Ritzy Banquet Hall Planned for Red Hook
Via The Daily News: “The owner of Dumbo’s ritzy River Cafe is expanding into new waterfront territory with a high-class banquet hall overlooking the harbor in Red Hook. Michael (Buzzy) O’Keeffe is banking on the Liberty Warehouse, a pre-Civil War brick building, becoming a premier venue for weddings, bar mitzvahs and special events.” The space…
Via The Daily News: “The owner of Dumbo’s ritzy River Cafe is expanding into new waterfront territory with a high-class banquet hall overlooking the harbor in Red Hook. Michael (Buzzy) O’Keeffe is banking on the Liberty Warehouse, a pre-Civil War brick building, becoming a premier venue for weddings, bar mitzvahs and special events.” The space can hold 1,630 people and a sample menu filed with the state shows prices running $195 a head “for cocktail service, open bar and a three-course dinner.” Think this business will fly in Red Hook?
River Cafe Owner Expands into Red Hook’s Liberty Warehouse [NY Daily News] GMAP
Yes, but only if they do what BAM did 15 years ago: hold the hands of delicate, fearful Manhattanites for whom this is terra incognita. This means sitting down with a list of transportation ideas and options (bus and car companies that will agree to come there and work an event, etc), and ensuring customers there will be security guards (yes, *I* think this is ridiculous but remember how this area LOOKS to potential event-goers), etc. Eventually this kind of chaperoning won’t be needed, but at the beginning you have to get over the fears and stereotypes.
Yes, this is a genius venture. A win/win situation. It will benefit both the owners [Michael O’Keeffe of River Cafe]; and the people who will use it. Thanks to trupolo for the photos.
this will make zillions.
Here’s a shot of the interior, and of the view:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbanlandscapephotographer/5528719412/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urbanlandscapephotographer/5528718476/
This place will do very well. The River Cafe was considered an out of the way location when it first opened, and the Water Club still is. Both have had decades of success. Buzzy is a smart guy.
I may be biased because I work in the space directly next to the event hall (the catering/flower delivery, etc. travel through our workshop to access the freight elevator!) but the view from the end of the pier is mother-effing-spectacular. Ever since construction and renovation began on the space I’ve been dreaming about renting out the space.
If you are unfamiliar with the views, you should walk/ride/bike down here. It’s a secret treasure.
Weddings tend to draw out of town guests who rely on car services and cabs in my experience. I think the specialness of the location will make it a draw. When the barge museum did weddings those were pretty popular.
Should be a big hit. Great idea, hope I get invited to a party there. it would be wonderful if they could have some kind of standing restaurant/cafe space there too so anyone could have a meal or a drink and enjoy the view.
yeh, sounds good.
wish they’d bring back the waterfront museum barge and the blue grass concerts. that was sweet.