“A place to bring the community and families together” is how the owners of Joy Ridge Event Center describe their new business located in Chatfield.
Owners Sue Tangen, her son Michael Tangen and his wife Kirsten have taken on this exciting new venture together, with a huge amount of help and support from family.
The idea for an event center began after Michael and Kirsten’s wedding. “They had a special wedding at an event center that we were very taken with,” notes Sue.
“It was kind of a joint idea. Michael and Kirsten had talked about it,” Sue says.
“They had planned on moving to the (family) farm, and we had talked about maybe doing something at the farm, but then this became available, and we thought well, this is already built, instead of building something,” states Sue. “So then we started looking at this option.”
The building, most recently the site of Pope and Young Club, but was originally Jim and Dee’s Supper Club, complete with a bar and dance hall.
After finding out the building was available, the three started discussing purchasing the building, on New Year’s Eve 2020. They closed on the building May 15, 2021 and took possession on June 15, 2021.
While making the decision to purchase the building, there were several factors to take into consideration, including COVID and the troubles that have gone with it.
Once the property was theirs, the work began in earnest. As the building was originally designed for a supper club, bar and dance hall, much of what needed to be done was to put things back to the way they once were.
This included tearing down walls – a lot of walls. Many other updates have been done inside the building and outside as well. A large outdoor patio has been added, which is a welcome addition for those who will be celebrating events at Joy Ridge Event Center.
Thankfully, their close-knit family have all jumped in to help. “It’s definitely been a family effort,” states Sue. Their entire philosophy is based on family so being able to do it together has been special, according to Sue. “And some of the other family members are definitely going to come in as owners eventually,” she shares.
“They have come up and worked on landscaping and tearing down walls inside – it’s been fun,” Sue says. So much so, that they have a dedicated playroom for the grandchildren that are there all the time.
Joy Ridge is designed to efficiently host weddings, anniversaries, corporate events, family reunions, charity events, rehearsal dinners and so many other memorable events.
The Joy Ridge Event Center will be a welcome addition to the community of Chatfield and surrounding residents as the events that will take place there will be personal events, business events and the like, but also community-minded public events are in the works.
“We are planning to do some of our own hosted events that we will publicize as we do them; we are exploring what that will be – events that will bring the community and families together,” explains Kirsten. “We want to do some fun things like maybe a Mother’s Day Brunch – events that we will host for the community.”
Other ideas would be wine tastings, events for kids, paint nights, craft markets, etc. The possibilities abound with this property.
“We are open to ideas on how to make the best use of the building,” Kirsten says, and they are open to input from the community. If there are any events you would like to see hosted at Joy Ridge Event Center, they are eager to listen!
The location of Joy Ridge Event Center could not be more perfect as it is in the City of Chatfield but just enough on the outskirts that you forget you are in town. There is plenty of parking space and the area offers privacy as well.
“That is something that surprised me when we came up here looking at it, was that it was right in town, but actually when you are up here you can see the town and it’s right next to Kwik Trip but it also doesn’t feel like you’re right in town. There is enough greenery and privacy that you don’t realize it,” adds Kirsten.
Joy Ridge Event Center is going to be the perfect place for weddings and wedding receptions! You feel the elegance as you walk through the doors, from the furnishings in each room to the sparkling chandeliers in the dance hall. No detail has been overlooked.
Engaged couples will have many options to choose from at Joy Ridge Event Center, whether they would like to do most of the planning and preparation themselves or to have that stress relieved by having Joy Ridge handle the details.
Sue and her daughters, Jayna Harstad and Kelsey Stellmach, have an additional company called “With Joy” and they do decorating and party planning as part of that business. “I’ve done events, like wedding planning with my daughters, so now, not only can we plan the wedding but we can host it (as an option),” explains Sue.
They have some decorations and things that they can provide, depending on what the couple prefers for their big day. In fact, in Sue’s “Treasure Room” clients will find a wide array of decorations, signs and more that they can use if they so desire, which in and of itself could save the couple a lot of time and money not having to search for and purchase decorations.
“For weddings, we want it to be packages that are customizable. Some people want to come in and do all the decorating and have their things, other people are looking for an easier, more hands-off approach so we want to work with couples to find the right fit for them,” Kirsten says.
“We just want to keep it as stress-free as possible,” states Sue. “We just like making people happy – bringing joy.”
There is ample space outside if couples would like to have their wedding at Joy Ridge, which would surely simplify a wedding day for all involved.
There is a serving kitchen at Joy Ridge Event Center, but food will not be cooked on the premises. Catering will be allowed and they are not limiting the caterers people can bring in, as the owners are open to any licensed caterer being on site. As of now, the bar at Joy Ridge will not be open all the time, only during hosted events.
The owners offered a “construction sneak peek” at Joy Ridge Event Center during Chatfield’s Western Days weekend, which went very well. Area residents have been curious about the renovation. “We have a lot of people that have stopped in,” Sue says. “We have people that drive up here every single day,” commented Sue. Several people have commented to her that the area really needed something like this event center where you can use space inside and outside and that is available year-round.
The owners are hoping to have a soft opening December 10-12, 2021, and will hold a grand opening in the spring of 2022.
The owners of Joy Ridge Event Center are thankful for all of the support they have received from family, friends, the community of Chatfield and other local businesses. “We had to talk to the EDA in Chatfield and zoning, etc. and they have been very supportive, they have just been wonderful – we are very grateful to them,” Sue acknowledges.
Joy Ridge Event Center will be opening in early November 2021 and are already anticipating hosting their first wedding on December 4. “It will be so much fun to decorate for,” Sue says with a smile.
“It’s very exciting,” says Kirsten. “I guess that’s what I look forward to the most is helping people make memories,” states Sue.
Joy Ridge Event Center is located at 273 Mill Creek Rd. N.W. in Chatfield. For more information phone (507) 218-7743 or email joyridgeevents@gmail.com. You can also find out more from their website at joyridgeeventcenter.com or visit the facebook page at facebook.com/joyridgeevents.
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