Social House Opens in Garrett - The Vault
Article by Sue Carpenter | KPC News | August 12, 2022
GARRETT — When Horizon Bank downsized by closing some locations, including Garrett and Avilla more than a year ago, a local businessman didn’t want to see another building go dark in the community.
But what can you do with an empty bank building on the main street of town?
Alyssa and Beau Schendel opened The Vault for a community venue last month. RBT Group owner Beau Schendel and his wife, Alyssa bounced several ideas for the nearly 2,400-square-foot space at 1212 S. Randolph St. with walls of glass windows and a huge vault.
The deed restricts the site to be used for a bank for five years. Alyssa added.
“We originally bought (the site) because we didn’t want to see another vacant building. We have had all kinds of ideas. At one time Alyssa wanted a coffee shop, we talked about a brewery, but the hardest part is finding an operator to operate these businesses,” Schendel said.
So they decided to create a “cool hip space” to fill the void and provide a place for community gatherings.
“This was something that didn’t really need an operator and more or less a space we could use. We were getting a lot of requests for private showers and baby showers at our third floor at the RBT Group business office in downtown Garrett,” he added.
Rental is $250 per day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. during the week, $350 for weekends. A $150 refundable deposit is charged for cleaning or damages. Rental includes six tables and 24 chairs.
Plans are to discontinue renting the upstairs RBT space at 200 S. Randolph St. now that The Vault has opened and is already booked for the next two months.
Schendel’s Garrett High School Class of 2007 reunion was the inaugural event of the venue last month with 60 classmates and guests at the “social house” that has a 75-100 person capacity.
Walls and dropped ceilings were removed to enhance the industrial modern vibe of the interior. Strings of white lights and wicker basket fixtures drop down from the ceiling.
Safe deposit boxes line the walls of the vault. Alyssa plans to add a countertop on the shorter wall for food service as well as the drive-up window desk on the west wall.
Plans are to get a dedicated list of caterers as the kitchen currently has no sink and basic microwave and refrigerator.
Outside, plans are to include a rooftop patio above the former drive-through, surrounded by arborvitae and other privacy plantings.
The site was originally built in 1971 after Peoples Savings and Loan opened a branch in downtown Garrett five years earlier. The financial institution then purchased the William Moser property at1212 S. Randolph St. as the site of a new office. The first floor featured a main business section, private office, employee lounge and vault. Newspapers reports of the time said the vault door alone weighed 3 tons. A lower level community room was offered free of charge for non-profit and civic organizations.
Since 2013, RBT has acquired and renovated hundreds of properties including apartment complexes, dozens of single family homes, office buildings and retail space including the RBT Business Center and The Railyard.
An open house is planned on Sept. 9. For more information about renting The Vault, email maryschendelrbt@gmail.com or message them on Facebook.
Article source: https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_d714e8bd-f6ef-5a6e-a11b-e45c306c6c64.html