A grande transformation: former nightclub finds new life as banquet, conference centre.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: North Bay

For generations of North Bay residents, The Zoo was the go-to nightclub when they wanted a night out on the town. But for an entirely new generation, it will now be known as the Grande Event Centre, a premier banquet and conference hall, hosting meetings, weddings, conferences, and banquets.

In 2015, the downtown location underwent a remarkable transformation when the longtime nightclub was demolished to make way for the new facility, which was up and running less than a year later.

John Lechlitner serves as general manager. His family owns the Grande, along with Cecil's Catering, and Cecil's Brewhouse and Kitchen, a restaurant and in-house brewery located adjacent to the conference hall.

He said the decision to close down the club and open a new event location had been about eight years in the making. The family's catering business was growing, and they could see demand for a new facility where they could host events.

"We started looking for a building that we could buy and renovate," Lechlitner said. "We came very close to buying a couple of buildings but there was always something: it was in too much of an industrial area, or it was in an industrial area with zero parking, or the ceiling was too low."

At the same time, Lechlitner noticed that entertainment trends had been moving away from nightclubs--people just aren't going out the way they used to--and he sensed the time was right for The Zoo to close on a high note.

But the family was clear that any new facility would have to have plenty of space, high-end decor and furnishings, and appeal to a range of clients.

"We made sure we concentrated on decor that was classic, but still somewhat neutral," Lechlitner said. "We put efforts into things like the chandeliers and a high-end portable wall. They'll stand the test of time, but it is also a testament to the level of quality and service that we expect to do at the Grande."

The facility is licensed for 298 people, but comfortably fits between 250 and 260. The hall features coffered ceilings, a classic white paint scheme, and chandeliers, and the space is fully wired for presentations and meetings.

That same attention to detail continues even to the bathrooms, which feature separate toilet rooms, floor-to-ceiling tile, and granite countertops.

The room can also be divided into two smaller spaces, with events running in each concurrently.

Walking through a series of sliding doors, guests can transition into an area dubbed the "Map Room,"...