Tawanna E.

I wish there was much more flexibility in the ratings because this place would certainly get a ZERO! In my attempt to support small black owned businesses. I was failed yet again! The customer service is appalling to say the least. When you converse with someone more than five times and meet in person twice and then follow up with expectations in writing to confirm what you are needing for an event only to have the owner come back and say oh no that's extra. Oh no this is extra too, you quickly get the sense that you're being hustled! This place is a definite no go unless you are accepting of being swindled! Oh the uplighting is more money, well no sir you told me and my designer on separate occasions that it was included. Him: No no I wouldn't say that. Me: Oh but you did! Me: we talked several times and in writing I said we needed three sofas and you said ok your contract is on the way…. IN WRITING! So rightfully so I should assume that what I asked for was included in the contract since I mentioned it to you at least seven times! Him: oh no that's an additional $300! This dude will get over every single chance he gets! But you got that right one this time slim!

Arrived day of event to a filthy kitchen! Food remnants and crumbs on the floor. Half finished food on the counters. Less than standard sized refrigerator not cleaned with used and old juices in it. And this is the big one right here…. Another refrigerator in the same kitchen space, that if inoperable should have been removed but it was NOT! So what did we do? Open the smaller refrigerator thinking it was for our use only to see maggots, gnats and other bugs! INFESTED! Totally freaked out and disgusted, I slammed the door close but it was too late because the gnats were everywhere! I Complain and the owner responds "Awe man I didn't even know it was like that in there." Well how in the he$& don't you know because as the owner it is your responsibility to ensure that your venue is fully ready when your client arrives is it not?

Ok moving on to the next issue, being prepared for the worst but hoping for the best, I told myself to bring cleaning products. My intuition is something! Both men's and women's bathrooms were filthy with trash on the floors and the trash bins over flowing! Sinks and toilets dirty. So my best friend went to clean those while I handled all of the other messes! Owner's response "oh well all you had to do was tell me the bathrooms were dirty and I would have had them cleaned." Well why would I even have to do that since YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT THIS PLACE IS EVENT READY!

Toward the end of the event, he stands there constantly looking at his watch because if you are one minute over the time you're supposed to be out, he will keep your deposit! So to avoid additional conflict, I had people help me to help the band disassemble their equipment, wrap it up and get it in the hallway to avoid being in his space even one minute beyond the allotted time!

NEVER AGAIN! DO NOT ISE THIS CENUE OR ANY OF HIS SERVICES!

Learn to do business! Stop talking about we as black people need to learn to support each other when you don't even provide the basic common courtesies as a business owner! You never know the connections your clients have nor their influence!