Flat Cap Ventures Is A Harrison Dream, Home For Events

Brad Harrison is a missionary, making several trips to Africa each year. Judy Harrison is most familiar as the organizer behind Swing Shift and the Stars, the dance competition that raised money for local non-profits.

The duo began looking for their next thing as COVID hit, seeking a building that could house their various endeavors. And when they stepped into the empty space at 476 US 31 South, just south of Blain’s Farm and Fleet, they realized they’d found their future home for some big ideas.

Judy jokes that, while many people got a puppy during COVID, “We got a building.” 

If not exactly abandoned, the building had been vacant for years. It had previously housed everything from a restaurant to a skate park to a tractor supply store, and required a lot of work to get to the point where they could see their vision. “We took it down past the studs, to the block walls,” says Brad. Indeed, there’s little evidence of its past lives.

The renovation took almost two years. Supply chain and personnel issues contributed to the extension of the original six-month timeline, but they weren’t the only source of frustration. “The steel back deck was in Grand Rapids on a truck, but they wouldn’t come up until the truck was full because of gas prices. Then a crane broke. It taught us patience,” says Judy.

Today, the site houses Flat Cap Ventures, including individual office spaces for both Harrisons, as well as an insurance company and builder; retail store Riley’s Candles; a photography studio (owned by their sons); and tech-ready event spaces for groups from a half dozen to around 100.

“The original intent, when we were still in Swing Shift and the Stars, was to have rehearsals and everything under one roof,” says Judy. That came to fruition when Flat Cap hosted the very last Swing Shift. She’s now put that show to bed, but intends to continue working with non-profits.

Which makes sense, given both their backgrounds. Brad has long been a missionary, first working for other organizations, then starting his own non-profit mission. Good Gaali translates as “The Good Bike,” and is built around two premises. It works to teach volunteer caregivers in Uganda the skills they need to take care of loved ones while they are in hospitals and undergoing treatment. It’s also centered around the use of bicycles whose frames are made from bamboo.

A chronic shortage of healthcare workers in Uganda necessitates that family members, referred to as "Patient Attendants" or "Informal Caregivers,” care for hospitalized patients. These caregivers are often untrained and ill-equipped for such a demanding task. Brad’s mission provides training and tools for patient care, such as soap, hand sanitizer, masks and toilet paper. Boogaali Bikes Uganda, Ltd., is one of its ministry partners, and builds hand-made bamboo bicycle frames in Uganda from locally sourced bamboo. They provide a means of transportation for the families as well as tithing a portion of proceeds.

Judy’s own nonprofit, Community Impact Partners, was formed to manage Swing Shift and other events. She says she felt it was the appropriate time to bring a close to the dance showcase, which over its 15 seasons raised over $4 million for nonprofits.

What’s in a name? Given the building’s flat roof, Flat Cap name seems appropriate. It becomes even more so when you learn that Judy’s dad Bob Lynas habitually wore a beret. During what she calls “binge cleaning” in the heart of the pandemic, Judy wore one of his hats around the house, and today it has a place of honor in her office. The Lynas Event Center plays into the nomenclature as well.

But the family vibe doesn’t stop there. To their surprise and joy, the facility has become a family affair. Their daughter works at Riley’s Candles, which not only sells candles but provides monies for those whose pets need life-saving care but whose owners cannot afford the costs. A portion of all proceeds raised by the sale of candles and 100 percent of donations go directly to save pets in this situation.

Their twin sons moved home during the pandemic and opened Twinlight Productions, a photography and videography business. Judy says it was an unintended benefit of the pandemic. “Our children would never have moved back from New York” if it wasn’t for the impact of COVID, she says.

Both the upstairs boardroom and lower-level event center have served as space for varied parties and conferences, while indoor garage doors open up even more space, and another set of doors open to an outdoor patio.