Dad’s Garage closes on their ‘forever home’

• Linnea Frye
• TAKE ‘EM TO CHURCH: The site of Dad’s Garage new home is the house of worship in Old Fourth Ward.

At long last Dad’s Garage has finally closed on what the theater is referring to as it’s “forever home.” The news comes some months after Dad’s successful Kickstarter campaign, the largest for live theater in the fundraising website’s history. The 1.2-acre property is a church at 569 Ezzard St., in Old Fourth Ward, and includes 90 parking spots, and has already been rezoned thanks to a little community support.

The Ezzard Street space cost a little more than $2 million, and since August 2014, more than $690,000 was pledged for the purchase. The aformentioned Kickstarter campaign netted $169,000, with more than a 1,000 donations. There was also that anonymous donor who offered to match every dollar donated up to $150,000. The rest of the funding? The board of directors offered up 5 percent of the purchase, and the rest came from a bank loan to cover the remaining costs, including some renovations.

The current congregation at the Ezzard Street church will occupy the space for another year, with the Dad’s crew tentatively planning to relocate by mid-2016. In the meantime, Dad’s will continue to operate out of 7 Stages in Little Five Points. When up and running, the new facility will include an improved sound system, concessions area, and elevated seating. There are plans for some limited fundraising which will go toward additional renovations.