Above: A scene from 2024’s Shine A Light on 1984, part of the concert fundraising series held annually at The Queen. Photo by Moonloop Photography.
By Michelle Kramer-Fitzgerald
For most Wilmingtonians, The Queen has been more than just a venue. It’s a place where the music is live and loud, memories are made onstage and off, and residents from every neighborhood gather in celebrations of artistic bliss. As she prepares to mark her 15th year, we caught up with the behind-the-scenes team of “royal loyals” whose work makes her stages shine.
Three rather familiar faces — General Manager Brian McGlinchey, Operations Manager Bill Dougherty, and Production Manager Joe Trainor — have recently taken the reins, creating a management core more directly connected to the community. The trio is dedicated to leading The Queen into the next chapter: one centered on reimagining programming, strengthening artistic and community partnerships, and deepening the venue’s role as a vibrant cornerstone in the heart of our city.
“Local leadership means the venue can reflect Wilmington more authentically through the artists, the audiences, the neighborhoods, and the broader creative community,” says Chris Buccini, a founder of Wilmington real estate developer Buccini Pollin Group (BPG), which oversees operation of the venue.
“Having someone like Brian McGlinchey as general manager — someone who combines a genuine passion for music with strong strategy and planning expertise — allows us to program in a way that feels both aspirational and deeply local, which is exactly what a venue like this should be,” Buccini says.
Buccini notes that many of The Queen’s staff are musicians themselves, reinforcing the idea that the space is truly a cultural clubhouse for Wilmington’s creatives and their fans. One example of that is Trainor, who has performed at the venue in a multitude of bands and projects since it opened in 2011.
“The Queen’s an all-important hub in the Wilmington arts machinery,” says Trainor. “I think it’s important for there to be opportunities and venues for local artists to be seen and heard,” says Trainor. “With this team, that vision can be put into sharper focus.”
A Storied History for this Community “Clubhouse”
From origins as the Indian Queen Tavern in 1789 to banking headquarters, to the Clayton House Hotel, to a movie theater in 1916, the building had seen more than a century of transformations before its doors were shuttered in 1959.
A look at The Queen before the massive renovation project began. Out & About file photo.
Following the closure, the building slowly decayed over 50 years — water pouring through the ceilings, walls caving in, façade crumbling. However, beginning in 2008 with help from city and state leaders and BPG, The Queen found her way back to the throne and reopened on April 1, 2011, after a $25 million restoration project.
That began World Cafe Live at The Queen’s residency, transforming the 45,000 square foot space into a combined live music hotspot, restaurant, event space, and broadcast studio, partnering with Philadelphia-based WXPN. During its tenure, World Cafe Live at The Queen became a centerpiece for national tours, local artists, and community gatherings, and was hailed as a “game changer” in Wilmington’s downtown revitalization.
“When we first reopened The Queen, our partnership with World Cafe Live helped establish professional operations, attract national touring talent, and build credibility with artists and audiences,” says Buccini.
“Over time, the evolution has been about something bigger than a concert venue. Today, we think of The Queen as a creative clubhouse, but it was also a catalyst for Market Street’s revitalization and is now part of the cultural fabric of the city,” he adds.
Decades of neglect had left The Queen a haunting remnant of what it had once been. Out & About photo file.
Since opening, The Queen has seen roughly more than 3,000 concerts grace its stages and has welcomed a range of renowned artists over the years including St. Vincent, Leon Russell, Lukas Nelson, Aimee Mann, Ben Harper, Chris Stapleton, Brian McKnight, Courtney Barnett, Dead Milkmen, Cheap Trick, Fitz and the Tantrums, Kurt Vile, Biz Markie, and Mammoth.
She’s also played hostess to a variety of events in recent years: the annual Shine A Light mega-concerts and the Homey Awards (produced by Delaware Public Media and host Mark Rogers to celebrate local music); the Delaware Grilled Cheese Battle; the Millennial Summit; numerous weddings, birthdays, and corporate events. The venue has even played host to former U.S. Senator Tom Carper’s 65th birthday, Governor Matt Meyer’s inaugural celebration, and served as campaign headquarters for President Biden during the 2020 election.
Plans From The Queen’s New Guard
The current team believes it has lived up to the mission of “community clubhouse” over the past 15 years but also feels more can be done as they move forward.
“As part of our 15th Anniversary, we have committed ourselves to increasing content, especially local content,” says Dougherty.
