Dear Engaged Couple- This past weekend, I had the privilege of officiating at a beautiful wedding at a very central location just a few minutes from my house! Who knew? There’s a wedding venue right under my nose in Downtown C’ville!
The venue is called the Old Metropolitan. It’s an historic spot, built in the early 1900’s. This is its third or maybe even its fourth iteration as a landmark at our downtown mall. According to M.Travis Wilburn, the contact manager of the place, at one time it was a grocery store. It has also been a café/restaurant—called the Metropolitan Café, and a bakery with the name Gleason’s Bakery. Note the early picture of the downtown mall that Travis sent me. It’s of a parade, and the Old Met is in full view. Cool, huh? You know in the real estate world, location has everything to do with value. It’s location that makes the Old Met so attractive. Out-of-town guests to your wedding can stay at the Omni Hotel, just a short walk away, and their breakfast lunch and dinner can conveniently be had right there on the mall. So many restaurants and cafés to choose from! The Old Met has an industrial kitchen and space enough for a small sit down or buffet dinner for either your wedding rehearsal, wedding reception, or both! But of course, either of these could also take place at one of the mall’s many within-walking-distance restaurants. You sold yet?
If not, let me tell you about the Old Met’s décor. It is amazing. Simple but tasteful. It’s all in the details. Note the ceiling tiles, the elegant chandeliers, the hardwood floors, the turn-of-the-century molding. AND the downstairs is a bar, with enough space for some serious dancing, I would imagine. Brass bar, checkered floor, an art-deco feel. It got me wondering if the downstairs wasn’t a speakeasy at some point. I guess I need to make another call to Travis to find out about that—although since speakeasys were illegal in the 1920’s, that little piece of history, if it is true, may not have made it into city records!
It’s all in the Details at the Old Met!
At any rate, I can just a imagine a jazz band in the corner of that downstairs room, and a crowd of people dancing until well, until the milk man started his morning rounds. Ah, those were the days!
Enjoy the pics. For more information, Call Travis at (434) 260-7144 or email him at Travis@staycharlottesville.com. Happy Wedding Planning! Your wedding preacher for hire
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