The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Helping customers make special memories
Owner of Historic Route 20 Event Center enjoys creating special occasions tailored for customers
The owner of Historic Route 20 Event Center shares her vision for the young business.
Brandi Anewich owns a business that doesn’t manufacture any products.
But she’s hoping that her new enterprise, the Historic Route 20 Event Center in Madison Township, will produce plenty of times to remember for people who rent the site for special occasions.
“When I originally found this place in 2016, I just had a vision of it being a place where memories are made,” Anewich said. “Where people’s milestones in their lives are celebrated here, to be able to share in that.”
Located at 5945 North Ridge Road, the event center hosts events ranging from wedding ceremonies and receptions to baby showers and family reunions.
Anewich, who opened the center in February, said she redesigned the interior of the building to meet the needs of people who conduct and attend events, as well as vendors who provide services for these occasions.
The main reception room currently offers seating for 90 people, but has capacity for 165 once the state lifts all restrictions on social distancing that were mandated because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Off to one side of the reception hall, there’s a room designed for use as a small bar and lounge.
“We technically are an assembly hall, so people are able to bring their own beer in, their own spirits,” said Anewich, noting that guests are allowed to furnish and consume alcoholic beverages as long as a police officer is contracted to monitor the event.
As part of extensive renovations performed at the former farmhouse, which was built in 1897, Anewich added bridal and family suites.
The backyard of the center also provides a place where guests can gather during favorable weather. In addition to a picnic shelter, there’s shaded spots under trees, a section of grass to bask in the sun, and a deck attached to the main building.
“We have outdoor space, and for us, that’s an advantage because of COVID-19,” Anewich said. “We have room to stretch, room to go, to where everybody is not congregated in one area.”
Banquet and catering halls in the state were permitted to reopen June 1 as part of the Responsible RestartOhio program, which aims to allow more activity and commerce in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Historic Route 20 Event Center had only been open for about a month and a half when the Ohio Health Department issued an order that banned dining inside at restaurants, bars and other establishments that serve food, as COVID-19 emerged as a serious threat.
“So you can imagine our disappointment — I don’t even know the right words,” Anewich said.
At that point, Historic Route 20 Event Center became one of the many Ohio businesses that experienced a sharp drop in revenue.
“We had a lot booked, but we also had a lot of cancellations, did a lot of refunds for people, just the uncertainty of what was happening, what was going to happen going forward,” Anewich said.
By late June, business has started to increase again.
“Right now, we’re doing a lot of smaller events, where people feel comfortable with 50 to 75 people. Bridal showers, baby showers, birthday parties,” Anewich said. “We’re starting to pick up with that.”
Going forward, she believes that the event center is poised to achieve longterm success for a couple of reasons.
One big thing is her custom-focused business philosophy.
“We have a motto here: ‘Whatever it takes,’ “said Anewich, who’s also a Madison Township resident. “We believe that when it comes to people’s events and their special occasions, we really want to eliminate a lot of that stress for people, so we do have staff on hand to help with the events.”
In addition, the event center offers flexibility to customers in tailoring an event to their own preferences, she explained.
“I believe that we have the room here, and we’re able to shift and maneuver very quickly,” she said. “We don’t have to go through a lot of red tape on a lot of things.”
While Historic Route 20 Event Center is still relatively new, Anewich said she’s gotten good feedback from customers who’ve rented the building, guests who’ve attended events, and vendors with whom she’s worked.
Many first-time visitors also are impressed with the indoor and outdoor offerings at the center, which doesn’t look very elaborate from its front parking lot.
“It’s a surprise,” Anewich said. “When you come here, you don’t expect what you walk into.”