Event venue on Main opens soon

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent
 
A new business will make its debut on Main Street soon. Amanda Bench, who recently purchased the former T&A Brewery building at 222 West Main St., plans to operate an events center in the building. 
Bench’s passion for decorating and party planning sparked the idea for the business. According to Bench, however, the lack of a building meant that she had to haul her supplies everywhere. So, she decided she needed a building. 
“It was just a God thing,” Bench said. 
With her daughter away at college and the recent passing of her husband, Bench said, she found herself a little lonely and bored. She hopes to use her new business to get back into the community. 
While she hasn’t sorted out all the details yet, Bench said, the plan is to make the building a place that people can rent for parties, anniversaries, reunions, weddings, meetings and other events. 
Bench said she’s working on getting the kitchen ready, so she can prepare food such as soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps, as well as have a taco and pasta bar. Although she does not plan to have a restaurant in the building, Bench said, it’s a possibility for later down the road. For now, she is planning to have buffet-style food available for the events or an occasional luncheon or Sunday brunch. Bench also plans to have cotton candy and snow cone machines, in addition to a soda station. 
Bench said that cost will vary depending on the event because clients can “customize” their event by choosing which and how many machines they want to use and what food and decorations they want to have. Bench would like to have “one-on-one consultations” with her customers before discussing the details of what they want done. 
Realistically, Bench said, the business will be up and running by the beginning of the year, but she really hopes to have it ready in time for a Christmas party.
“I do want people to know that it’s not open yet,” Bench said. 
But when it is open, Bench said, she’ll advertise and let people know. Meanwhile she plans a “Trunk or Treat” at her business on Halloween night, where kids can listen to music and collect candy. 
In addition to a place for hosting private parties, Bench plans to host some of her own events for the community. Some of these activities include karaoke nights, worship nights, outdoor movie nights on the patio, paint and sip parties for both adults and kids, cooking classes for kids and more.
“Whatever God wants me to do with it,” she said. “I literally cannot wait.”
Bench wants to offer “good, clean fun” to the community because she believes that people sometimes forget about fun in the busyness of life. 
“We need to have fun,” she said. 
Bench also wants her business to be a ministry and a place of unity where people from any background can come. She said God’s leading her to the possibility of hosting a young adult Bible study for people age 18 or older. 
Bench will have banners made with her phone number on them, so people interested in renting the building can contact her. They can also message her through Facebook. 
“I look back and everything I’ve done is preparing (me) for what I’m doing now,” Bench said.