Malone Commercial Brokers is excited to welcome Soma Metalwork, a blacksmithing studio, to Portland. Founded by craftsman Kiran Chapman, Soma has officially leased 1,500± SF of space at 1 Industrial Way, in a deal brokered by Mike Anderson of Malone Commercial Brokers on behalf of the landlord, Aim One Industrial Way, LLC.
Kiran has been mastering his skills at the forge for six years, and running Soma Metalwork full-time for nearly four. After developing his craft, teaching classes and growing his brand out of Skyline Farm in North Yarmouth, the time felt right to take the next step.
“When I was introduced to blacksmithing, a lot of things clicked into place,” he said. “From the gratification of physically forging objects to the creative freedom of designing new products, many non-negotiable aspects of what I want my days to look like felt satisfied.”
That clarity led him to search for a space that could support his growth. One Industrial Way, formerly home to one of Austin Street Brewery’s locations, had been on his radar for some time.
“This unit was on my radar for a while and kept popping up when I was doing ‘dream shop’ searches,” Kiran said. “Once I saw it in person, it felt right. The building has great bones, and the fact that it used to be a brewery actually works well—it’s got the hookups I need, concrete floors, and it's zoned for exactly the type of light industrial work I'll be doing.”
Now, as the new home of Soma Metalwork, the space will serve as both a production shop and a teaching studio, where students can try their hand at blacksmithing and knifemaking.
Kiran envisions a hands-on, welcoming environment with designated areas for forging, shaping, welding, and socializing, plus a small showroom. “It’s going to feel like a working shop, but also like a public-facing creative studio: raw, functional, and intentional.”
For Kiran, the move isn’t just about more space. “It’s not just a move—it’s a way to deepen the work I already love and invite more people into it with a level of intentionality I haven't been able to create for my brand yet.”
Reflecting on the leasing experience, he added, “Working with Mike and the team at Malone was honestly great. They were clear and patient as I figured out what I needed from a commercial space and helped me navigate the lease with the landlord. Mike in particular was super responsive and easy to talk to and made the process feel a lot less intimidating than I expected. I’d definitely recommend Malone to other small business owners.”
Joining Soma Metalwork in the building is Powers Media House, who leased the remaining 1,500± SF. More on their move coming soon…
Classes at Soma are expected to begin shortly after a soft opening in May. In the meantime, updates can be found on somametalwork.com or by following @soma.metalwork on Instagram.
At Malone Commercial Brokers, we’re proud to help small businesses like Soma Metalwork find spaces that reflect their vision and give their ideas room to grow. Congratulations to Kiran, we can’t wait to see where this new chapter takes you!