VFW post now Sugar Creek venue
GATHERING PLACE – Brad Webster and his wife, Tisha (not pictured), will soon open their new event venue, The Gathering Place at Sugar Creek. The former VFW building has been completely revamped, inside and out, top to bottom, to create location for all types of parties, weddings, meetings or any number of events. It features both indoor and outdoor areas to be used.
There’s a new place in Humboldt to gather for a good time. The Gathering Place at Sugar Creek will soon open for parties of all kinds.
Brad and Tisha Webster purchased the former VFW building on Main Street about two years ago with intentions of converting it into an event venue. At that time they were going to name it the Sugar Creek Event Center. Then Tisha came up with the name, The Gathering Place at Sugar Creek. Both liked the name, according to Mr. Webster.
“The Gathering Place at Sugar Creek is West Tennessee’s most unique and versatile event center,” the Websters said in their promotional literature. “The 7,800 sq. ft. building features the popular industrial and rustic feel while maintaining a classy and elegant atmosphere. The beautiful 3-acre property is perfect for indoor and outdoor events or both.”
To show off the new facility, a ribbon cutting and grand opening are planned for Wednesday, September 27 from 3 to 5 p.m.
“We’re already booking events,” Webster said last week. “We can be ready for events this week.”
With both indoor and outdoor capabilities, the uses of the venue are endless, according to Webster. It can be used for weddings and receptions, rehearsal dinners, social gatherings, family reunions and anniversaries, corporate outings, seminars or business meetings, proms, formals or other school functions, and holiday parties.
For outdoor gatherings, there is a screened pavilion with lights, fans, tables and chairs, along with outdoor restrooms. The wooded lot and open lawn area are perfect for large or small events. And there’s plenty of parking.
Webster said work first began on the building’s exterior with a new roof, new gutters, new soffits and new paint. New doors and decorative awnings were added.
Once the outside was near completion, demolition began on the inside.
“We completely gutted the inside,” Webster added. “There’s no telling how many dumpsters we filled up. Demolition was the biggest challenge.”
Looking back, Webster said demolition was a bigger project than expected. As work was being done, it was difficult to find a stopping point. He said they would tear out something that was connected to something else and so they had to continue tearing out other stuff.
“We took out all of the old insulation, removed walls, took out the old wiring and installed a new electrical system,” Webster noted.
Once they were down to the building’s bare bones, it was time to make it beautiful. New interior walls were erected, new restrooms built, new paint and plaster on the walls, decorative stained Cyprus trim and industrial corrugated metal wainscoting were installed. Brick interior walls and columns were erected using a method called puddled mortar where the mortar is purposely squeezed out of the joints. Webster says the process creates an old world look.
The Gathering Place has a bridal or women’s dressing room with a private restroom and a men’s dressing room as well.
There is a large catering prep kitchen with an exterior door for easy access for caterers.
The Websters invite everyone to attend the ribbon cutting and grand opening, and see all the hard work put into making The Gathering Place a great venue for Humboldt and the surrounding area.
