Woodstock Outlet Mall VIP Event Rakes in Thousands

A local nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding the arts scene in Woodstock got a big financial boost from Wednesday night's VIP preview event held at the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta.

About $65,000 was raised from the $10 ticket sales for the event, which was slated to benefit the Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, said Artistic Director Gay Grooms. 

"We are very pleased there was this much support in the community for the event," she added. 

Grooms added Horizon Group Properties, which is the developer of the outlet mall project, typically holds VIP events for new outlet mall projects, but the event held at the Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta was one of the most successful the company has seen. 

The organization will use some of the money to possibly create an endowment fund, Grooms said. She also said they will use some of the funds to make repairs or upgrade some of its theatre equipment and apply some towards its campaign to renovate the old Reeves Homes that sits on Elm Street in downtown Woodstock. 

Elm Street currently operates out of the Chambers at City Center in downtown Woodstock, but members of the Elm Street board of directors have been in the process of fundraising and remodeling the old home for its future facility.  

The home and the land it sits on would be used as the permanent place for Elm Street Arts, and could feature a community theatre, visual arts center and green space.