Don’t miss our Friends and Family Night this Friday!
The Shirt Factory is an arts and healing center located at the corner of Lawrence and Cooper Streets in Glens Falls, New York.
The historic building that once housed the McMullen-Leavens Shirt Factory is now home to more than 50 resident artists, and 16 art and healing related businesses that keep regular hours for the public.
These businesses all have their own regular hours and the building is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, but the best time to find the most studios, shops and galleries open at the same time is
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 1 and 5 p.m.
We have working painters, printmakers, pastel artists, fine jewelers, potters, textile artists, photographers, graphic artists, woodworkers, glass artists, a violin maker and a candlemaker. You can shop for eco-friendly products, art supplies, loose leaf tea, herbs and many handcrafted goods made right here in Glens Falls. The building’s tenants offer classes including T’ai Chi, martial arts, yoga, pottery, quilting, stained glass and much more!
Stop by during one of our open houses to see most of the doors open.
Welcome!
We are delighted that you chose to visit us today.
This building, known today as The Shirt Factory arts and healing center, is home to shops, galleries, artists’ studios and a healing arts community.
More than 15 businesses here keep regular hours for the public, and you may also find working artists with their studio doors open today. You might come across an impromptu demonstration or find an artist selling their creations!
Individual businesses’ hours are listed on our rack card above, and you may note that the majority of them are open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. — though many businesses extend their hours beyond. You are welcome to wander the four floors of the building any day you wish!
Every year we hold an open house on the weekend after Thanksgiving and at several other times throughout the year. You can find out about them by joining our mailing list (sign up on the comment card above!), and friend us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/shirtfactory.
Whether you are here for a class, a therapy session, a gallery reception, to browse, wander or shop, we hope you enjoy your visit to The Shirt Factory.
Please come again soon!
History
Photo courtesy of the Chapman Historical Museum
You are standing in a historic building, designed by architect Ephraim Potter and constructed in 1902. It was once home to the McMullen-Leavens Company, known for its shirts, and later, its finely made dresses. The company acquired the label of Troy Shirt Makers Guild from a competitor in Troy, New York, in 1939.
The Troy Shirt Makers label would eventually account for almost 70% of domestic shirt sales in the United States. A retail outlet was located at the Cooper Street entrance, where Adirondack Quilts is now located. You can still see the marks, grooves and indents in the wooden floors of the building from the sewing machines and other equipment.
The factory continued operations until 1996 when globalization of the textile industry took its toll on domestic textile manufacturing. In 1999 the building was reborn as a location for art galleries, studios and other small businesses and has become a popular destination.
