, built an amazing empire at the Common Man,” Mathison said. “As he is over 80, he sees a lot of property that needs to be handed over. This was a passion project of his. It never turned a huge profit, but it is important to him.”

Mathison said Ray wanted someone who could handle the complexity of such a business, which is not only an economic engine, but a people-connector. The idea of donating the Flying Monkey to the organization was made easier knowing the current staff will remain, under the leadership of Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity, in which he had the utmost confidence.

“It is a match made in heaven,” Mathison said. “We are honored that he trusts us with this dream of his.”

Vision for the future

General Manager Gina Leary and assistant general manager Richard Drenkhahn will continue to lead The Flying Monkey. Leary said they will have their “core four,” with their chef and box office coordinator staying on board. The venue has part-time staff throughout the year, many Plymouth State University students working the concessions.

“We have a chef who came on in September, and has tripled food sales with a well thought out menu,” Leary said. “Richard has 20 years of experience at the Common Man, and does advances with the artists and day-to-day staffing, and I am doing all the operations and booking.”

Leary came on board two years ago, and said there was a conversation early about the complexity of running a music venue, and she's made progress. They have made a number of updates to both the exterior and interior of the structure, and have also improved hospitality, customer service, and operational efficiency.

Mathison said without this staff, the direction they want to take wouldn’t be possible, and called Leary a “gem.”

“Of course, Pemi-Valley Habitat is learning a great deal,” Mathison said. “We’ve never run a performance arts center, and there is a great learning curve, but I’m thrilled to say we are in great hands with this staff.”

Leary had ideas in the works that Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity can get behind, Mathison said. This includes implementing community programming in addition to the concerts, movies and other events already offered.

“We are thinking about ourselves as being the anti-smartphone experience,” Mathison said. “We want people to come be with community members, get to know each other, and make good memories together that don’t have to do with screen time.”

Leary is excited about the improvements already set in action, including building a digital wall and updating lighting, and a fresh set of eyes.

The goal is to build out programming to make sure there is something going on four to five days a week.

She wants to be more connected with community opportunities, and this includes a potential “front porch series,” highlighting local musicians. The idea is to start with the acoustic platform, but if successful, expand to the rock and jazz world.

Leary said she wasn’t a booking agent when she started, and was basically thrown into it, and has made a lot of connections and gathered a lot of intel during her two years leading the venue. She has a background in event planning, and noted that any event, wedding, or live performance is complex. Every day is different. Leary has been listening to the public, and plans to use that knowledge.

“We want to provide a mix of shows of original artists, tribute bands, and new stuff we’ve never even tried,” Leary said. “We’ve listened to our guests, and one thing is that people want to dance.”

Dancing has been an issue due to space, and is often dependent on what kind of show is taking place. They are working on the layout to make it more modular, so if there is a “sit-down band,” there can be tables in place. If there is a jam band, or an act where people want to boogie, they can remove the tables.

Leary said movie nights will remain on Wednesdays, and said classic movies tend to sell the best, and will continue.

Thursdays are going to be for silent and foreign films, and community events, with plans to bring larger acts who are willing to play a smaller venue mid-week. She said while the Flying Monkey has 476 seats, when it is in standing room, the capacity jumps to about 650 people. The hope is to attract some bigger names.

Friday and Saturday nights will continue to be the “bread and butter” of the live concert experience. Leary has been listening to consumers about what they want, and the word is they are looking to see more original artists.

“We do have a lot of repeating acts that come through, and we know they will have a great audience, and we have a great report with them,” Leary said. “But we are trying really hard to bring in more original acts. We want a mix.”

With the transition to Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity’s ownership, Brown said there isn’t a whole lot different for employees, except someone else is signing their paychecks. Leary also said the new owners have a lot of connections, and this could help create a “community hub” at the Flying Monkey.

“That has been wonderful, and has given me a new perspective on resources,” Leary said.

“We really want to get PSU students to the Monkey, and we’ve been racking our brains on what will bring them in,” Leary said. “That’s a focus for sure, connecting with PSU and the local schools, and how we can bring the community into the building.”

Giving back

Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity already builds an average of one house per year through the proceeds they make through their Re-Store, also located in Plymouth. Mathison said the five-year plan with the Flying Monkey is to make enough money to be able to fund building an additional two houses per year.

“We have a large piece of property, and several smaller pieces that are ready for building houses,” Mathison said. “We need to raise the funds for those houses, and we already do that every year.”

She also said her organization has a program called Brush with Kindness, where Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity fronts funds to make repairs. An example, she said, is if an elderly person needs a wheelchair ramp. They would fund this, and the homeowner pays the organization back, with no interest.

“It’s a small project that can help keep people in their homes.”

Mathison also said she understands taking the Flying Monkey off the town’s tax roll is a concern. Sensitive to this issue, during the first year of ownership and operation, Pemi-Valley Habitat for Humanity will pay up to $29,000 back to the town in lieu of taxes, as the organization is a registered 501(c)3.

“We are tax-exempt, as far as real estate taxes go, and we understand the burden of removing money from the tax base,” Mathison said. “The interesting thing about Habitat is that our whole job is to build houses, which adds to the tax roll.”

After that first year of operation, Mathison said the hope is to enter an agreement with the town where an allotted amount would go back to the town. She said they are currently working on a formula that is “equitable and reasonable.”

Mathison said the formula is on the front of their minds, because it doesn’t make sense to be wildly profitable if the town is suffering. They are working hard to do so, to be able to give back, but knows it is no easy task. She said it was hard for Ray, who she called “brilliant,” and she knows it will take some thinking outside the box.

The Common Man Family will continue to advertise for the Flying Monkey at their restaurants, and Mathison said the strong partnership continues.

“We are all in,” Mathison said. “The Common Man Family has been very supportive in the transition, and are helping in every way they can to make this a success.”