It’s true. Volume One just turned 20 years old. We can’t believe it either! For two decades now we’ve been doing our ever-evolving thing in this community with just one strategic plan: It’s called Doing Things. Things we think might be fun. Things we think the community needs. And things we think could play a role in moving this place forward.
Over these twenty years we’ve become a media company with publications, websites, social media feeds, video and marketing capabilities, and more. We’re an event production company creating hundreds of community happenings for thousands of locals and tourists alike. And we’re a downtown retailer with our place-based shop, The Local Store, featuring thousands of products from local makers and beyond. So we’ve changed a lot since that first black-and-white zine came out in 2002.
2002
March
Seeing a need for increased attention to the community’s growing cultural scene, Nick Meyer and Dale Karls publish the first issue of Volume One.
2003
September
First glossy cover.
October
The first version of VolumeOne.org launches.
2004
September
Volume One moves into its first publicly accessible office at 17 S. Barstow St.
2005
April
As an April Fools’ Day joke, Volume One reports that Oakwood Mall won a national contest and Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Jessica Alba would visit to promote their new film Sin City (which opened on April Fools’ Day). It blew up in local media – both the rumor, and then the story that it was all just a joke. So the gang had to show up at the theater and apologize to anyone who was fooled. Not everyone thought it was funny.
June
Volume One launches the Back Alley Summer Cinema Series: free Monday night community movie screenings in a previously forgotten alley along Graham Avenue. Roughly 200 people attended each week.
September
Volume One’s Back Alley Sh-Bang Concert is held in the same Graham Avenue alley as the Cinema Series, featuring The Black-Eyed Snakes and others.
2006
April
Volume One publishes its first biweekly, tabloid-sized, full-color issue. Until this point, the publication had published once a month in a smaller, black-and-white format.
April
Volume One hosts its first community-wide April Fools’ Day Pillow Fight on an empty lot on the corner of Barstow and Madison streets.
May
What was then known as the Sounds Like Spring Concert Series premieres in the newly opened Phoenix Park in downtown Eau Claire. As crowds grew week to week, the series was extended into the summer, becoming the Sounds Like Summer series that’s been held annually since.
September
Volume One and Downtown Eau Claire Inc. host the first Idea Lounge, a laidback but inspiring forum series to discuss hot community topics. This one, “The Rise of the Creative Class and How It’s Shaping Our Lives Right Here in the Chippewa Valley,” draws an enthusiastic crowd of 140.
2007
April
Volume One publishes the first edition of the annual Eat Scene dining guide, which boasts more than 250 restaurant listings. Eat Scene expands over the years to include every restaurant and bar in the region.
May
Volume One publishes its first-ever Hot Spots summer guide. Eventually, the pull-out guide evolves into an annual Best of Summer issue.
September
Volume One publishes the results of its first-ever Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll. There are results in about 100 categories. (By 2022, the number of categories has surpassed 350.)
Volume One creates the Big Sh-Bang Music Festival, featuring 50 bands at eight venues over three days.
Here's the full calendar for a snapshot of the Eau Claire music scene at that time:
2008
March
Volume One creates a profile on a new-ish social networking site called Facebook.
April
2008 April Fools Day Pillow Fight
May
Eau Claire Valley Cat Bike Race
Watch the video by Volume One on YouTube »
June
FATFAR - Chippewa Falls
Watch the video by Volume One on YouTube »
August
Volume One’s Chalkfest, a sidewalk chalk-art festival, makes its debut in downtown Eau Claire’s Wilson Park.
August
VolumeOne.org is totally revamped, transforming from a relatively simple blog to a complete online version of the magazine, including the first comprehensive Chippewa Valley events calendar.
September
Volume One’ “Big Week” YouTube video series launches.
The Big Week runs for 100 episodes thru 2010.
October
Volume One’s “Tunnel of Terror” debuts, welcoming more than a thousand kids through the office – completely transformed into a makeshift haunted house – as a part of downtown Eau Claire’s Trick-or-Treating event.
November
The Volume One gang gathers for a rousing rendition of "Deck the Halls" at various crazy locations throughout the Chippewa Valley.
December
For the first (and so far only) time, Volume One features a cover interview. The subject is Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.
2009
May
Volume One Video - Extreme Whipcracker: Adam Winrich (which now has almost 3 million views)
Watch the video by Volume One on YouTube »
October
A collaboration between the State Theatre and Volume One creates the first season of the Back Stage Concert Series, bringing performers and the audience together behind the curtain right on stage for an intimate and unique music experience.
December
Volume One hosts Christmas music composed by local musicians. Total 94 songs between 2009 and 2016. The holiday songs were hand-selected by Andy Plank, who's been asking locals to create holly jolly cover tunes every Yuletide Season since 2009-ish.
