Bridge Tavern Raises $10,000 for Wheeling Symphony Orchestra

The Bridge Tavern & Grille has signed a $10,000 check to support their neighbors across the street from proceeds raised during their after-party fundraiser following the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra's April 26 "Sinatra and Beyond" concert.

WSO Executive Director Sonja Thoms described the Bridge Tavern co-owners Doug Carl, Mike Carl, Alicia Carl and Sumner Riddick as "champions of the symphony in many ways." However, she was still surprised to see such overwhelming support for the symphony generated by the Bridge Tavern owners following the last symphony concert.

The Bridge Tavern owners chose the Sintra-centered concert for their fundraiser because the restaurant often plays the music of "Ol' Blue Eyes" during happy hour. Doug Carl teased that future events in collaboration with the WSO the Bridge Tavern would also be connected to the restaurant's musical favorites.

"They [the WSO] have got several artists coming up in their 2024-45 season that are a natural fit for us as a venue," said Carl. "From bluegrass artists to soul singers, all of these artists are distinct and can fit our style here."

The Bridge Tavern made 100 tickets priced at $100 available for purchase for their after-party fundraiser at their restaurant. As tickets to the event sold out leading up to the concert, Doug Carl was thrilled to see the enthusiastic response from both Bridge Tavern regulars and symphony supporters.

Doug Carl described the Bridge Tavern on the night of April 26 as being filled with a "great mash-up" of Bridge Tavern's "friends and patrons" and WSO fans who crossed over from Main Street to attend the after-party.

"With our proximity to the Capitol Theatre, we have so many symphony patrons who come in and have dinner with us before the show and many people who come for drinks after the show," he said. "We're just a natural fit for each other."

WSO Music Director and Conductor John Devlin said he has interacted with many symphony attendees who decided to see the symphony after being recommended by a Bridge Tavern waiter or bartender.

"In many cities, a symphony would depend on marketing to strangers to get people to come to your concerts," noted Devlin. "In Wheeling, we get so many attendees through word of mouth. If you have local bartenders telling people that your concerts are amazing and they can walk across the street to see one, that's the best way for us to create interest in what we do."

Devlin noted that the neighboring organizations were united to "create a central hub for arts and culture" in Wheeling.

"I moved here at the same time as the Bridge Tavern returned to new ownership, and they started renovating the building," recalled Devlin. "We've seen the progress taking place in the city. Now that the Bridge Tavern has become this brand new, fantastic place inside and out to socialize in Wheeling, we want our corner of town to be the center of where people can experience arts and culture in the city."

Thoms described the Bridge as a "top-tier" sponsor who has taken the initiative to get the community involved in supporting the WSO.

"It does take a community to support an organization, and we're continually expanding the definition of who that community is," said Thoms. "We hope this is just the beginning of opening up conversations with our community partners about how we can share the support we need to keep the WSO as vibrant as it is for years to come."