Two Caterers Contemporary Cuisine has teamed with Oakhurst Country Club in Grove City to breathe new life into its massive ballroom and reintroduce it to the local event and wedding industry.
The Ballroom at Oakhurst dates back to 1959. Over the years, the space, which can seat up to 300 guests, had been given a contractor’s whitewashing and illuminated with iron chandeliers. Then Jan. 2, Angela Petro, founder and president of Two Caterers, and Jenny Bell, principal at Cowbell Design, embarked on a 31-day redesign they hoped would restore its mid-century modern beauty without looking kitschy.
One of the first things to go were the heavy lighting fixtures.
“We replaced them with glass drum shades that take the best from the period, but add a little ballroom shimmy with wavy glass shades,” Petro says. “We tiled the back wall of the ballroom in a contemporary glass and stone subway tile that mimics the original stone fireplace wall in the sitting room, and gives the ballroom a really great vibe.”
The ballroom was repainted from floor to ceiling using warm neutrals and dark shades to anchor the sloped ceiling.
“We avoided the mid-century pop colors, like avocado and teal, and instead painted an entire 400-foot wall with a faux copper, which gives it a Top Steak House meets “Mad Men” feel,” she says. “To finish off the space, we gave the bar a facelift with more of the tile and custom open, shaker-style shelves. I have the urge to order something with gin every time I walk by!”
Absolutely nothing about the building’s exterior has been altered.
“The original iconic stone-faced portico remains as it has for 53 years, and in the next phase of work we will extend a brick retaining wall to create a landscape bed that enhances the approach to the building,” she says. “We are also adding a mid-century-inspired fence with horizontal planking that mimics the brickwork to hide the loading dock area.”
In an attempt to mimic other successful partnerships it has at other unique properties throughout the region (such as Station 67 on West Broad Street in Columbus), Two Caterers will oversee special events at Oakhurst.
“We are excited to offer guests an old school steakhouse experience in addition to our buffet style packages,” she says. “The Ballroom at Oakhurst has a full kitchen, so we are able to create fantastic served dinners at a great price. Look for classics, like oysters Rockefeller, wedge salad, French onion soup, chicken piccata and prime rib, in addition to Two Caterers favorites and locally-inspired specials.”
Two Caterers is known for its green business practices (even winning an award from the Ohio Environmental Council in 2010), so Petro is pleased that Oakhurst is participating in the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, which helps them implement an environmental management plan that improves efficiency while conserving resources.
“So while this is a great business opportunity for Two Caterers , it’s one that also reflects our values,” she says.
The ballroom was just unveiled publicly on Wednesday, but Two Caterers is already booking events for this year.
To learn more about the Ballroom at Oakhurst, visit OakhurstGC.com.
All photography by Ely Bros. Photography.
