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“The Fitzgerald” to open this summer

 

TRYON—A new event center is coming to the building that once housed a Bank of America branch next to the Post Office on Pacolet Street in Tryon. 

The venture is the brainchild of Ashley and Beau Menetre. Beau produces live corporate events and is co-founder of the Tryon International Film Festival and Ashley owns The Nest gift shop downtown and a side catering business. The two saw the potential for the building as an event center when it hosted the TRIFF gala last October.

“It just seemed like the right fit for us,” says Ashley Menetre, who will be the event center’s owner/operator. “We’ve done a lot of events throughout the year with the film festival and other catering that I’ve done. It allows us to continue doing what we already do but also brings a needed service to the area.”

Menetre says building owners Allan Casavant and Jonathan Cameron-Hayes are renovating the 5500-square-foot building to accommodate the event center, which includes installing a commercial catering kitchen, additional restrooms, a covered patio in the rear and a fire and water feature in front. She says the event center will be called “The Fitzgerald” for the famed novelist.

“We wanted to go with kind of an art deco, Ralph Lauren theme, so The Fitzgerald really worked with that. Also, [author F. Scott Fitzgerald] has ties to Tryon, so it’s nice to bring that back in and tie it to the community,” says Menetre. 

Menetre says she hopes to open in June. For additional information on “The Fitzgerald” or to inquire about booking, call 828-513-9241.