VILLAGE OF HARRISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Wedding venues across Northeast Wisconsin are stepping up.
That’s because there are some couples, suddenly, in desperate need of a venue.
They were supposed to celebrate their special day at the Darboy Club.
The decades-old banquet hall is closing its doors for good.
Darboy Club co-owner Mark Tatro declined to go on camera, but gave FOX 11 this statement:
We’ve been struggling for a number of years now. Its time to close the doors. The weddings are down. We depended on that. Normally by this time of this year we would have next year booked. Next year we have four weddings booked. I’d just like to thank all of our employees. I’d like to thank them and all our patrons who have stuck with us all these years.Tatro says the Darboy Club has cancelled about 10 weddings. Taylor Beeman and Lacey Popke were supposed to tie the knot this fall.
Popke says, “I went with Darboy because I couldn’t find a place last September. So I went with Darboy because I was like they’ve been around for 57 years, I wouldn’t have to worry about it.”
Beeman says, “We had all our invitations sent out and now we have to go tell that that plans changed.”
Some local businesses like the Wilder’s Bistro are stepping up to the plate to help the couples who have been affected.
The Appleton venue wants to ease their panic offering wedding services at reduced rates.
Judy Odle, Wilder’s Bistro Co-Owner says, ” We’re just really concerned about people who have their weddings coming up that are in a couple months or so.”
Odle also says, “Where do you find those venues to go to? We just feel that so many places are already booked. So these people are going to be stuck and we of course would love to help any way we could.”
The Branch River Country Club near Manitowoc is says it’s waiving the $1,000 deposit for couples who had weddings planned at the Darboy Club in the next six months.
Tony Burgarino, Branch River Country Club Food and Beverage Manager says, “That’s their special day. That’s the one day that you should not have any stress what-so-ever, I felt. And if I can make somebody’s day, I’d be more than happy to do it.”
