Belleville couple tries to avoid ‘banquet hall feel’ at new meeting and party venue
Iesha and De Carlos Underwood love to entertain, but sometimes they want to invite too many people to do it at their Belleville home.
At one point, they looked around town for venues and found few choices affordable to them, other than renting a plain, warehouse-like space or gathering in a party room at a restaurant and ordering off the menu.
The Underwoods decided to take matters into their own hands. They bought a building on West Main Street in Belleville that formerly housed Just Relax Spa and turned it into 1,600-square-foot, two-level venue called “Events at The U.”
“We wanted something a little different,” said Iesha, 40. “We didn’t want it to have a banquet-hall feel.”
The couple tore out walls and carpeting and replaced the staircase railing. They installed wood-plank-like PVC flooring, a chandelier and other new lighting, a bar with a fridge, sink and food-warming cabinet, a D.J. booth and professional sound system, strobe lights and a fog machine.
The venue is decorated with silk flowers, mirrors and other wall hangings. There’s a bathroom on each level. People can choose regular tables and chairs or high-tops with bar stools.
“We want it to be like a self-service place,” Iesha said. “We provide the venue, and they provide everything else, so they’re in control of their party or event. ... They can bring in their own food and alcohol, but they have to use our licensed bartender (to serve drinks).”
The Underwoods also own other residential and commercial rental property. Their company is called Under the Wood.
It was Iesha who came up with the idea of buying the minimalist brick building at 4517 W. Main St. and converting it into a venue.
“I was against it,” said De Carlos, 44. “I knew that we would spend a bunch of money, and I didn’t know if we would get it back. But it’s been doing OK. It’s been paying for itself.”
The couple opened Events at The U in July after trying it out for De Carlos’ birthday party in June. Since that time, it’s been used for meetings, baby showers, wedding receptions, repasses, wakes and other gatherings.
Fairview Heights resident Jamekah Hughes rented the venue for her 40th birthday party in September. She heard about it from a friend after asking for suggestions on Facebook.
“It was nothing short of amazing,” said Hughes, a nursing home administrator. “... The ambiance is great. It’s really elegant. It was super clean, and Iesha and her husband ... Their customer service was impeccable.”
Events at The U accommodates up to 100 people. It can be rented from 7 a.m. to midnight daily. The rate is $75 an hour before 5 p.m. ($100 after) for one level and $125 an hour before 5 p.m. ($160 after) for both levels. If alcohol is involved, the bartender charge is $25 an hour for 50 or fewer people.
The entertainment package costs an additional $150. That allows use of the D.J. booth, strobe lights, fog machine, wireless mic and 9,000-watt sound system that can be connected to an iPad. Or some people, including Hughes, hire their own D.J.s.
“It cuts the cost of the D.J. in half because they don’t have to supply the lights or speakers,” De Carlos said. “The only thing they need to provide is the music and their time.”
For more information on Events at the U, call 618-570-2669 or visit the Facebook page.
This story was originally published February 17, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