And, Dougherty notes, that means more activities in both the Crown Room and the Knight’s Bar. Every Thursday, The Queen offers a Live & Local series in the Knight’s Bar — showcasing singer/songwriters and cover artists — and that space will continue to serve as the hub of their Door Jams series that will stage a set up underneath the outdoor marquee and Market Street shut down for the public to enjoy a free concert.
In 2014, Joe Trainor performs with Nancy Curry and other Shine A Light musicians on The Rolling Stones song “Gimme Shelter.”
Buccini adds that in the near term, the focus is also on ensuring the venue is built for the next decade. That means upgrading to more modern sound and lighting equipment and enhancing guest experiences, along with a booking strategy that balances national touring acts with local and regional artists, comedy, and more.
“We’re focused on increasing our presence outside of the building as well by ‘powering’ other musical events throughout the state,” Dougherty adds. “We’ve amplified our resources, and this team is locked in on boosting our show count in the Crown Room. As we move into the spring, you’ll see both areas much more active.”
Dougherty also shares that they’re expanding food offerings, playing with what works and what doesn’t. “We have some ideas up our sleeves for exciting food-forward events in the coming months,” he says. “Some will be internally generated, and for others we’ll be working with local chefs and kitchens.”
“It starts with doing the little things well,” he adds. “Every show of ours is a different experience, in terms of its composition and what we can offer. But we can be consistent, engaging, and focused on executing our vision.”
“We want the calendar to be more reflective of Wilmington itself. It should be diverse, creative, and accessible,” says Buccini. “That includes more weekday programming, more local partnerships, and events that bring people downtown even if they aren’t traditional concertgoers.”
A Welcoming Stage for All
Both Dougherty and Trainor are well-known musicians in the Delaware scene (The Headies and The Rock Orchestra, respectively). For them, coming to their jobs with that experience makes them even more invested in the success of the venue.
In 2018, Ben LeRoy, in red Sgt. Pepper’s jacket, leads the finale for Shine A Light on 1968. Photos by Moonloop Photography.
“From [Wilmington’s earlier live music] days of The Barn Door and Wild Child Cafe, we’ve come a long way,” Dougherty says. “The Queen is a true regional jewel; keeping it vibrant is a total community commitment.”
Locally, Dougherty notes, pretty much everyone has played The Queen at some point. And he never tires of seeing his friends on these stages.
“Every year for 15 years, the Shine A Light concert blows the lid off this place,” he says. “And those musicians all come back, in different iterations, and play with their bands and their friends. Whether opening for a big headliner or a local event in the Crown, multiple times a month I get to see them doing their thing, and it’s fantastic.”
Local Artists Appreciate the Access They’re Given
“I’ve had many chances to play The Queen, and I hold a lot of fond memories — but none more special than playing The Caulfields’ farewell show in the Crown last November,” says area musician John Faye. “It was the best kind of intimate connection with an audience who has supported us for three decades. I wouldn’t have wanted to do that show anywhere else.”
The Shine A Light series of concerts at The Queen typically sell out every year. Photo by Moonloop Photography.
Ben LeRoy, who has performed at the venue with his band THE SNAP and in Shine A Light concerts, commented in a previous interview that he’s honored every time he gets to step on that stage. “The fact that we have a world-class venue in our own backyard is not only a win for music fans, but also for working musicians who may not otherwise have the opportunity to perform in that type of environment,” he said.
Trainor recently tallied up his own appearances on The Queen stage — 42 in total, between performances with The Joe Trainor Trio, In The Light, City Theater Company, The Rock Orchestra, and Shine A Light.
“Nothing would make me happier than seeing The Queen become a homebase for local and regional musicians to share their visions,” Trainor says.
“Another nice thing [about these efforts] is growing these networks organically,” says Dougherty. “Whether we’re talking about a band that has been around for 40+ years, or a brand-new group of high school kids, most everyone is excited and appreciative of the opportunity to play at The Queen.”
Community Endorsement for Her Majesty
So, what does The Queen team need from the community as they approach the 15th celebration?
“Show up,” Dougherty says. “Keep us in mind. Check out our schedule every month or so. Every time you come out to a show at The Queen — or any other venue in the city — you’re making an investment in the artists, the venues, and the city itself.” “Support the artists that play here so we can continue to give them a voice,” Trainor adds.
“As long as there is a full house of people, vibing collectively to something with a groove, I’m happy,” Dougherty says. “But when the room feels a little bit empty, it’s because we’re missing YOU.”
“Live, shared experiences matter more than ever,” adds Buccini. “People want authentic places. They want venues that feel rooted in the community, which is exactly what The Queen offers.”
