The Grove House
The Grove House is quickly becoming the local hot spot for a good time in Mariposa! Serving up a holy trinity of great atmosphere, delicious drinks, and killer entertainment, this popular concert venue has a decade-long history in our community and roots that go even deeper. Owner (and Mariposa local) Nate Pyle was kind enough to give us an inside look at what makes The Grove House the grooviest…
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Q: Take us through your timeline… You opened in 2015 in that little spot on 7th St, moved to your new place on 5th St in 2021, and this year you transitioned to event-only vs daily service. Take us through that journey from opening to now… what motivated you and what inspired you along the way?
Nate: Before I opened The Grove House, I went to college in Flagstaff, Arizona, and I studied hotel restaurant management. I wanted to open a music venue, which was kind of out of the box with everybody else that was studying that. And I knew that I wanted to open it, but I didn't think it was going to be in Mariposa. I took my last class and I found out that the spot that I was that I moved into was becoming available before anybody in the public had heard of it. So I called the landlord, and I remembered him as a kid, taking all of our photos from soccer and baseball, so I instantly made a good connection with him through that. I stopped at a truck stop and talked to him, and by the end of our talk on the phone at the truck stop, he offered me the first location.
Q: That’s how it works here in Mariposa! It’s about who you know, and being at the right place at the right time!
Nate: Totally! So I always wanted to open a music venue but like I said, I didn't think it was going to be in this town. And I was really into craft beer at the time, and that was when craft beer was like at the top. So, I opened up a little craft beer spot and just tried to have different beer than everybody else in town. But slowly wanted to transition into having music, so I had smaller stuff on the back patio. And even from the start, I felt like I was kind of hitting a little bit out of my league with the space. And then COVID happened, so it was harder to open in a smaller spot, and in 2021, the current space that I'm in became available. I also was able to swoop in and get it as well. I wanted it because it was the biggest commercial downtown space that I feel like I could bring a big crowd for music or different events. So I was able to get this space, and I was like, if I ever want to grow, that's the spot I can do it, you know, at least in Mariposa. So that's why I came over here and I have big goals, I want to book bigger bands than Mariposa's ever had. I want to be on the map, so that's kind of what inspires me to keep going, is chasing that.
Transitioning from being open every single day to having an event space was basically me looking at my life and feeling burnt out and realizing that I wanted to create something that was sustainable for me and my family. So, that's how that snowball rolled, you know. I look back and I went to school because I wanted to open a music venue and not be a six a day restaurant, even though I studied it and I worked in it. But there's a whole part of it that when you're doing this… how do I say it? So, I was chasing these personal goals of what inspired me, but also the community that it created ended up being greater than anything that I thought it would be based on, like me just trying to book bands that I like. I was just doing some reflecting. And you know, there's been good times and there's been hard times with owning your own business. And then I look at it, and the best part of it is all the people that I've met, that is easily, at the end of the day, the best part of it.
Q: That’s great to hear! So you’re chasing the dream of bringing big bands to Mariposa, and you've gotten some big names already. How are you able to book such great bands and fun events?
Nate: So it kind of started by me trying to book the bands that I like to listen to, and I had a couple connections. I was friends with the Brothers Comatose, and once you start booking people and working with agents, the world gets smaller and smaller. I had Langhorne Slim here last night, and he already knew about the place, and he’d heard about the concert posters that were made, and he was excited that he had one! I try and build up the local scene, but also grow it on the bigger level as well, because I think that's the healthy blend is supporting the local talent and trying to get the big bands and the touring bands in as well.
Q: Is that going to be a continued goal, is to keep that balance?
Nate: Absolutely, yeah. Some of the best nights are the open mic night! So many people come out, and all these talented people finally took their chance to play. And, you know, it's fun. One thing that I'm trying to do, too, is I'm trying to get bands before they get really big. So it's kind of that spot where it's like, trust who's coming through.
Q: Andre Nikatina was a huge show last year, and he’ll be back in May… what are some other memorable shows you’ve booked?
Nate: The people that I've booked this year, I never thought would come to Mariposa, they're like huge goals. Langhorne Slim, who came last night, obviously Afroman. But one of my personal favorites is Pete Bernhard, he’s the lead singer of The Devil Makes Three. And he's coming back this July, that’s a really big one.
Q: Count me in! Let’s talk atmosphere… The Grove House has such a great vibe! What do you think makes it such a fun place to hang out?
Nate: I think it was kind of that “if you build it, they will come” cliché. I think that I kind of did that, and people just always wanted to want a place to gather where they feel like it's their place from their part of their community… and that's definitely happened. The people that work here and put in effort, that's what they really are passionate about, too. And I think that people can feel that, from Anna making the drinks - that's her favorite thing to do, to me booking music and Miles making food and our sound person being an awesome sound person. And just having a different type of spot where there's different types of events, bringing people from different walks of life that they know each other from. Like I'll see old teachers at Merced River Fest or at a concert... it brings people together. Everyone who works here is doing what they love and they're so good at it- Scott McGrath, Ella does our events posters which are such a vibe, Mountain Witch did our new t-shirts. We all work together and build each other up!
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The Grove House has a slew of fun events you can look forward to in the coming months. Don’t miss the Adult Prom on May 22nd, a 21+ event featuring a prom photo booth, local DJ High Me, and more. Because we all need an excuse to get dressed up... here’s yours! And speaking of exciting future events, TGH was recently granted a permit by the county to use their back patio for live shows! While continuing to book local bands and utilize the indoor space for most events, Nate is excited to bring bigger bands to Mariposa by offering a larger outdoor venue in time for summer. He hopes to entice his favorite band, The Devil Makes Three, to play the back patio someday soon.
If anyone can make that happen, it’s Nate. His attitude of perseverance and his dedication to positivity and hospitality can be seen in every detail of TGH, from its origins as a tiny craft beer house to its current form, a sprawling oasis of good vibes and great people. When asked if there was anything else he wants people to know about The Grove House and what he’s trying to accomplish for the community, Nate had this to say:
“At the end of the day, the people I’ve met is the highlight for me. When everybody works together, it makes Mariposa better!”
Visit The Grove House's website for more details about upcoming free and fun events!
Our community is lucky to have so many businesses and non-profits offering free events. Please consider supporting these lovely locals in any way you can… even social media likes/follows/shares, word-of-mouth recommendations, or a kind word to the people hosting these events are all free ways that you can contribute and show support!