I DO ... EVENTUALLY
Weddings and events are being postponed, not cancelled, says Drexelbrook CEO
UPPER DARBY » Postponed, not canceled, that is how Drexelbrook Special Events Center CEO Domenick Savino describes his facility’s position during the coronavirus pandemic.
“We are 100 percent postponed until July, then backloaded through December with everyone booked,” Savino
said during an interview this week. “People are just relieved that you have a date they can work with. Only the events that are time sensitive are cancelling.”
He estimates they have lost 5 percent of business, events such as a school auctions and fundraisers, but most weddings and large gatherings have pushed their festivities back instead of cancelling.
That is not to say the business has not been hurt; they have reduced 120 person staff to a crew of 20 while they wait for the crisis to pass.
Drexelbrook, which opened its doors in March of 1950 as a private club, has gone through a number of changes over the years. In the 1960s it hosted Dick Clark and “American Bandstand.” After a 1970s devastating fire, it reopened as a restaurant, banquet facility and swim club. The Corporate Events Center opened in August of 2000 with a capacity for 1,200 guests in the Grand Ballroom and hosted President George W. Bush for a fundraiser. Its most recent improvement was in 2019 when a hotel became part of the complex.
Savino, who is the appointed owner’s representative at the hotel (but which is run by Holiday Inn & Suites), said it is also suffering with an average of 10 rooms filled per night when
65 to 70 is normal for the
100-room hotel.
Savino said a lot of planning and costs go into a wedding and couples are not quick to cancel. He has found most people are happy they are able to find an alternative date. His facility, which contains more than 15,000 square feet, can be configured to hold multiple events, which takes away some of the worry.
Some weddings are waiting until April 30 to decide while others have already pushed their events back, he said. A wedding planned for June 2 has moved to later in the summer. Savino sees the tipping point as midJune; after that, most people seem more confident their events will happen as scheduled.
Smaller facilities and independent caterers, which are more nimble, will re-invent themselves to weather the storm, he believes.
Annual events such as school auctions or dances are planning to return next year, he said. Three schools held virtual auction in lieu of events. They have booked to return
next year and he still has his sales staff working on booking events for next year.
Savino believes that after the pandemic is over, restaurants and venues may have to cut back capacity until the public is more confident in returning to establishments. He explained using table settings.
“We’ve had discussions about round tables. A 72inch table holds 12 chairs. We prefer 10. I’m thinking we’re going down to eight now. That will give more space,” Savino said. “I’m hoping a year from now we can look back and say that thing was a bad time.”
Drexelbrook has applied for the small business personal Paycheck Protection Program, which goes toward payroll costs and may be converted into a grant. He said it had been a little bit challenging and
there was confusion in the application forms, but that banks are trying to smooth the process.
Like many other restaurants, Drexelbrook is relying on a online ordering system to keep their culinary staff working. The
website offers catering to family package meals such as Easter dinner.
“We’ve had that up before, for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It looks like it’s going to transfer right into Mother’s Day,” he said.
To keep their name in the
minds of customers, Savino said they have been hosting on-line webinars and cooking classes on Facebook featuring simple meal preparations
such as hot pockets.
“I hope this is over soon. I never thought I’d live through anything like it,” Savino said.