Drew M. Angelo, director of operations and co-owner of Historic Events & Banquets, told the Hartford Courant his business will set LGBTQA couples at ease.
“A lot of companies … put out the Pride flag because it’s good for business, but we are LGBT-owned,” Angelo told the Courant. “A lot of it is how we talk to guests, how we talk to the couples. We don’t have a bridal suite. It’s a VIP suite. Our whole business model is gender-neutral.”
And they’re doing it all, starting this September, from a centuries-old historic mill, dating back to 1672, where, reports the Courant, the wool was spun that George Washington wore in his inaugural suit.
Reports the Courant:
Historic Events will operate out of the 6,000-square-foot “clerestory” building as well as the lawn behind it, which abuts Bigelow Brook. The brook is hidden from view now by dense foliage, but Bonzani plans to cut down the shrubbery to make the running water visible, enhancing the site’s visual appeal.
The clerestory was built in several stages: in the 1870s, in 1902 and in 1923. Bonzani estimated the ongoing renovations to that building alone cost about $1 million.
Despite the volatile cost of construction materials, that number has not changed, because all of the materials are from the site itself, and one other site. “It’s built like a tank out of all reclaimed materials,” Bonzani said. “We also sourced some of the wood from a mill in East Windsor.” After the work is done, he will apply for a state historic tax credit.
The venue will be big enough for up to 250 sit-down guests or 550 cocktail-party guests, Angelo said. Events could include weddings, private and corporate functions, even car shows, as the clerestory doors open wide enough for cars to drive in.
Read the complete Hartford Courant story here.
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