What Machine Was Built On

When I started Machine in 2015, the main goal wasn’t really to build a business. It was to create a place for graffiti writers.

A safe place for young writers to drop in, hit the blackbooks, hang with friends, and chop it up with some OGs. 

We had events, art shows, DJs, graff battles, hardcore shows, and blackbook sessions. There was always something going on. We were creating memories and building something that felt bigger than just a shop.

Over time, the business side became more important. We had to focus on keeping things running, serving customers, and building something sustainable or it wouldn’t last. The events and community slowly moved into the background.

Then Covid brought everything to a stop. After that, we moved to Vegas and focused on keeping the business going. We’ve built a pretty large online community since then, but it isn’t the same as people being in the same place, making things, talking to each other in person, and creating memories together.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. A community doesn’t stay alive just because it once existed. It needs people showing up, shared experiences, and some kind of reason to keep coming back.

I miss what we had in Pedro. Not everything about it was perfect, but it was real. It was a place where people felt connected to something.

I think it’s time to start rebuilding that.

It’ll look different in Vegas. We’ll have to figure out what makes sense, set some boundaries, and be intentional about the kind of environment we want to create.

But I don’t want the community aspect of Machine to become just another thing I remember.

I’ll keep you posted on what we come up with.

— Bus