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Closure leaves groups homeless

Many large groups can’t find event space in town since Manchester Inn closed.

Staff photo by Greg Lynch A note was posted on all doors stating that the "Manchester Inn & Conference Center is closed until further notice" on Jan. 3.

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By Jessica Heffner, Staff Writer 1:31 AM Sunday, March 27, 2011

MIDDLETOWN — For 20 years the three “M’s” of Mark Kerns, Middletown and the Manchester Inn were synonymous with the Pigskin Roundball Spectacular downtown.

But this year, two of those “M’s” are being replaced with “Mason” and “Manor House.”

Dubbed one of the largest sporting events in the area, the Spectacular has raised money for athletic scholarships at Middletown High School for more than 20 years. That’s why it was such a blow to learn the historic Manchester Inn was closing its doors — which has been home to the event since day one.

Kerns said the executive committee considered every possibility for venues in the city — from the Middletown Moose Lodge to a Hook Field airplane hangar — but nothing could accommodate a group of 400 or more. Last year’s Spectacular drew 700 people.

“I’m big on loyalty and tradition,” Kerns said. “There was nowhere we could go if we wanted to continue to keep the event the same.”

So at least for this year, Kerns said his group will be heading to Mason’s Manor House, which can accommodate up to 700 people in each of its two large banquet halls.

“I’m not going to diminish the event or change the event just to keep it here, but at the same time, Middletown will always be our priority for where we want to be,” Kerns said.

The lack of adequate banquet space to host large events may prove to be a problem in Middletown now that the Manchester has closed its doors.

It’s an issue David Schiavone, former mayor and councilman, discussed with city leaders several years ago.

He suggested Middletown court hotels and developers who could open a convention or reception center in the East End, which would capture local business as well as travelers due to its proximity to the highway. Unfortunately, the dollars never came together.

“Public dollars couldn’t be put in and private dollars didn’t step up to the plate,” Schiavone said.

“We contacted several companies, but the bottom line is it didn’t make sense for them financially at the time,” he said.

Few venues can handle large groups in Middletown

If you have a party of 400 or more and are looking for a reception hall in Middletown to hold your event, you may be out of luck.

Since the Manchester Inn & Conference Center closed its doors Jan. 3, several groups have been scrambling to find new banquet hall space and have been coming up empty-handed.

The hotel closed due to financial issues with past owners, Manchester Enterprises LLC. The city of Middletown recently purchased the Manchester for $175,000. The building is earmarked for use by Cincinnati State Technical & Community College as a culinary school in a new Middletown branch campus.

The contract for that project is still under negotiation. While the college remains interested in the hotel, Dan Cayse, Cincinnati State’s vice president of strategic initiatives and entrepreneurial development, said it’s unlikely it could be renovated in time for classes this fall.

Whether any of the banquet services would be available during construction will have to be decided once a renovation plan is made, Cayse said.

So at least for the near-future, large events looking for accommodations likely will be heading out of town.

Despite strong ties to Middletown, the annual Pigskin Roundball Spectacular will be heading to Mason’s Manor House for its event May 4. Event founder Mark Kerns said he hopes the move will be temporary, but with a crowd of 700 there was no venue in town that could accommodate their needs.

“If (the Manchester) is ready next year at this time, I am 99.9 percent sure we would go back,” Kerns said.

Charity Ball turns to the arts

After a successful 90th year celebration at the Manchester Inn, organizers of the Charity Ball will be considering where to hold their event later this year.

Fran Sack, who, along with her husband, Dan, served as co-chairs of the ball, said the Middletown Area Federation of Women’s Clubs will be electing new officers in April. One of the new board’s chief discussions will be where to hold the next event.

While the decision will be up to the new board, she said there already has been some discussion about possibly using the Pendleton Arts Center as the new location. The center is set to open in April and has a space on the second floor for banquets.

A dwindling business presence and a change in the social dynamic of households today already have taken their toll on the event. About 250 people attended the ball last year — far fewer than the 600 people who would come dressed in ball gowns and tuxedos to the Charity Ball in its heyday 50 years ago.

But a smaller crowd may make it easier to keep the event in Middletown — which Sack said is a key component of the ball because it raises money for the city’s hospital, Atrium Medical Center.

“I think one of the first considerations would be if (the venue) is in Middletown,” Sack said.

Prom dancing to a different venue

The Spectacular isn’t the only event looking to move to Mason.

Franklin High School will hold this year’s prom at the Manor House after at least 25 years of proms at the Manchester Inn, school officials say.

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