TechShop closes Raleigh-Durham location

I'm sorry to share that TechShop, which has been a wonderful place for teens to create, is closing today.

Posted 9:21 p.m. Apr 20, 2013 — Updated 9:21 p.m. Apr 20, 2013

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

I'm sorry to share that TechShop, the membership-based do-it-yourself workshop, is closing today. I've written a bit about the shop, which has offered some great programs for teens.

Here's what the company's PR folks tell me:

"TechShop will be closing the Raleigh-Durham (RDU) location on April 20. TechShop reached this difficult decision after much consideration based on the financial performance of the Raleigh-Durham location. As you may know, the RDU location opened in 2008 as an independently owned location and was then acquired by TechShop, Inc. in late 2011. In the sixteen months since TechShop, Inc. took ownership, the company has made significant investments to upgrade both the building and equipment in an effort to attract more members and increase revenues. Unfortunately the number of members and level of activity cannot support the cost of maintaining the facility and the talented staff. Essentially, this location was an earlier and different business model than the one we use, and did not work financially.

The Greater Raleigh-Durham area remains an attractive area for TechShop in the future should we find the right opportunity."

I've asked them to keep me updated if something else comes along for the region.

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