Photos by Zak Neumann

 
Have you seen The Mill lately? The back room renovations are all wrapped up, and the venue has spent the last week and a half breaking in its new look (which still maintains that old school vibe — don’t you worry). You’ll find a few photos below, and be sure to check out the venue this evening for its weekly open mic session with J. Knight.

The Mill, Iowa City
New seating arrangements offer visitors less obstructed views of the stage. According to The Mill’s co-owner, Marty Christensen, the idea was to turn the “worst seats” in the house into the “best seats.”
The Mill, Iowa City
Aw yes, do you smell that? It’s the smell of brand new carpet! New interior lighting, ceiling tiles and benches all complement the new look. To allow for better views of the stage, staff also removed the accordion-style shutters that were occasionally used to separate the performance area from the back room’s booth sections.
The Mill, Iowa City
A slightly elevated section compliments this newly furbished area, located toward the far side of the venue. It’s the perfect place to mull over historic photos and stew about that killer hangover you’re going to have the next day.
The Mill, Iowa City
So slick! So Shiny! The renovations offer a more modern feel while maintaining the classic look and style of the storied Iowa City venue.
The Mill, Iowa City
The back room has come a long way in the last few weeks. Renovations began in early January and wrapped up just in time for a show on January 17. In this photo, taken on January 9, much of the old furnishings are shown stacked on and around the venue’s performance area. — photo by Shauna McKnight

Drew Bulman manages the digital side of Little Village magazine. You can reach him at @drewbulman and drewb@littlevillagemag.com.

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