Local banquet halls offer help to Bevo Mill victims

By Mike Garrity

KSDK -- Several local banquet halls have come forward offering help to couples who were left high and dry by the sudden closure of a St. Louis landmark.

A number of couples planning to hold their wedding receptions were suddenly left without a function space, and some are now without thousands of dollars in deposits, as the people who operated Bevo Mill suddenly went out of business last week.

The Shriners of Eastern Missouri have put forth the most generous offer to those left high and dry.

They just recently started renting out a 400 person function room at the Shriner's "Moolah Temple" facility in Maryland Heights, so they have many open dates.

They are willing to rent out the room for half price, so $600, plus whatever catering costs the couple would work out.

The Moolah Temple building itself is an old Parkway Junior High School on Fee Fee Road.

The Chairman of the Shriners Board of Directors for Eastern Missouri says his son has just gotten engaged, so he really feels for the affected couples and their budgets.

If you are a victim of Bevo Mill closing down and you'd like to contact the Shriners the best number to call is (314) 878-6301.

The City of St. Louis currently owns Bevo Mill.

The city has set up a helpline for victims in the city's Real Estate Department at: (314) 259-3450.

Other function halls offering help include:

- Sheraton Hotel (Downtown St. Louis): (314) 613-6443 The Sheraton says it will try to work with any affected couple's budget, just ask for "Nelson".

- Bounce St. Louis LLC (they own a banquet facility in Pevely, MO): (636) 461-1973 Bounce has a large number of open dates (as they just recently purchased the banquet facility), and they'd be willing to work with any affected couple's budget, just ask for "Michelle".

- Washington University (they have a ballroom/theatre that can be rented out): (314) 935-9231 They have some flexibility as far as dates, and they'll rent their facility for a thousand dollars, just ask for "Brandon".

- Michael Orlando, the General Manager of Orlando's Catering and Event Design has offered to help. For more information, call 314-842-2877.

- Lighthouse Media Center in Alton, Illinois. If you are interested please call 618-465-8547 Rodger Jennings.