New owners are pushing The Gem in Spring City to a bigger stage – the Reading Eagle

For the past 17 years, The Gem Spring City Speakeasy, which began as Chaplin’s: The Music Cafe in 2007, has been a popular venue for the region’s most exciting live music.

New owners Andy and Cathy Meacham hope not only to keep it that way, but also to enrich the local art scene.

“We want The Gem to be a local hub for musicians and artists to share their passions with each other and for the community to come together,” Andy said. “And if through this we can contribute to progress in our community and create a much-needed music scene in the suburbs, then that’s even better. Our aim is to bring in regional and national artists to help grow this music scene, but local people will be at the heart of it.”

Michami live a short walk away Precious stone66 N. Main St., Spring City, so they are part of the community at large, not just business owners.

“We’ve lived in Spring City for 12 years and we’ve seen this city on the cusp of growth and renaissance,” Kathy said. “The building itself has such a rich history, and we want to celebrate that so people can see that Spring City is not a place you just walk through. We just want to grow The Gem’s loyal following and make it a hub for artists and musicians in this incredible community. We hope to grow with our city as it recovers, and the arts and music scene is a great place to start.”

Originally established in 1908 as the Gem Theatre, the building was once a silent movie theater and vaudeville venue until the early 1920s. Later, it became a meeting place for the workers of the local trade union.

In the 1950s, it was called The Hog Shop on Main, selling and repairing Harley-Davidson motorcycles. It was empty until the 1990s, when it became a photo studio. Chaplin’s: The Music Cafe opened in 2007, offering musical performances, events and recordings.

In 2022, Chaplin’s rebranded to what is now known as The Gem.

As part of their commitment to supporting local music, the new owners will continue the tradition of weekly open mic nights and live performances every weekend.

The cafe will continue to offer and expand its current menu, while the bar offers Sly Fox beer and Pennsylvania spirits. The owners also plan to add to the venue’s appeal by expanding its calendar to open more nights during the week, featuring live performances and private events.

To celebrate the new owner, The Gem is hosting a grand re-opening on November 30th featuring local bands UNCLE, Earth Song Teacher Band, The Sermon!, Mojo Risin’ and Jason Fraticelli & Friends.

The event, which begins at 3 p.m., is free and an opportunity for the community to experience the excitement and energy that The Gem brings to the region.