December
Volume One's live-streamed Web-a-thon Tel-a-thon
Watch the video trailer on YouTube »
2010
January
In collaboration with the Eau Claire Curling Club, Volume One launches a beginner’s curling league to introduce newbies to the icy Olympic sport.
January
The first Winter After Hours is held in Boyd Park near downtown Eau Claire. The outdoor winter social includes ice skating, snow sculpting, a fire pit, hot beverages, and more.
May
The inaugural Chippewa Valley Rock-n-Roll Kickball Classic draws 16 teams and more than 1,000 attendees to Altoona for a tournament and concert by the Shouting Matches.
May
Volume One publishes its first-ever theme issue, “Reinventing Our Streets,” dedicating to reimagining the community’s street infrastructure as the city plans redevelopment of Barstow Street and Hastings Way.
Watch a video component from the website feature on YouTube »
September
Volume One’s classic 1967 red van makes its debut at the International Fall Festival Parade with an “Action Squad” of red jump-suited, sparkly-helmeted staffers shooting mini teddy bears into the crowd.
2011
November
A small-scale, “test” version of The Local Store makes its debut inside the Volume One office, 17 S. Barstow St.
August
Volume One explores the growing river tubing scene in a feature titled “Tube Town.”
2012
May
The Confluence Project, a multimillion-dollar plan to build an arts center and a mixed-use private development at the confluence of the Eau Claire and Chippewa rivers, is announced. The effort is a collaboration among UW-Eau Claire, Commonweal Development, Market & Johnson, and the Eau Claire Regional Arts Center.
June
Volume One and The Local Store relocate into a newly remodeled “World Headquarters,” 205 N. Dewey St. The move allows for a big new store, a gallery and event space, and new magazine offices.
July
Volume One's Sounds Like Summer Concert Series continues to grow.
Visit the event website for info and a drone fly-over video »
September
Volume One publishes a theme issue, “Rethinking Our Rivers,” intended to spark conversations about how the Chippewa Valley can better use its waterways and riverfronts.
2013
May
Volume One's Rock-n-Roll Kickball Classic is back for another year.
October
The Local Store starts the Ink & Paper Print Sale where local artists can sell prints of their work during the holiday shopping season.
November
Christmas lights at The Local Store
2014
January
Volume One holds its first-ever Contriby Awards, a gala ceremony (complete with red carpet!) to honor the magazine’s contributing writers, artists, and photographers.
January
Volume One opens WorkSpace - a creative co-working environment in the lower level of the Volume One building.
March
Voices for Growth, a political action committee to advocate for the Confluence Project, is formed.
April The Confluence Project wins big at the ballot box. Local voters approve a referendum to commit $3.5 million from Eau Claire County to the project; voters also reject a simultaneous referendum that would have required another binding referendum for any City of Eau Claire expenditure on the Confluence Project. (The Eau Claire City Council had already pledged $5 million to the project.)
June Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker pledges to support the Confluence Project in the state budget.
June
Volume One staff paintball outing.
August
Volume One publishes the first edition of the Student City Guide, which is distributed to the dorm mailboxes of all incoming Freshmen at UW-Eau Claire.
September
Volume One publishes its third-ever theme issue, “Rebuilding Our Neighborhoods,” which focuses on strengthening a sense of community close to home.
September
Volume One conducted nearly 50 interviews with musicians, fans, and producers to ask them what they think the Eau Claire Sound is.
Watch the YouTube video series »
November
Volume One launches a “Buy Local” campaign to promote shopping locally.
2015
April
Volume One launches the “For The Win” service to provide a platform to local businesses to give out deals, free tickets, and more.
July
The Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival premieres at Foster Farms outside Eau Claire. The fest, created by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner of The National, features their bands plus Lizzo, Sufjan Stevens, Indigo Girls, and many more.
The Local Store booth at the Eaux Claires Music Festival
July
Volume One launches a new family oriented bimonthly publication, Chippewa Valley Family.
July
Volume One publishes a special issue, “Music Capital of the North,” focusing on the importance of music to the region’s culture, history, economy, and identity.
Visit the Music Capital of the North website for an audio sampler player, articles and photos »
August
Chalkfest grows and moves to the UW-Eau Claire campus.
October
The Local Store launches the first Night Market, a recurring event series featuring local makers, live music, a food truck, samples, and more.
Watch The Local Store video “The Chippewa Valley's Unique Sense of Place” on YouTube »
2016
February
Volume One celebrates its 300th issue.
April
Volume One is named Small Business of the Year by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce in the 1-25 employee category.
December
Volume One throws its first holiday party - featuring live jazz, cariacatures, Hors d'oeuvre, and the "Lazy Drinker" computer bartender.
2017
June
The first Oxbeaux Street concert is held outside the Oxbow Hotel and Volume One office with 2,000 attendees. Headlined by The Shouting Matches, the event is a collaboration between The Oxbow, Volume One, and the Eaux Claires Music & Arts Festival.
