Venues
Something Old, Something New MCHALE’S CATERING IS BRINGING SOMETHING NEW TO DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI WITH AN UPDATE OF A HISTORIC VENUE By Madison Rodgers
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cHale’s has been a part of the Northern Kentucky community for a long time—thanks to multiple locations like the Gardens of Park Hills, Drees Pavilion and the Pinnacle and Grand ballrooms—but the event and catering company is now adding a little Cincinnati to its banquet hall list.
FROM CATERING TO MORE Chuck McHale’s catering career moved into full gear in 1990. “In the beginning, we used to do all catering,” McHale says. “We used to go to businesses and church halls and do weddings.” McHale wanted to expand his business, so in 1999 he built his first banquet hall. “It was called The Marquise and it was located in Wilder, Kentucky,” says McHale. The new location proved to be successful, and in 2003 McHale’s took over the Gardens of Park Hills. “It was around this time that we wanted to be known as the best wedding caterer in the area,” McHale says. “That was our key focus. We wanted to do lots of weddings and be the best at it.” In 2008, McHale’s became the exclusive caterer of the Grand Ballroom in downtown Covington and in 2013 opened the Pinnacle Ballroom next door. Currently, McHale’s owns four banquet halls in Northern Kentucky.
MOVING TO THE CITY
The 3,400-sqare-foot Harrison Ballroom can accommodate 180-200 guests. 96
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McHale’s is now taking over a venue in the center of Cincinnati at the Cincinnati Club, located at 30 Garfield Place. As a caterer, McHale’s has partnered with Cincinnati venues such as Music Hall, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Rhinegeist Brewery and The Center at Fountain Square, so McHale knew the area and customer base. “We kept looking for an opportunity to have our own venue downtown,” says McHale. McHale found that opportunity with the Cincinnati Club. Built in 1923 by Cincinnati architecture firm Garber and Woodward, the building features art-deco design throughout the interior. While the building was already beautiful, McHale’s recently restored and renovated the Cincinnati Club to further improve its old-world glamour. The Cincinnati Club has four banquet rooms—two on the first floor and two on the