Chapman Repair

Oct 1

Lake Street Community Shows Support Against The Odds

When Laurel Chapman learned that her brass and woodwind repair shop, Chapman Repair, had flooded with water, she didn’t know what to do - but did know that the damage was more than she could handle as the business's only employee.

With one post on her personal Facebook page, Laurel saw the strength of the community, “I was amazed to see my friends and customers come to help me not only in a pandemic but also in the midst of civil unrest. People I don’t even know showed up in masks to help.”

Laurel opened Chapman Repair in the Ivy Arts Building (2637 27th Ave S) in the summer of 2014. She shares her unit with Steven Sandberg, who also specializes in woodwind and brass repair. Located in Seward, the Ivy Arts Building is known for its exterior brick walls covered in beautiful green ivy. Inside, the building is just as beautiful and home to many artists and craftwork studios.

Unfortunately for many of these artists, the Ivy Arts Building caught fire one night during the civil unrest after nearby flames from the nearby Hexagon Bar started to spread. The roof of the building caught fire and activated the sprinkler system, ruining everything inside Laurel’s studio. When Laurel first visited the building after the fire, she wore boots in preparation for what she might find. The water was about 6 inches high and went right over her boots. She found all her paperwork, all her clients’ instruments, everything was soaked.

Chapman 3.jpg — **“I was amazed to see my friends and customers come to help me not only in a pandemic but also in the midst of civil unrest. People I don’t even know showed up in masks to help.”**

Laurel Chapman, owner of Chapman Repair

Laurel quickly posted on her personal Facebook page about what happened to Chapman Repair with a humble ask for any sort of help. When she showed up at her studio the next day she was amazed to have more than 20 people ready to help, some people she didn’t even know! Customers showed up with dollies to move equipment out and rags to help dry equipment. Friends in the local music industry showed up to help and the Mississippi Valley Orchestra, where Laurel is a tuba player, even sent out an email asking for the community’s support.

Luckily, despite the Ivy Arts Building being currently closed to the public, Laurel was able to move into a different studio that wasn’t damaged and continue her repair work. She is currently focusing on taking care of everything that was in the shop prior to the fire and getting instruments back safely to her customers. She is grateful to still feel supported, “A lot of friends, customers, family members, and musicians say - “tell us what you need!”” In addition, with the funding from the Lake Street Council’s We Love Lake Street Recovery Grants, Laurel is working on replacing and repairing all that was lost and damaged. She hasn’t officially reopened yet but asks her customers and community members for their continued until she is able to reopen and take on new projects.

She plans to keep Chapman Repair in the Lake Street corridor in the Ivy Arts building, “I love all the variety [on Lake Street], all the differences, and that they all exist here. I hope for all of that again.” As for the future of Chapman Repair, Laurel says it’s going to be even better than before, “I think it’s going to take time but the future is exciting and full of possibilities.”

**ABOUT CHAPMAN REPAIR**

Laurel Chapman has been a full-time professional brass and woodwind repair technician for over twelve years. She also fabricates obsolete instrument parts and works one-on-one with musicians who need ergonomic alterations to their instruments so they can play more comfortably.
Laurel began her formal training at Alma College, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Design in 2003. Then she went on to study instrument repair at Minnesota State College -- Southeast Technical at Red Wing. After graduating in 2005, she worked for nine years as a full-time brass and woodwind repair technician at Cadenza Music in St. Paul. Since 2014, she has owned and operated Chapman Repair.

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Chapman Repair

Lake Street Community Shows Support Against The Odds

ABOUT CHAPMAN REPAIR

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Gorditas El Durango