MASON CITY – Two Mason City business owners are working together to re-hab a downtown building to create a reception hall and events center.
As anticipation rises for a multi-million dollar 5-point project to be undertaken in the Cultural Crescent, business owners Tim Latham and Joe Paulsen are two of the entrepreneurs catching the wave early. They purchased a nearly-forgotten building at the 100 block of 2nd Street SE for re-hab into a reception hall and events venue. Tim Latham is a long-time Mason City realtor, owner of Furniture Mattress Outlet and volunteer in the city’s North End. Joe Paulsen is owner of Kleen Sweep construction.
The anticipated hot-spot will be dubbed “The Main Event”, Mr. Paulsen and Mr. Latham tell NorthIowaToday.com, as they provided a guided tour Monday. The building is seeing a substantial investment after sitting for roughly 15 years as a small warehouse and falling into disrepair. The vision of the two long-time friends and business partners is to offer a fun and exciting venue for wedding receptions, parties, gatherings, bands and any other occasion requiring the amenities and features they plan to offer.
According to Mr. Latham, The Main Event will seat 150 and could accommodate 200 or more. It will be handicap accessible. The venue will feature a bar (with its own liquor license), lounge, stage, brand new men’s and women’s restrooms, changing rooms, tables, chairs and other amenities – everything needed accept the catering.
Newly-paved sidewalks are coming, with a new asphalt parking lot (other nearby parking includes public lots just a short distance away). The building will feature a new facade, landscaping, roofing, new sprinkler system and HVAC, to go with new woodwork, flooring, etc.
The Main Event will be open for business in about 60 days if construction stays on schedule.
Website design, hosting and consulting work for the Main Event was completed by Breakthrough Web Design, a Mason City web design company.
