New Carpentersville wedding venue undergoing $950K in renovations
Carpentersville is offering tax incentives to help local entrepreneurs transform a former factory space into a new, upscale wedding venue.
With about $950,000 worth of renovations under way, The Brix on the Fox at 260 Washington St. is on track to be ready for its first wedding in late September, owner Rob Gorman said. The banquet hall, which includes catering space, a reception area and a bridal room, is taking up about 9,600 square feet of the historic riverfront building that previously housed Milk Specialties Co.
The interior build out and other upgrades are expected to be complete in six weeks or less, said Gorman, who is running the venue with his wife, Tone. To help offset those costs, the village board this week approved an agreement allowing Brix to recoup 80 percent of incremental property tax revenue generated at the site, capped at $237,500, for the next 15 years.
"Carpentersville has been amazing to work with and open to helping us achieve what really works for both of us," Gorman said. "We are investing more into this than we planned, so it's very helpful."
The Brix business model allows patrons to customize the space to fit their preferences and budget - a concept Gorman says is unique to the area. The banquet hall, which also can host corporate events and other gatherings, will be able to accommodate 300 or more people. Pricing varies based on the event size and day of the week.
Already, the venue has booked 40 weddings through fall 2019, and several couples have expressed interest in 2020 dates, Gorman said. Brix is offering promotional pricing through March 2019 for those interested in having a short-term wedding.
"It's been incredibly well received from people," Gorman said. "When they walk in that room, eight out of 10 times, you'll hear someone (gasp) because it's so stunning. It's a beautiful venue."
Brix is joining automotive technology company AMK Automation in the building, which is owned and has been refurbished by Otto Engineering President Tom Roeser. The property is included in a tax increment financing district, which freezes property tax revenues that go to local governments at a certain level and allows any taxes generated above that level to be used for redevelopment.
If a third tenant moves into the remaining building space and requests a subsidy, the village's agreement with Brix includes a provision that would adjust the TIF revenue allocation accordingly, Economic Development Director Patrick Burke said.
"Brix is hoping that this goes very well and they just expand into that third space," he said. "That'd be great to see."
The venue is likely to draw people from out of town to Carpentersville and its surrounding communities, Burke said. The more people dining, shopping and staying in the area, the greater the boost for the local economy, he said.
"The Old Town area right there is one of the best spots in Carpentersville," he said. "I think it'll help make a good first impression for people coming in for special events."