the1893grainbelt

Grain Belt Building to become new event center ‘The 1893’

A rendering of the ballroom inside the proposed The 1893.

The historic Grain Belt Brewery offices in Northeast Minneapolis will be turned into an event center this fall.

The 1893 will be located at 1215 Marshall Street, Entourage Events Group announced Thursday. When complete the 129-year-old building will be transformed into an “event facility featuring the latest in hospitality amenities over multiple levels.”

“We are thrilled to transform this iconic building in a way that will serve the community in a different way,” said Steve Hark, CEO of Entourage Events Group, in an announcement. “This building is a treasure, and we are so grateful to be collaborating with all stakeholders to make these old offices come alive again.”

According to the announcement, Entourage plans to convert the underutilized common space into several private dining rooms, meetings and conference rooms, as well as couple’s suites for weddings. Plans also include renovating Grain Belt’s beer tasting room into a ballroom.

The event center will be located about a mile north of the landmark Grain Belt sign over the Hennepin Avenue bridge between downtown and Northeast Minneapolis.

According to the announcement, repurposing the historic venue is something that will “help to enhance Northeast Minneapolis, once feared to be an abandoned section of the city.”

“I am pleased to see what Entourage is doing to create this site into a destination that those visiting the Northeast Entertainment District will be able to experience the rich history of this building,” said Minneapolis City Council member Michael Rainville in the announcement. “It is exciting to see a building with an iconic past get a facelift that will once again make it a relevant property in our city.”

Entourage currently runs Minneapolis properties including The Armory, Grain Belt Offices, St. Anthony Main and the Walker Library.

Read the Full Article here at Fox 9

Grain Belt Brewery office building in Northeast Minneapolis to become event center

A local event management company is transforming the almost 130-year-old former Grain Belt Brewery office building in Northeast Minneapolis into a multi-level event venue.

Entourage Events Group’s plans include converting the two-story front half of the building, located at 1215 Marshall St. NE, into numerous private dining rooms, meeting and conference rooms and bridal suites, as well as repurposing the back half (once used by Grain Belt as a beer tasting room) into a large ballroom.

CEO Steve Hark said Entourage is taking an iconic but underutilized building in a prime location and breathing new life into it in a way that honors its history and old-school charm. (Similar ingredients are present in other venues where Entourage manages events, such as The Armory in downtown Minneapolis and Minneapolis Event Centers near St. Anthony Main.)

Construction has already begun in anticipation of a fall debut for the venue, dubbed The 1893 at the Historic Grain Belt Office, a nod to the building’s original use and the year it was constructed.

RSP Architects is handling the design and ensuring the building’s historic preservation. The Minneapolis-based firm’s headquarters are across the street in the old Grain Belt Brew House.

The nearly 20,000-square-foot building was last renovated in 2014, following more than a decade of vacancy, and had most recently been used as a leasing office and amenity space for the adjacent Grain Belt Apartments. Grain Belt Apartments LLC owns both the apartment complex and the office building. It was an extensive renovation that cost millions of dollars, according to Hark, who said the latest buildout is expected to cost about $500,000. It will be funded by both Entourage and the building’s owner.

Entourage will begin hosting events, including weddings and corporate gatherings, at The 1893 in October. The venue is now accepting bookings and already has scheduled a handful of events.

Read the full article here at The Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal

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