EASTHAMPTON — The Heavy Culture Cooperative (THCC), a member-owned underground music and arts organization in the Valley, is one step closer to its goal of opening a venue in a prominent Easthampton location.

THCC (pronounced “thick”) has reached a tentative agreement with a group of investors — many of whom are THCC members — to secure the former location of The Massage School at 1 Northampton St., located across from Pulaski Park.

Following unanimous approval by THCC’s member-owners, the organization came to an agreement with the investors, as well as Alexei Levine and Valerie Hood, the current owners of the property, to sublease the first floor of the building, which the group of investors plans to acquire.

“We’ve had interest in the property for some time,” said Tim Brault, president of THCC. “It kind of serendipitously lined up with some folks who were interested in investing in commercial property themselves and were aligned with THCC’s mission.”

The location of the property was a major selling point for THCC, which has been exploring other potential properties in the city for some time now. The property sits between several of Easthampton’s main retail areas, and Brault said he see’s THCC’s venue “tying together those existing retail strips.”

The property at 1 Northampton St. went to auction in September, as The Massage School had previously moved its western Massachusetts operations to Hadley. However, the roughly 20 individuals who attended the auction left empty-handed, many expressing surprise at the $400,000 starting bid set by the auctioneer.

At the auction, Hood and Levine told the Gazette that they “loved” their time in the 6,840-square-foot building, which sits on about 1 acre of land, but that they couldn’t keep up with the maintenance costs it required. Brault, however, said that through THCC’s partnership with the group of private investors, the building’s maintenance isn’t a deterrent.

Brault also expressed excitement that this partnership will mean preserving a piece of Easthampton’s history. The building was constructed in 1865 and previously known as Memorial Hall. It has both served as the city’s high school and housed municipal offices as an annex to the old Town Hall.

While the building served as the site for The Massage School, it was also home to The Art Bar Cafe for a time, meaning that the infrastructure needed for a bar is largely still in place.

“We could really start operating as soon as we get our permits,” said Brault.

THCC plans to use the space as a performance venue and bar, but also as a gathering space where community members can come together for trivia, game nights and other social activities. Brault said THCC plans to renovate the space to their desired look and to increase capacity, and that the investors will use the upper level and possibly the attic of the building for a separate venture.

“However members want to use the space, we’re glad to do it, and we’re happy to pour a drink even when we’re not playing music,” said Brault.

Since its founding in 2022, THCC’s main goal has been to establish a music and performing arts venue where the underground arts community can gather. Once finalized, the agreement to procure the 1 Northampton St. property could make that vision a reality.

The agreement is still contingent on several factors, thus Brault said he couldn’t yet disclose how much the building is being acquired for. THCC and the investors still have to secure approvals and permits from the city and state governments as well.

A public hearing is set for Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. with the Easthampton Zoning Board of Appeals regarding THCC’s request for a special permit to operate a music bar at the property.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.