Local Banquet Halls & Venues hit hard from COVID cancellations

"In a typical year we will do around 100 events, weddings, fundraisers, fraternity or sorority events, when we get to the end of the year will have done about 30."

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Local Banquet Halls and Venues have seen a devastating number of cancelled or changed event dates due to COVID.

“In a typical year we will do around 100 events, weddings, fundraisers, fraternity or sorority events, when we get to the end of this year will have done about 30,” Joel Schossow, the owner of Park Centers & Courtside Banquet Halls said.

His venues main source of bookings come from Weddings. Most people changed their dates to 2021 or just got married in a backyard with 10 or so people with no reception.

“Little girls are planning their wedding from the time they were nine years old and when that day comes they have an expectation. They’re the ones that have been cheated, we’re going to be fine, will have business and events next year, they only get one wedding,” Schossow said.

In a normal year, these Banquet Halls would be having events for 400-500 people but with COVID and the DHM’s in place, these venues are at 25% capacity.

“Will be able to do events from 75- 100 people at this point,” Schossow said.