Charlotte is Dedicated to Saving The Milestone

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Music lovers aren’t going to let one of Charlotte’s oldest venues get torn down without a fight.

The Milestone has been a local landmark for rock, punk, and various underground music scenes since 1969. The venue has been a gathering spot for Charlotte musicians for over 40 years. Dedicated to up-and-coming talent, it has also hosted artists such as REM, Nirvana, and Superchunk before they hit it big.

But with 40 years of music comes wear and tear. In order to stay open, the business must undergo a complete renovation.

The Milestone created a GoFundMe page that explains their situation. Co-owner Stephanie Hughes wrote, “With a history as legendary as The Milestone’s, the rickety Tuckaseegee Road club has managed to survive the eras of new wave, grunge, hardcore, post-punk, and everything in between, lived to tell the tale, but not without its share of battle scars. Undoubtedly, the structure has seen better days since the original building was constructed over 100 years ago. The Milestone Club is badly in need of repair to continue to be the constant the city of Charlotte needs.”

Charlotte is no stranger to losing popular venues. The city lost both Tremont Music Hall and The Chop Shop in the last year.

But people aren’t saying goodbye just yet. Music enthusiasts have taken to social media to show their support, sharing the campaign and using the hashtag #SaveTheMilestone.

A Facebook page has also been created that encourages people to donate to the venue’s fundraiser.

“This event page is devoted to saving The Milestone,” the page says. “It is a place where we can gather to help build our confidence in knowing that it is a reality that The Milestone will be saved with our help in working together as a team.”

Local musician Cameron Godwin is also passionate about keeping the spot alive. He recalled playing on their stage with his band Swim In The Wild back in October.

“Walking through the doors at Milestone is like crossing the threshold into another dimension,” Godwin explained. “Everyone is happy. Nothing matters but the music and the people who are there to create and experience the music.”

The Milestone’s fundraiser, started one month ago, has already raised almost $40,000.

For more information about the campaign, click here.