The hard work and historic preservation of yet another downtown Benton Harbor landmark building by the devoted entrepreneur Bryan Seckelmann is about to be unveiled for public inspection — especially for those in the region seeking an intimate, first-class wedding reception venue or for that matter anyone looking to host small parties, meetings and private gatherings of a wide variety. Seckelmann and his event coordinator Renee Dryer will host a public Open House in mid-August to showcase the new brand new Hawks Nest in Suite 2 at 165 E. Main Street in the Benton Harbor Arts District.
The labor of love that both Seckelmann and Dryer have put into the second floor venue brings a birds-eye view for party revelers in a surround of natural brick and beautiful wood work that is built to impress.
Just the simple fact that the space has been preserved is an impressive feat after Seckelmann and his contracting crew worked diligently to keep the historic building from collapsing under its own weight. He has worked for several years to return the building to its appearance from 1879.
Local Historians Robert & Candace Myers recently assembled the intriguing story of the 1879 Stephen M. Austin Block which is now known more simply as 165 East Main Street across from the Dwight P. Mitchell City Center Park in the heart of downtown and the Benton Harbor Arts District. The building's original purpose was as a grocery store with second floor living quarters. Building owner Stephen Austin later opened the Austin Restaurant & Bakery there. In the decades to follow, various owners and tenants included the Bon Ton Cafe, the Liberty Grocery & Market and even a cigar store.
While work continues on the first floor, where Seckelmann hopes to host a pizza restaurant and bar, the second floor is all buffed and shined and ready to make memories for hundreds of people.
Renee Dryer knows only too well about the popularity of Michigan's Great Southwest as an increasingly vibrant marketplace for destination weddings and is eager to book The Hawks Nest to people from far and wide. The Hawks Nest is at the heart of the action and features a custom designed bar crafted from cherry wood, ash and black walnut through the work of Brad Bigford and Mark McCrone. The floors are maple wood, the walls are all original brick, and tables are all re-purposed wood beautifully cared for and restored. The wrought iron railing along the open stairwell was acquired in Chicago and brought in in five sections and pieced together in a project that took more than 80 hours of love and attention.
Original artworks hang on the walls upstairs and seating for 60 is available with another large 40 by 25 foot rooftop deck lined with wrought iron railings, re-purposed from Chicago hotel spindles, capable of seating nearly that many additional guests. The unique, interlocking decking material has enough flex to it to make you feel like you're walking on air.
The Hawks Nest showcase Open House is slated for Tuesday, August 16th and will also feature vendors you might wish to consider for other elements of your wedding or event. Renee Dryer's role as Event Coordinator is to help customize the fit for your affair. She also recognizes that many interested in smaller venues like her's appreciate flexibility, so other than the liquor license-mandated bartender position, all other options can be flexible, including the ability to bring in your own food service or utilize catering vendors. Renee's goal is to help you coordinate the event, not take over control from you.
With our relative proximity to Chicago and the ease of access for everybody, The Hawks Nest is also being marketed as a great destination wedding venue making it easier for Chicagoans to host here rather than pulling together a destination wedding in the Windy City.
The Hawks Nest is a 1,500 square foot venue which expands to 2,500 when you incorporate the colorful deck overlooking the Arts District pocket park and Harbor Shores beyond. The wall tile on the rooftop deck is actually re-purposed roof tile from the historic former Eleanor Club in Benton Harbor.
Final inspections by the building inspector were awaiting a part for the HVAC unit this past week and that should clear the way for the new Hawks Nest venue to begin leasing to party planners ready to press the new site into action.
If you'd like to talk with Renee regarding The Hawks Nest, you can reach her at 269-519-2767. You can also learn more by clicking her website at http://www.thehawksnest165.com