September
The first-ever Chippewa Valley Restaurant Week is launched by Volume One with the First Taste Culinary Crawl at Banbury Place. Over the coming week, more than 40 local restaurants take part in the celebration, offering special deals to patrons.
September
Volume One launches an event ticketing service, Volume One Tickets, an online portal dedicated exclusively to Eau Claire area events.
November
Volume One begins offering professional (and award-winning!) video production services on a word-of-mouth basis to area businesses and organizations.
2018
January
Winter After Hours moves from Boyd Park to the larger Pinehurst Park.
February
Volume One holds its first ever Best Night celebration at the Lismore Hotel, which coincides with the release of the annual Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll results. The gathering features food, music, a comedy club inside the V1 van, and much more.
February
Volume One unveils its first-ever Chippewa Valley Vanguard Award winners. The awards honor up-and-coming local leaders in a variety of fields, including the arts, education, business, government, and social action.
May
Volume One’s Food Truck Friday debuts in the “Railroad Lot” in downtown Eau Claire. The monthly event brings hundreds of hungry locals and a rotating lineup of food trucks.
June
Chippewa Valley Family launches the Saturday Morning Hullabaloo, a kid-oriented music series in Phoenix Park.
June
Volume One launches the Downtown Eau Claire Summer Shop Hop to promote the downtown retail revival.
July
Volume One’s sister publication, Chippewa Valley Family, announces its first Chippewa Valley 10 Under 10 honorees: 10 Chippewa Valley kids under the age of 10 who demonstrated unique accomplishments and abilities.
October
In partnership with Volume One, the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce launches Think Eau Claire, a community campaign designed to attract young talent to the community.
Visit the Think Eau Claire website to watch Summer/Winter videos. If you're a business looking to hire, Think Eau Claire is a great recruiting tool.
November
Volume One holds a live event, “True North: Real Wisconsin Stories Unfolding Live On Stage,” at the Pablo Center. Two sold-out shows run Nov. 16-17, and include live readings, original musical performances, and multimedia.
2019
March
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers visits the Volume One office.
April
The April Fools Day Pillow Fight moves to the parking lot of the Oxbow Hotel.
May
Food Truck Friday moves to Phoenix Park.
June
Volume One and Chippewa Valley Family host the Great Big Hullabaloo, a huge family-themed event that fills the entire Pablo Center with music, technology, science, art, theater, dance, and more.
August
The Local Store expands to the full first floor of the Volume One building, and begins offering local beer, wine, spirits, meats, cheeses, and a garden section in the courtyard.
September
The First Taste Culinary Crawl kick-off event for Chippewa Valley Restaurant Week moves to Altoona River Prairie Center.
October
The Local Store begins offering bulk holiday gift baskets for families, clients, employees.
And converts the gallery space for holiday shopping.
December
Volume One celebrates longevity with its 400th issue.
2020
January
Turn of the Decade - Volume One invited a group of 14 locals to sit down and talk about the decade ahead in Eau Claire.
March
Amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Volume One produces the first of two special issues.
March
During the lockdown, Volume One creates a “Save Your Faves” directory of local restaurants with info on how to order take-out, or purchase gift cards.
April
VolumeOne.org is revamped to offer special coverage of the COVID pandemic for the Chippewa Valley.
Because most businesses are closed because of Wisconsin’s “Safer at Home” order, Volume One staffers hand-deliver issues to readers who sign up online.
May
For the first time in its history, Volume One launches a membership program, ultimately receiving support from nearly 1,000 individuals and families.
August
Volume One launches the Visual/Voice video storytelling series.
September
The first episode of the Volume One Podcast is released, marking the organization’s first official foray into podcasting.
September
Volume One unveils a top-to-bottom redesign of its print magazine for the first time since 2006. The look, content, and size of the magazine are refreshed, and the website gets an upgrade, too.
October
Volume One launches the Make It Matter, Buy Local campaign to promote shopping locally during the holidays.
October
Volume One releases a video, print, and online feature, “Outbroken: A Pandemic’s Impact on Wisconsin Farms and Food,” which is supported in part by the Facebook Journalism Project. The feature goes on to win a host of awards, including from the Association for Alternative Newsmedia, the Local News Association, and the Milwaukee Press Club.
November
The Local Store starts offering the popular Beer Advent Calendar which includes a line-up of 24 local brews.
2021
January
Volume One's Best of the Chippewa Valley Reader Poll continues to grow in popularity every year.
February
Volume One offers Meet The Best videos to winners of the Best Of the Chippewa Valley poll.
2022
March
The 2022 Contiby Awards
March
Volume One celebrates Eau Claire's 150th birthday with a Sesquicentennial issue featuring history and local businesses and organizations that have been operating for more that 50 years.
July
Volume One celebrates its 20th anniversary with big bash at The Brewing Projekt, featuring a custom beer, lots of music, and summer vibes.
