Connie Hoffmann, a former manager of Erie Street Market, has another “reasonably priced but elegant” events venue in the works.
“We can do everything and do it really nice, but I’m not going to go overboard with my prices because the need is for a low price,”said Hoffmann, who managed the market that ceased event scheduling in February.
Hoffmann left the market about a year and half before event scheduling ended and opened Adams Street Antiques and Art in November. Her latest venture is located at 1717 Adams St., Toledo, in the old IBC building just down the street from her antique store.
“[Opening an events venue has] been in the works since I’ve been on Adams Street and seen all the traffic. It’s always been in the back of my mind,” Hoffmann said.
The venue is still unnamed, but will house its first event, Decades of Diva, a charity fashion event benefiting St. Paul’s Community Center, NAMI of Greater Toledo, the Janet Phleger Foundation and the UpTown Association at 6:30 p.m. May 19.
The business owner decided to open her event venue to host charity events and wedding functions at a reasonable rate. She has not officially decided on rates, but said, “It’s going to bealong the same lines that I charged at the market. There’s a base fee and then extras are a little bit more,” she said.
Hoffmann said she hopes her venue serves as an alternative for outdoor spaces. “If it’s lousy, lousy weather, they need a backup place and that’s where I would come in,” she said.
The 7,000-square-foot event space may feature a patio one day and boxing rings like it used to. It already has a runway, parking and a kitchen open to caterers, Hoffmann said.
Hoffmann also plans to use security, if needed, at events. “I want all problems solved before they get to be problems and with the group that I have, that happens,” she said.
Hoffmann said that after the venue goes “full blown” in June she may hire six to 10 employees down the road.
For more information, call Hoffmann at (419) 206-5575.
